David, I just had to google junco. I had no idea what they looked like.

Such pretty birds! Glad to hear the juncos was unharmed.

Glad there was a happy ending David.

Glad you were able to help them, David!

Greenthumb. What a blessing to be in the right place at the right time to free the Juncos Last year I had none so am glad they are back this winter. They are such cheery birds and I like their black up/white down ball dances as they forage for food.

This year I also have a pair of Downys! And a Redbellied shoos away the Jays when he swoops in announcing his arrival. But I seem to have only one male Cardinal and at least eight females! Is it possible that some of the females are juvinile males who just haven't colored up yet?

I don't have a birdbath but after reading here I made an effort to put out some water for the birds. Last night I retrieved a heavy plant saucer and washed it well. After I put out more seed, cracked corn and peanut bits, I filled it with a half inch of water and put it out on a table where I also have a dish of seed. Came inside and watched to see if any birds would notice the water and take a drink before it froze solid.

In less than two minutes a bird lit on the rim and began to drink. I grabbed my binoculars for a close up of an Eastern Bluebird male! Have never seen bluebirds here and less than a dozen sightings in my life time. Oh wow . Talk about being in the right place at the right time (and doing the right thing!)! I had no idea they were that big. Such round heads and so blue! I watched to see if it would eat something, too and thought of Muddy and hher mealworms and quickly read thru my little bird book for hints of what they might like, when another bird landed to take a drink and I IDed it as a female Bluebird. Double WoW. And all because I followed through and put out that dish of water. The male returned in a little bit and perched facing away from me. How beautifully his wings showed off that little bright blue tail.

Sigh, I am in bluebird love...

how nice, Mariposa Maid!

This wind is so brutal that the birds come out long enough to feed and disappear again to their cover. The juniper is so buried in snow many are seeking shelter there, out of the wind.

I forgot you are snow covered.
My long hedge of evergreen Euonymus makes a good bird shelter, and I have a feeder out there in the front yard near it this year.

SS--

I posted these links here to help people ID the common bird-feeder birds
a while ago. The first link is especially helpful. Did you see this?

Have fun! Gita


http://www.wildbirds.com/Ident...

http://www.birdwatchersdigest....

http://feederwatch.org/wp-cont...

Yes Gita, you posted the links in the backyard critters thread and I responded to you there.

I checked to how much acorns we had left and I was shocked to find that most of them are already gone. But we had so many! I guess the birds and squirrels have been eating them up!

I filled feeders again this afternoon, and the sun felt good. I was contemplating one spot in the garden so long, (could I put a berry bearing evergreen there if so which?) the birds came to the feeders. I got to hear chickadees, redwing blackbirds, and more, and a good close view of the sapsucker on a new maple (we removed the one it used every year and I felt bad about that.) and watch assorted birds on the feeders. And just absorbed some peace from the wild things.

http://www.poetryfoundation.or...

Nice poem Sally.

How great that you found the juncos in time, greenthumb! I once had to cut a chipmunk free of bird netting I had left on the ground. It had managed to get its head through a square but couldn't move forward or back out.

ssg, in addition to squirrels, Blue Jays can move a lot of acorns out of yards. According to this article, 50 jays can transport and cache 150,000 acorns in 28 days, about 110 acorns per day for each bird: http://ucanr.edu/sites/oak_ran...

Muddy, that is a truly surprising number! I did see quite a few birds in my front yard right after the big snow storm. They must have been feasting on the acorns!

How nice of you to leave some for them!

Muddy, I'd only left the acorns on the ground because I couldn't pick them all up. I checked on the pile to gather them up for your birds, when I realized the acorns have been pretty popular here already!

I wonder if that's the reason the feral cats are constantly in my yard. But I'd rather have the cats hunting for voles, not these pretty birds!

I had no idea on the Blue Jays, Muddy. Boy are they busy ones. Thanks for the link. We've had a lot at the feeder recently.

What are they eating at your feeder? I would think they'd feast on the acorns all over your property instead. Whatever it is, it must be tasty!

Goodness, I really overdid it with parsley seeds. Please let me know if you want parsley seedlings at the spring swap. Or even before the swap! You know, to feed your family *and* swallowtail cats.

SSG, I would be happy to take any of your extra parsley seedlings!! I didn't raise any swallowtails last year, but the year before they went thru tons of food. What kind of parsley is it?

It's flat leaf parsley. I only planted two last year but they got huge! I was hoping for at least a few caterpillars but only found a couple on the fennel.

I'm determined to attract more swallowtails, and parsley happens to be my favorite herb so I planted lots of seeds this year.