Winter has been real winter since our return from Ottawa, with lots of snow (I shovelled the sidewalk and my driveway four days in a row), so we have not been rambling too much. This post, therefore will consist of a few highlights from home, some dating back a couple of weeks before white became the dominant colour of the landscape.
09 January, 2023
Hairy Woodpecker (Leucontopicus villosus) is not always easy to find so we consider ourselves especially fortunate that a male comes to our yard regularly to feed on suet packed with seed and nuts.
Not only does it arrive with predictable frequency, it stays for as long as it takes to become satiated before flying off. A rare privilege, we think.
10 January, 2023
An American Linden (Tilia americana) in front of our house had died and the municipality dispatched an army of chainsaw warriors to take it down. I was actually hoping that they would leave it for a while, since I think it was in no danger of imminently toppling, and the bark had separated so beautifully to provide nest space for a Brown Creeper (Certhia americana). Realistically, however, I knew that chances of that happening were slim to none.
We were sitting in the house enjoying mid morning coffee when we finally clued in to what was happening. By then the mighty tree was an ignominious corpse, shattered and broken, lying on asphalt.
It is incredible the size of branches they can feed into the maw of the wood chipper.
We were very happy when finally the sylvan destroyers moved on and silence was restored.
One day in spring, I am sure another crew will come along to plant a sapling in the linden's place. It had better be a native species or I will be having a chat with the city!
17 January, 2023
We continue with our efforts to encourage American Crows (Corvus brachyrynchos) to become part of our circle of friends, although I suspect we have lost some of our gains by being away for four days.
Today (29 January, as I type this), however, five individuals paid a visit and responded to Miriam's voice when she called them in, and fed on the scraps of fat and cheese we tossed out for them.
They go to their familiar perches and permit us minutes on end to gaze upon their sleek and glossy beauty. You can barely imagine our excitement and sheer pleasure at sharing our world with these lordly birds.
I made a peanut butter sandwich for them, cut it up and tossed it out, but wily squirrels beat them to the feast.
17 January, 2023
While squirrels have the capacity at times to incite mental anguish in frustrated human feeders of birds, one is bound to admit that they are endearing and appealing.
A Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), on the other hand, elicits only whoops of joy.
28 January, 2023
One can never have too many types of food on offer for our feathered friends, so I invested in some fat balls (grins and smirks permitted).
As you can see, they are a great success. It took a Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) no time at all to find them.
I expect that the next post will contain a little more variety, but I am hopeful that these few pictures will entertain you and keep you on tenterhooks waiting for more of the World of Wonders from Waterloo!
Iam linking to Wild Bird Wednesday
...I had a piece land that I had cleared years ago, we fed whole trees into a chipper with an excavator.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteyour garden provides a good few pictures to brighten any wintry day, David! YAM xx
The birds and squirrels have your house marked down as one of the best to visit when hungry. :)
ReplyDeleteI am happy that is so, Bill.
DeleteCrows really are marvelous birds.
ReplyDeleteFar smarter than the average politician.
DeleteLovely photographs of the birds and squirrels ... and yes, squirrels can look cute :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
HOW I love your visitors (with the exception of the tree loppers). Good luck with the crows though I strongly believe that you will succeed.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue: I am quite sure that in the long term we will succeed. I am convinced that the crows are able to detect empathy and soon they will lose all fear of us. That is when the bonding will take place. They already respond to Miriam's voice.
DeleteI am sure you will. And yes, they do recognise and appreciate empathy and care.
DeleteAlways sad to see trees destroyed.
ReplyDeleteLove the crows!
Hard to get mad at squirrels. They're so cute and clever. ;)
Yo estoy encantada de ver tu publicación. Que tengas una feliz semana.
ReplyDeleteCrows are amazing and elegant birds. They are starting to wander in here. We had some horrific windstorms and rain last week, and all the birds were huddled down. We put a feeder up on the patio and love watching the songbirds. A mourning dove tried to muscle his way in there, but he was too heavy and he left.
ReplyDeleteThose crows are so sleek and glossy black they could be in a show!
ReplyDeleteThe squirrel is happy with the peanut butter sandwich!!....I love that picture!,.........Abrazotes, Marcela
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see crows at your feeder. We have them in the trees frequently, but I've never seen them at the feeder. And I don't mind the squirrels, except that they take so much food. The dogs like to watch them too, but I have those bushy tailed rodents trained so when I knock on the door, before letting out the dogs, they run off. I didn't realize they were competitive with each other until I retired and could actually watch them more. Those squirrel fights are interesting. I think I might start making stale bread into pb sandwiches for mine. Happy new week. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeletePerhaps I should make PB sandwiches for the squirrels. I have some that I got for my dog and he doesn’t like it! I have a mild allergy to peanuts myself so rather than throw it out, I could do something for the squirrels.
