Gloomy rainy day, the end of winter and the blackbirds song

Someone commented on this video taken years ago to the day,
... and today the environment in the yard is almost exactly the same.

farmers get wisdom.
but by the time the correlations all make sense to them, they die.
Be wise. listen to your farmer friends.

more blackbirds, rusty blackbirds, HERE and blackbirds' song HERE

this is the last gasp of winter, according to the calendar.

i rototilled some new ground for onions and lettuce yesterday, and put in some bibb leteuce starts. if nothing else, the cats will have rabbit...




just kidding! the wabbits are too fast, and the cats getting a wee bit older.

very loud redwinged blackbirds

The Blizzard of Oz 2013 Storm

Winter storm Q, or The Blizzard of Oz 2013 was certainly hyped. Now the first wave is over and we picked up a few inches-- it's hard to say since the winds are so magNIFicent here in the bowl of flint hills that we have constant and massive drifting. Some drifts in the yard are up to five feet.

The Rusty Blackbirds are here! Not quite endangered but not where they should be. (Pictures HERE)
Well, a big lovely flock came today. Over 100 or probably 200. I'll post some pics and vid later today.

(The internet is not reliable right now. I've already lost this post and was unable to connect for a while.)

They come because: I have provided a steady water and food source for 12 years. I even get a flock of yellow headed blackbirds in the spring. (Some pics HERE)

Today is a blast, everything is closed and folks are nestled in. No demands except whether to make chili or toll house cookies....

Birds i saw today: (most live here at the moment)- Several types of woodpeckers,

 two eNourmous Flickers, a small flock of robins, a large group of finches, some house finches, purple finches, and goldfinches in winter wear. Nuthatches, a Titmouse, cardinals of course, many types of sparrows. Crows, red-winded blackbirds, rusty blackbirds, geese, a hawk, Black-capped chickadee. more...
oh! a yellow-bellied sapsucker was here!! (and i have the pics...:-)

Abovei have a great pic of a red bellied woodpecker by a big mushroomy thing on the tree.

laater...
and here are a few quick shots:

rusty blackbirds in winter 2013

yellow bellied sap sucker

Blizzard of Oz Bird

birds can spell

does this snow make me look plump?

cardinal pairs

 

Bird Pictures in BoneChillin Icy Global Winter (Blizzard Birds in Snow) and the Rusty Blackbird

Snow and Holyday Breaks Are Good. I know some of you have said many of my posts are quite alarming or horrible. Thank you- it is good to know one is being read correctly.
Here is one more sweet and cheerful post from the holiday break.
The yard,feeding birds during this iced winter:  (click to enlarge) 
( i was reduced some days to shooting pics through the windows as it was below zero, the wind was blowing, and i was afraid...) 

Crow in Ice by mary todd

Crow Walk  by mary todd

Crow in Snow



Meadowlark, kansas state bird, in winter by mary todd



Crow pics by mary todd

I have counted well over 20, maybe 30 species of birds coming for assistance in this very hard (for them) winter; some even come and knock on the door offering a feather or two in exchange for some water and a wee handful of seed.

Here are some American Crows; the Kansas State Bird--MeadowLark; and a thirsty squirrell.

A flock of Rusty Blackbirds (see pic at bottom of post) came yesterday; had to look them up, have never seen them, and the females and males are each quite different in autumn plumage.

I have had to give up mochas and the typical friday night steak to buy enough food for the literally hundreds of birds who are desperate for something until the deep ice/snow layer can be pierced for foraging once again. To say nothing of the -8 (MINUS 8) degree temps predicted for the next 2 nights. The birds are so cold they no longer fly away when the cats come outside (for about 3 minutes) -- it seems they have a truce not to add to the wind chill by moving fast...

we humans do a lot of

complaining; we are

a spoiled lot are we not

addendum 2-11-1010 (the day achmadinajhad said he was nuclear)--these are Rusty Blackbirds, not faring so well in the survival "game",  see more here and join the Great Backyard Birdcount  national day of birdcount:  http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/science-stories/past-stories/the-decline-and-fall-of-the-rusty-blackbird

Birds Come in Spring

showers, flowers, feeders and hope bring yellow headed blackbirds and others to the yard.
click on pic to enlarge

 yellow headed blackbirds

more here

Summer Birds Come to Kansas: Orioles, Blackbirds and Finches, Oh My

Add Red-headed woodpeckers, Yellow-headed blackbirds, bluebirds, wrens, bluejays, sparrows, grackles, vultures, robins, and on and on.
Here are some pics from this week:
Baltimore oriole was really more orange but the sun was right on him.

 More Kansas Orioles HERE...

 Bathing and eating video

these pics are LARGE click to view  

This red-headed woodpecker has a video HERE.

HERE is another real clear red head video they say is from lake erie

and here is one i took a couple years ago that is short but has shadowplay and an amazing soundtrack.

Orioles love birdbaths wnd will play in sprinklers too.

More Birds HERE

and Hummingbirds HERE!

and HERE