Weathering Winter

TURF

SUNFLOWER SEEDS


SNOW

AWAKE/ASLEEP

WATCH

YAWN

d.b.

Crow Excavation

This sequence began with two Crows alternating acting sentinel, with attempting to unearth and eat something frozen in the snow at the base of the Goodie Stump. Then one of the Crows spied me and decided to abandon the effort but this Crow stayed a little longer.

What freshly struck me about this activity, is that they didn't use their feet in any excavating kind of way. They stoood on them, their feet, or they may have stood on "it", the frozen food, but there was no, scratching, digging, or other use of toes, toenails, or feet to aid the beak in the effort that I could see. Nor the body movements that would have entailed.


Why don't Crows use their feet like that?

Many other birds do--various species of sparrow, Tohee, chickens, to name just a few, but some birds like Crows don't.

Why?

Donegal Browne

Mystery Teeny Ski Tracks, Doorstep and Company, plus Site Alerts

Doorstep Dove eyes the House Sparrow. For some reason Doorstep seems to check the sparrows out far more carefully than do her counterparts.


Earlier in the day, there had been a raptor somewhere close outside. The squirrels scolded for hours and there wasn't a bird to be seen. I went out and looked and could not find her for the life of me. Which makes me suspect Accipter, but aren't they all supposed to have migrated out?


The day has been cold and the birds have been having to lay low. They are hungry, and I've rarely seen birds peck this fast.

Doorstep still up center, with no legs. Metaphorically anyway.

Suddenly the ground flock headed out a a quick swoosh, and while looking around for them, I say that little what? Looks like a ski trail for an animal that wears three skis.

See?

Another look. Being practical did someone slide on their claws down the hill? Squirrel? Or is it really a three legged fairy who is into winter sports.

From Brooklyn's Peggy M--

Click here: Cloudboxer.com Unique Bird Photography Bird Art

Have you seen any of these? I thought you'd enjoy them because they are fantastic.

PeggyM
Brooklyn, NY

And a site recommendation from falconer Joanne of Emrys Raptors

http://www.themodernapprentice.com/gen_biology.htm

In particular readers might be interested in clicking Health then click Diseases as this last year was rather fraught with them, in NYC at least, and there is also a good starter glossary of terms related to raptors.

My apologies in advance--The blog may be a bit spotty for a few days as my Mom passed away last Saturday, and I'm taking care of the arrangements.

D.B.