ReplyDeleteThe birds are attracted to your yard with the bird's feeders filled with food. Beautiful wood pecker and cute squirrel with the yummy peanut butter sandwich.
ReplyDeleteThe squirrel is so cute, David. They eat all the food who is ment for the birds, but still I love them. It looks like it loved your sandwich. The Hairy Woodpecker is also very cute. It was a big tree who was felled down at your place.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
What great photos David.
ReplyDeleteI like the squirrels, but they are not where I live, then we have to go to the center of the country, where we usually rent a house for two weeks, so that I can enjoy myself and photograph the squirrels and the birds.
I also feed fat balls at home on the balcony, the house sparrows love them.
Greetings Irma
You know, David, my future wife and I are going to build a house with a small garden in a little village nearby, and I'm looking forward to planting many bushes and herbs and small trees, and to setting bird feeders and see which birds will visit. And reading your bird feeder posts inspires me so much. I don't think I would get any red squirrells, but maybe European tits, Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Robins and other birds will visit and I'll be able to share it all with you too.
ReplyDeleteI love that you prepared a peanut butter sandwich to feed the animals in your garden haha.
I have much to look forward to then, Guillermo.
DeleteHi David - snow is beautiful, but hard work ... while noise from chainsaws and leaf blowers is just soul destroying for any sane resident - yet this one understands the need for them. The guzzlers certainly crunch down the tree and its component dying parts ...
ReplyDeleteYour crows look very healthy, glossily too - l love Miriam's pictures you post for us. The snowy woodpecker delights ... I loved seeing those out on Vancouver Island ... and hearing them knock away ... Cheers - Spring is coming and can be seen now - Hilary
That's an enviable array of birds visiting you David. I'm hoping that we can do the same with our Magpies as you are doing with your American Crows - although they are quite nervous birds by nature, it's got to the stage that they watch when I'm putting out the bird food and come down to it while I am still in the garden. They now have their own feeder, just outside the kitchen window!
ReplyDelete"World of Wonders from Waterloo" - you ought to patent the WWW - oh! wait a minute - - - -
My best wishes to you and Miriam - - - Richard
A few years too late, Richard!
DeleteHello David,
ReplyDeleteIt is great you have such wonderful birds to help entertain while at home. My favorites are the woodpeckers and the nuthatch. My hubby has some big pines he would like to get cut down, I am sure the birds would miss these trees. Take care, have a wonderful week!
Thanks for the great photos of the birds David, I saw a blackspeaker in the forest this morning and I was very happy about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry "your" tree was felled. It breaks my heart when trees are felled.
Yes, the coat...I'm so happy that I finally have my first client :-)) I'll practice, practice, practice with all the possibilities of the stitching as well as inlays, lining, inner button, shoulder pads, collar, cuffs, Pockets and loop for binoculars.
Hugs, greetings. I wish you a happy week. AND good luck with your beautiful crows... I am convinced that our blue and great tits know me too.
p.s. we only shoveled snow twice, i. H. not me... my husband shoveled :-) Lucky me.
Miriam didn't shovel either, but she was busy with laundry, vacuuming and making delicious apple cake, so I think it was a good trade!
DeleteWe have two types of squirrels that visit us: red and gray. Quite a size difference between them. You are making progress with those crows. I bet by the end of the year they will be taking food directly from you.
ReplyDeleteThose little red squirrels are pretty pugnacious though and will usually come out on top in a skirmish with a grey squirrel.
DeleteDavid, there is so much damage here from Fiona, it is heartbreaking to see how many trees we’ve lost. I understand how you feel about the Linden.
ReplyDeleteI smiled at your description of the crows you are “hosting.” We are doing the same here with a group of five. We are to the point now where they land on the patio railing and I can open the door and look out without them flying off or turning backwards which they were doing for a while.
They are amazing creatures!
Yesterday Miriam managed a few pictures of them taking the food we set out for them. I'll publish them on my next post. They are such gorgeous birds.
DeleteI get a couple of crows that come and eat the seeds I put out for the doves. They do keep away the doves and magpies though... Lol, the cute squirrels getting to the peanut butter sandwiches before the crows made me smile. They are cute indeed :)
ReplyDeleteEven when you don't get out in the "wild country", you manage to delight us with a superb collection of lovely birds. Okay, and adorable squirrels, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous you have a Hairy Woodpecker at your beck and call (somewhat) as I have great difficulty finding one around here. I'm happy for you. Just jealous.
