I enjoy feeding the birds in
our harsh winters months,
as the snow covers their limited food
supply and also I enjoy seeing the wild
birds that visit our region of Gaspé
in Eastern Canada.
With climate change,
changing weather patterns,
hurricanes and storms, birds
are changing their ranges
and coming further north.
I have a special visitor this winter.
A male Cardinal has been here since
last fall. A rare site in this region as
cardinals don't usually come this
far north/west.
He also visits my sister Betty's feeder
who lives 1/2 mile from me.
Some spiritual beliefs that cardinals
are visits from love ones who have passed.
Usually a Cardinal sings and whistles.
We haven't heard this one sing or whistle.
Maybe he's missing his mate. 😒
Cardinal are monogamous,
mating for life.
He spends a lot of time in the old house,
his favourite spot, looking at us in the window. 😁
I live near a highway and usually
don't get large flocks of birds.
I do appreciate what I get.
Black-Eyed Juncos-A Snowbird.
They arrive the first day of snow.
Migrating from up north, mainly Alaska.
The Junco, very strong little bird.
The one below is in a blizzard,
hopping around to find food.
Chickadees
A cute bird with a sweet song
chick-a-dee-dee-dee
A friendly bird.
They sometimes eat seeds from my hand.
Mourning Doves
A graceful timid bird.
Feeds mainly on the ground.
The Mourning Doves eat mainly seeds,
storing them in a pouch/crop in their throat,
allowing them to eat fast and resting
later, to digest in a safe place.
Mourning doves come in pairs.
They are monogamous also.
They are photogenic.
Evening Grosbeaks
A flock of them came to visit in January
and stayed a few days.
They usually stay in more wooded areas.
Pine Grosbeaks
Also came to visit in January.
Such a beautiful bird!
We hear them sing in woods when we go walking.
Bluejays
A beautiful large bird.
Can be a bully with the smaller birds.
Starlings
A few come occasionally to visit.
The couple stick together.
Grackle
I only had a few that visited.
Has a yellow circle eye.
The adult's head is a bluish colour.
They like to eat suet, corn and seeds.
A quiet and timid bird.
American Tree Sparrow
A sweet bird usually arrived around
the same time as the Juncos.
Hairy Woodpecker
A male and female visit every day.
They love suet.
The male has red on his head.
I also have Downy Woodpeckers.
The Hairy are larger and have longer bills.
My Bird Books:
Eastern Birds by Roger Tory Peterson, Birds of North America by Chandler S. Robbins, From my Dad... Birds of Eastern Canada by David M. Bird PH.D, Emeritus of McGill University, newest and up-to-date book,
North American Birds by Readers Digest., from sister Carol... Backyard Birds by Robert Bateman.
Also:
Songbirds
by Time-Life Films.
From my sister Carol.
A photo from the Songbirds book,
on the anatomy of birds.
My Oldest Book: below,
An Introduction To Nature
by Doubleday & Company
Copyright 1946,48,50,52,54 & 55.
From Jacques Giroux my
son-in-law, Martin's father.
A great book with birds, wildflowers and trees.
Birds Of The Coast below.
Published in 1973
by Jarrold & Sons Ltd.
All photos taken with my iPhone.
A great pastime watching the
birds in long winter months.
They bring Joy into our lives.
Most important, birds contribute
to environmental benefits for our
food source, including pollination,
insect and rodent control and seed
dispersal. Birds are essential to the
health and balance of our planet's
ecosystems.
Thanks for your visit.
💙💚💛💜
