Feed Them and They Will Come or Lakeview Dining Open Year Round

                                
My last blog ended with my questioning what birds, if any, would stick around once winter set in.  I got my answer just last week!  On November 4th we had our first snow--just a couple of inches, but enough to give us a taste of winter, and enough for me to learn about our birds' migrating habits.

And what I learned was that if you continue to put food out for them, they will stick around.  In fact they will throng to your feeders and eat together, or should I say elbow each other aside for the best seat.  No more pecking order, unless something really large, like a raven or a band-collared pigeon swoops down, but generally they eat side by side. 

Northern Flicker with a Purple Finch

Mountain Chickadees and Finches

Lesser Goldfinch with Flicker

Even my tiny Lesser Goldfinches returned to the wind socks

 and if you look at the hummingbird feeder to the right of the water bowl, you will see a hummingbird  perched on the side.  In fact, I have never seen so many hummingbirds at this feeder since the weather turned.   Now that there are no flowers to feed from, I guess they'll be coming here.

This little one tried to get a drink from the frozen bowl of ice, then hopped down to the snow below and pecked away at that.

Since then, my husband and I take turns chopping through the ice in the bowl if it's just the top layer or adding warm water to melt it.

I talked to a few locals who are knowledgable about birds and asked if I am putting my birds in danger by providing food when the temperatures dip below freezing.  All reassured me that they wouldn't stay if they couldn't survive, plus they are just a day's flight or less down the mountain to warmer climate. Just when I thought I'd be spending less money on bird food each month, I am buying more.  I now have more birds than ever!

...and even a few  newcomers.   I am not sure what this bird is, although I'm wondering if it's a young Northern Flicker.  Does anyone out there know?  I've looked through my books and can't find it.  It does resemble the flicker a bit and as my husband pointed out, the tail feathers don't look fully developed. 

All I know is that they come in small groups daily.

                                                                                                 
I am curious to see if they will all continue to enjoy fine dining at my lake view restaurant once winter really settles in.  We'll soon see.