A new week has begun. Our migratory birds are busily fueling up in anticipation of returning to your neighborhood.
Be well.
Birds and animals will manage. They are trained for winter. Pleasant moments.
ReplyDeleteImpressive to see the American crow, it has a majestic and at the same time shocking beauty. I prefer the nice squirrel.
ReplyDeleteMany kisses, friend David.
I thought of you last night when I heard a fellow on the radio, broadcasting from Toronto, talking about his sons ecstatic that they finally could get a decent hockey rink made in their backyard. He was talking about the up and down weather -- freeze, thaw, rain, warm, freeze -- and was clearly happy that 'real winter' seemed to have come. I know your birds are happy that you're part of their real winter; so much of what you provide looks quite tasty. We're turning cold again, and it seems that more cold might be on the way, as the feeders are busier than they have been all these months!
ReplyDeleteWe are into a real cold snap now so the backyard rinks will be proliferating. My skating days are done. That ice is hard if you fall on it! Kids get right up - old folks are sore for days!
DeleteEstimado amigo David, corto pero precioso reportaje. Se consideran huéspedes privilegiados y además de buena gente saben están protegidos y encuentran alimentos. Las ardillas me encantan, son muy graciosas, aunque se adelanten en algunas ocasiones a sus contrincantes en la comida.
ReplyDeleteTienes todo un festival de amigos que a buen seguro hasta os dan los buenos días.
Un fuerte abrazo querido amigo y feliz resto de semana que a buen seguro será con nieve. Aquí en los pueblos de alrededores de Alicante, sobre todo en los de montaña, también ha nevado este año. Desde mi terraza al fondo veo la imagen de una de las montañas nevadas.
I love the photo of the squirrel holding his sandwich! He's so happy and chubby. Florida squirrels are scrawny. I don't know why. Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! As long as I don't have to shovel it.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I guess squirrels have to eat too, and they are probably just as appreciative of your efforts as the birds are :)
ReplyDeleteI love crows; I read that they are as smart as a 3 year old! Lots of people here don't like them as they eat carrion but i think that is very useful!
ReplyDeleteThey would like it even less if they didn't eat the carrion. It's amazing how humans transfer their feelings to other organisms.
DeleteHi David.
ReplyDeleteHard work is done there by the trees.
Nice birds
The Woodpecker is beautiful.
The Squirrel is really nice.
Greetings from Patricia.
First of all, I'm so glad you had the red breasted nuthatch in today's post. I had been trying to ID a bird (like that) to my feeder -- knowing it wasn't a chickadee beak but unsure. And of course, it's hard to find in the bird book when you don't quite know where to begin! But that's what I have, too! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThey're trimming lots of neighborhood trees for power line issues and also taking dead ones down. I will be losing a dead pine in the backyard and possibly all or part of a mulberry. Fortunately not the only one so we won't lose all the berries out there. But I always hate to see them go.
It's especially sad to see dead trees removed. It's like the local supermarket was closed and there's no other food store close by.
DeleteHello David, what luck you have with all those birds come into your garden to enjoy all the food you provide for them. We had birdcounting last weekend and normally I have about 30 House sparrows come to vissit the feeders every day but they did not show those days. Let us know what kind of tree they put in place of the old one.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Roos
Hello David :=) It's thrilling to know how those beautiful crows react to the sound of Miriam's voice, and are beginning to lose their fear. I'm sure you get hours of entertainment watching these large birds through your kitchen window. Miriam's photos showing their glossy plumage are fantastic.The peanut butter sandwich was a good idea, and it didn't take long for a squirrel to enjoy it. Feeding wildlife is one of my favourite things to do.
ReplyDeleteand so rewarding
Have a lovely indoor day.
Sending warm hugs to both you and Miriam.
Squirrels and crows are among my most entertaining and most welcome neighbors.
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing lots of Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers here lately David. Oh I do love the photos of the crow!!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful about the crows! What great photos.I hope there is another suitable tree for the brown creeper nearby.
ReplyDeleteHello David,
ReplyDeleteThe species in the garden are always exotic to me and as pleasing as the ones you see on your birding trips.
The face of the raven is very very beautiful. Congratulations on the photo !!!!
