Snow Birds

Yesterday morning I got up to six inches of snow and the birds were having a hard time finding a perch.  Each time they tried to land, the snow would give way and down they would come, birdy, snow and all.  Finally there were enough bare branches for them to gain some footing.  Here a male Housefinch is able to perch close to my blind.

A male Lesser Goldfinch is a bright spot in a snow-covered world.

As the day progressed a blizzard blew in and over a hundred birds, American Goldfinch, Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrows, flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, Pine Siskins, Eurasian Collared Doves, Starlings, Sharp-shinned hawks and these Housefinch all came to eat.  They emptied my feeders twice and the hawks harvested a few of the munchers.

A great day to observe nature in the Wilds of Idaho.

Back again.

Got a phone call today asking me if I had died.  No, I am still alive, but very busy.  Taking tickets at wrestling and basketball four or five nights a week, planning activities for the grant, teaching, filling an order for 14 rustic chairs and getting some fishing done, has taking its toll on my time.  I have been getting pictures of backyard birds, but have not been out searching for them. 

The Lesser Goldfinch in my backyard has been really interesting for me.  The male has not been very coopertive for me, but I did get a few acceptable pictures.

Mountain Chickadees have also been flocking to my feeders.  This is the first year I have had these show up.  The Black-capped still outnumber them, but their personalities are a little different from them.  They are sure fun to watch.

A few moments of wildness in Idaho.

Winter Goldfinch

The temperature is below zero and everything is frozen except - Goldfinches fighting over my nyjer socks.  They need a traffic controller, but it is too cold.  Here they fight over position at the breakfast table.

Fighting over a tiny seed is common.

Others fly in to join the feeding frenzy.

Mid air battles resemble the dog-fights of World War II.

After most of the American Goldfinch leaves, a lone one is joined by a Lesser Goldfinch.  Lessers are very uncommon to Rexburg.  But I have had about six hanging around the last week.

Just another wild day in Idaho to celebrate.