I enjoy photographing wildlife visitors to our feeders, especially when there is snow in the air! These are some of the birds that brighten our winter days on a regular basis.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Northern Cardinal, female
Northern Cardinal, male
Goldfinch, in non-breeding plumage
Blue Jay, opening a sunflower seed
Tufted Titmouse
White-throated Sparrow
Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove, one of about 20 fluttering in to feed on the ground
Photos by NB Hunter (January, 2020). © All rights reserved.
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe” – John Muir
Squirrels, both red and gray, are frequent visitors to our bird feeders. But, they must do more than eat: avoid being eaten! A Red Fox has also been cruising the neighborhood, and small mammals are a dietary staple.
Morning doves, as many as two dozen, flutter in to feed several times a day. But, they too have natural enemies. Cooper’s hawks learn to hunt bird feeders (their fly-through restaurant), and doves are a favorite target.
Coyotes prey on deer, especially young, old and unhealthy ones. However, the greatest threat to deer in winter is a population that exceeds the carrying capacity of the habitat. Over time, excessive browsing by hungry deer destroys the forest understory, which has an adverse, domino effect on plant and animal diversity.
The dense vegetation in this scene is misleading. It obviously provides bedding cover, but is virtually devoid of palatable food.
Pileated woodpeckers are thriving in our woodlands, especially where tree mortality from ash decline, beech bark disease and other pests is high. Large dead and dying trees provide habitat for woodpeckers to drill for food and create nest cavities. Later, the excavations become critical nesting habitat for dozens of bird and mammal species – including the Tufted Titmouse.
When winters are severe, with heavy snow cover, a “winter thaw” can be the difference between life and death for wildlife. Turkeys are one species that benefit greatly from a warm spell in mid winter because they mainly forage on the ground.
In winter, blackbirds form large flocks that waste little time finding concentrated food sources. Barn yards and farm fields are favorite dining locations.
Photos by NB Hunter (Jan. – Feb., 2019). © All rights reserved.
In the snow belt, harsh winter weather and snow cover trigger aggressive feeding by resident wildlife. Bird counts and squirrel activity at artificial feeding stations reach an annual peak, a phenomenon that is most apparent in the midst of a snow storm. At various times throughout the day, chaos reigns as dozens of birds and mammals converge at feeders, providing wonderful opportunities for “wildlife watching” …and photography.
Chickadee and Downy Woodpecker feeding on a block of suet and grain.
Red-breasted Nuthatch at rest near feeders on a frigid winter morning
Blue Jay evaluating its feeding options
A pleasantly plump Gray Squirrel eating …. because it can!
White-breasted Nuthatch, an upside-down favorite
Red Squirrel digging for grain under a layer of fresh snow
Squirrels are notorious for their creative gymnastics around elevated “bird” feeders
Perhaps our most popular winter resident, cardinal sightings are down this year, and we don’t know why
Woodpeckers (Hairy and Red-bellied) squabbling over access to a suet block.
The Tufted Titmouse is expanding its range northward, influenced by artificial feeding and global warming
Photos by NB Hunter. © All rights reserved.
A Tufted Titmouse occasionally visits our feeders in winter, but it’s unpredictable and rarely lingers. This visit was different, influenced by harsh wind, snow and subzero wind chills.
The little songbird was in survival mode: it found shelter and food, put its back to the wind, puffed its feathers for insulation and hunkered down.
Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.
This morning was calm, clear and very cold, so I wasn’t surprised to see a few songbirds perching in the morning sun with their feathers fluffed up for added insulation.
Tufted Titmouse coping with the cold on a winter morning
Photo by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.
Backyard wildlife activity continues to increase in response to frigid temperatures and accumulating snow cover. This, the second of my “bird” feeder posts, features a few more of the regular visitors to supplemental feeding sites around the house.
At least 6 Blue Jays feed aggressively and often, throughout the day.
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata; 1 of 2)
Most active in early morning and late evening, cardinals tend to visit the feeders throughout the day as the winter weather becomes more severe.
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
The Titmouse is an irregular and unpredictable visitor. I usually see just one, and it rarely lingers for more than a few seconds. A dainty eater, it darts in, grabs a seed, and poof! It’s gone.
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
Tracks and traces in the snow tell the story of resident cottontails. They’re mostly nocturnal, sneaking into the feeders under the cover of darkness.
Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)
Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.
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