And your squirrels have big bellies don't they? hi hi hi
Dead trees are useless to municipalities and some private owners as well. Why do you chop it up instead of giving it to people who don't have money for wood heating or to avoid plundering healthy forests? I don't get it.
Big kisses David and see you soon
The wood chips are available free to people who want them to use in their gardens as mulch or for other purposes.
DeleteC'est une très bonne initiative pour la chaleur en été.
DeleteBonne journée David
oh sorry, I wrote in French ;-)))
DeleteN'importe, Nathalie, je comprends.
DeleteThe squirrel eating the tiny peanut butter sandwich made me laugh! We aren’t as accommodating as you are. We buy the whole peanuts in the shell and make them shell them themselves!
ReplyDeleteWell, this is after all Gascoigne's Gourmet diner!
DeleteEs un tiempo duro, para las aves y animales que habitan en el bosque, Es bastante dificil conseguir alimentos.
ReplyDeletePretty beauties visit your garden, despite the harsh northern winter. Very nice species. Here the opposite as you imagine, the whole month was quite hot. Regards
ReplyDeleteDavid - love the picture of the squirrel with snow on its nose - delightful!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photes!Love that squirrel and woodpecker :)
ReplyDeleteI love all the different types of feeders you have. However, you will never convince me that the squirrels are endearing. They eat my garden. LOL
ReplyDeleteNo os hace falta salir de casa ni pasar frío para disfrutar de las aves.
ReplyDeleteBuena colección veis desde la ventana. Me da pena cada vez que talan un árbol, pero si están mal es lo mejor. Me encantó la ardilla David.
Os deseo un buen miércoles.
Un abrazo.
I can see why the birds and squirrels love to feast at your house. I had to admit to myself long ago that I enjoy the squirrels as much as I enjoy the birds. I find them all entertaining, and endearing. We have had trees removed in our neighborhood. Those machines make quite a racket.
ReplyDeleteAlways interesting to see animals adapt and adjust to the changing seasons in your neck of the woods. I don't envy your shoveling, though.
ReplyDeleteIn our yard, we get both downy and hairy woodpeckers, but the downies are a lot more common, and do they love the suet cakes we put out for them. Yesterday, about 45 minutes before sunset, we saw a massive (50 to 60?) number of American crows (cawing to each other) flying overhead in four or five groups close to each other. I wondered if they were heading to trees to settle for the night. They've done that close to our house from time to time and it's wonderful to observe. We also have fish crows in our neighborhood. I am confident you will make friends with the crows. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteJust being "forced" to stay close to home because of the frequent snow falls doesn't mean you did not have wildlife to share, David. It is unfortunate when a perfectly healthy tree is cu down, power lines and all notwithstanding. Hopefully, a good replacement will be planted in its place. Squirrels are endlessly entertaining but the scourge of many bird feeders, so it was nice that you made PB sandwiches for the ones in your yard. And, the crows seem to be coming around since you said they recognized Miriam's voice.
ReplyDeleteDelightful photos of the birds and squirrels, David.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday!
To, co blisko nas, bliskie jest naszemu sercu. Nasze wrony, nasze wróble, nasze wiewiórki, nasze drzewo. Kochamy ta przestrzeń, a ona trochę kocha nas. :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful header. I like the squirrels in the snow. Do you sometimes see a snow hare ? have a nice day. Greetings Caroline
ReplyDeleteAlways sad whan a tree dies. But hopefully a good one will replace it.Amazing species you have in the garden and for a peanut butter sandwich i also came ;-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your crow!!
Greetings, Maria
I watched the Canadian and American winters on TV.
ReplyDeleteIt was scary. I felt very sorry for you.
I love squirrels they are so cute.
It always pains me when a tree has to come down - dead or not. We had one in the backyard that had to come down because it was at risk of falling on the house. We gave them strict instructions to leave it at a certain height because there were some branches that were favorite perches of the birds waiting their turns for the feeders. They thought we were crazy. The branches sadly didn't survive, but the flat top of the tree stump has become a popular platform for waiting birds....and squirrels.
ReplyDeleteWell done, Amy!
DeleteYou gave me some more ideas what I can put out for the birds. Recently I put a feeder out in the front (I have most of my feeders in the back) and after a few days I saw many Lesser Goldfinches and Pine Siskins hanging out at the feeder and in the tree. What a joy! I had seen the fat balls and I think I will try this as well. Our local bird store recommended a feeding cylinder with hot peppers and chilies to discourage the squirrels. I tried it, and the birds love it while the squirrel stay away from it. Lovely photos as always, David. Don't break your back with all that snow shoveling!
ReplyDelete