I will guess that there are 60 plus birds feeding at once…maybe more. Sometimes it looks like that Hitchcock movie in our yard. The day I was shoveling the patio all the birds flew but one. Poor thing was walking around looking for seeds, one of his wings looked funny…perhaps a clash with a tree or a window. He walked around as I shoveled, one time I almost covered him up with snow…I was torn …what to do…what to do. He jumped up and struggled out of the avalanche…I told him I was sorry. Then I started carrying shovels of snow way away from him. I finally decided to let nature takes it’s course, I got real up close and personal with him while clearing off the tops of the solar lights. He flew into the thistle feeder and just rested there, panting heavily. Poor thing.
When we got home from town he was gone…possibly totally recovered…some things just take time. Perhaps he flew off into the woods and died…but I hope he lived to see another day.
Maybe this is him…maybe not…
If you don’t have Red Polls at your house rest assured they are being fed well in Northern Minnesota where it is colder than a witches titty on the shady side of an iceberg.
I guess we shouldn't complain. We're supposed to have temperatures near 0 tonight. We rarely have weather any colder. Only one snow shoveling day so far this winter. That's unusual for us.
ReplyDeleteWe keep our feeders full all year round but especially see the most birds in the winter when there is scant food provided by nature. We reckon we've helped many, many generations of birds survive and thrive in our area. The birds give us so much enjoyment . You have some pretty birds there, Washington does not have red polls to my knowledge.
ReplyDeleteGlad the little bird fly somewhere, so cold here too. No Redpolls here right now, must be enjoying your Thistle feed. Keep Cozy,Francine.
ReplyDeleteAw, poor little redpoll. Winter in Minnesota is hard on the birds. We are keeping a few warm for you down here. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhen I fed the birds I would grieve over the little hurt ones. And once I saw a big blackbird take a smaller finch as lunch. You reminded me of those with this little one. I hope your little guy did live to see another day.
ReplyDeleteHow compassionate of you! I think you did the right thing, and we can only hope it recovered safely. Cats are charming creatures, but the do hunt birds, and that is very cruel side of outdoor life.
ReplyDeleteThey're so cute, I don't think we have them here. And thank you for taking such good care of them.
ReplyDeletePoor little fellow, I hope he made it too. We have hundreds of them and I need to buy a bag of thistle seed next trip to town...in the meantime they hang out on my oat bales where there is a full menu of weed seeds and the bonus of shelter on those windy winter days.
ReplyDeleteIt's tough to just let them be, isn't it.
ReplyDeleteI love the little redpolls, they brighten my day when I spot one amongst the goldfinches. We feed black oil sunflower seeds, Niger thistle is way too expensive here.
If the little bird could still fly, and was eating, I'd say it's chances were pretty good. I've had them hit the window, and usually after putting them in a safe place, they seem to recover and fly away.
ReplyDeleteOh I do hope he made it!
ReplyDeleteIt is so lovely to see the birds on the feeders, they certainly need a good supply of food in these colder months.
We had a light covering of snow in my part of the UK, although other areas had more.
Keep warm
All the best Jan
In the bird world they get sick and old and so die. sometimes there are injuries and sometimes predators. These little guys have a very short life span.
ReplyDeleteI think we've hit the shady side of the iceberg. I saw the temp and wind chill in your neck of the woods. You are a tad colder than we are here and every degree below zero matters when we get to double digits. Yikes it's cold!!! stay warm. Hope the red poll made it.
ReplyDeleteBless you for feeding God's little creatures.
ReplyDeleteKeep safe & warm up there!
Gosh, I hope he does make it. I hate for little things to suffer, but being able to recover is the best!
ReplyDeleteLinda
Wonderful of you to take care of the winter birds. You are helping them to survive
ReplyDeleteShirley H.
I'll be glad when this cold snap passes, that's for sure! Love the sweet bird. I'll be refilling the finch feeder myself this morning. We just bought more seed for them and for the cardinals and bluejays, juncos, chickadees, etc. etc. and of course the bunnies and squirrels. LOL
ReplyDeleteYou do good work, shoveling snow and feeding birds. Now relax and enjoy the view.
ReplyDeleteI've just gone from feeling sad for the little birdie to chuckling over your description of how cold it is. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes interfering with nature is the worst thing to do. I have birds crashing into my windows and laying stunned for what seems like forever but I just go outside and sit near and protect them so nothing gets at them while they're stunned.
ReplyDeleteI hear it is REALLY cold up there right now...straight from the arctic. It's colder than usual here but the birds have plenty...heck, the grass is still green and there are so many berries in the woods but if we get snow then I put out food. We might next week but probably not.
I am so glad you guys are helping out the little birdies through this awfully cold winter. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute little bird. I hope he survived.
ReplyDeleteYou do have a way with words!!! and birds, obviously. 25 lbs of Niger seed must be quite a big bag. Your birds are lucky.
ReplyDeleteI do love that last paragraph.
ReplyDeleteThose birds are lucky to have you.
God bless.
Oh, what lovely shots of those well fed birds! Hope all is well and that it isn't too cold... We've been having arctic weather over here...
ReplyDeleteThose birds are pretty plucky. I'm thinking he/she recovered and flew off.
ReplyDeleteI always feel sorry for injured birds and never know what to do. He's a pretty one.
ReplyDelete