Extreme Weather Birdies

[yourlibrarian]

I thought I'd already posted this here but apparently not. Our food plate attracts various sparrows and finches, and normally these are very bouncy birds, constantly hopping and flying in and out. This first picture is what they normally look like, even though it was taken during a rainy winter day.



They tend to move quickly around our balcony.



But when it got below zero it was about 19 below when we set out the new plate of food. We noticed that the birds were not bouncing. Instead, every time they moved they hunkered down immediately and covered their legs. I guess they understand frostbite.







Since the warmer temperatures returned our birdies acting like their usual hoppy selves. Here are a bunch of them hanging out in the nearby tree where they can keep an eye on the food plate and swoop in.

Comments

[chestnut_pod]

So cute!

[yourlibrarian]

They are a lively bunch!

Great!

[jesse_the_k]

I appreciate your documenting the span of weather-related responses.

Re: Great!

[yourlibrarian]

It was something we'd never seen before and we were concerned about the wildlife, so we definitely noticed it.

[redsixwing]

Protect the birdie toes! \o/

[yourlibrarian]

Yes!

[allekha]

What cute chubby birds <3

[yourlibrarian]

They do get very fluffy!

[sylvaine]

Darlings! <3

[yourlibrarian]

<3

[shirebound]

Here are a bunch of them hanging out in the nearby tree where they can keep an eye on the food plate and swoop in.

We have a bush in our backyard where the birds hang out. When I go outside to refill the feeder and water dishes, I know they're watching me. It's so heartwarming to see them swooping in! Thank you for sharing this pictorial with us. Spring can't come soon enough!

[yourlibrarian]

We also have bushes around where they also congregate but they're hard to see there (especially come spring when the leaves return). I sometimes suspect we get as many visitors as we do because the tree makes it easy for them to keep tabs on the food.

[thenewbuzwuzz]

Awww! What a lovely post

[yourlibrarian]

We enjoy watching our little visitors :)

[weofodthignen]

Oh, the poor little things. I'm so glad you give them food.

[yourlibrarian]

The birdies who visit us definitely eat well -- we generally find it takes an hour before two cups of birdseed disappear ;)

[marycatelli]

You need down leggings as well as down coats, at that temperature.

[yourlibrarian]

Definitely.

[alatefeline]

Thank you for birbs.

[yourlibrarian]

You're welcome!

[cesy]

Love them!

[yourlibrarian]

I just watched a bunch of them flock in and then out over 30 seconds :)

[dhampyresa]

What cuties

[yourlibrarian]

They're bouncy bouncy fun :)