Here's a good read on them.
http://www.wildlifecenteroftexas.org/2011/05/pileated-woodpecker-new-video/
I don't remember it ever being this cold before. I tried to take a few photos at the feeders and just having my glove off for 10 seconds I could feel my skin begin to freeze. I had to cover my face with my scarf and head back in. How on earth do the birds survive in this weather? Or anything else.
I'm tellin' ya...it is survival of the fittest these days. As I drove back from our property I noticed a large amount of crows eating something on the side of the road. As I got closer I saw that they were eating a dead crow. Geez.....
I stopped at Timmy's for a coffee and as I sat in the parking lot a crow flew up beside the car with a leaf of frozen lettuce in it's beak. It must have found it in the garbage can. Oh boy, I'm losin' it but my heart just broke for this bird. I had some cat food in the car and threw a hand-ful outside the window. It dropped that frozen lettuce faster than a cat whips it's tail and devoured the hard food.
Everything is so hungry and food is scarce with so much snow and freezing temperatures.
I don't even want to think of feral cats out there. I just put the food down and leave the rest to God.
Today at the feeders a beautiful male cardinal came by. That was a treat to see. The female showed up shortly after along with a red-poll and numerous blue-jays.
The nuthatch is a regular, too.
Someone was pretty tuckered out today at the mouse-house.
This winter even the dogs are fed up.
At 14 1/2 this cold weather takes it's toll on 'ol Kane.
He dreams of lying in the shade of one of our big, old maple trees.
We're counting the days 'til Spring.
Stay toasty,
Deb
Best for Kane to stay inside in this kind of weather. It's reached the point where it's too cold for me- I decided against photographing a couple of sculptures at Winterlude I'd missed. It's just not possible to take the gloves off without doing damage to the fingers.
ReplyDeleteOld Kane only goes out to pee and runs right back inside again. I have to watch him constantly even for that bit of time as I fear he might fall and not get up from the cold wind. I know what you mean about frozen fingers, William. Take care of yourself. I think Wednesday we might get some relief. :)
DeleteI really feel for you dear - it's much too cold for humans and, like you, I worry about the animals. How fab you had the cat food handy, frozen lettuce just doesn't do it these days, or any come to think of it!
ReplyDeleteWe filled the feeders yesterday then waited until the snow/sleet started today about 5 PM to refill - they were almost empty. We melted the water at least 4 times throughout the day and will of course be out there early in the morning. Evrything is just covered in a layer of ice, hardly any snow fell - we have fingers crossed that the power stays on, that's all we ask as it's so cold!
That pic of Kane is just fabulous - what a beautiful dog and he doesn't look old at all. I could just cuddle him all night!
Hang in there and keep those gloves on.
Hugs - Mary
Such a sweet photo of Kane! I think chickadees have to be everyone's favorite, they always sound so cheerful. And exciting about the pileated, that is a great sighting!!
ReplyDeleteKane is such a handsome boy.
ReplyDeleteKeep warm all!
There are pileateds nested around here too........there is a rotted tree stump in my back flower bed and last summer he came by every evening and pecked at it till it crumbled in pieces.......the photos are on my blog, go take a look, very funny!!! I's dang cold here too, -5 tonight........
ReplyDeleteAll your dickie~birds love your feeders, and what
ReplyDeletea variety you have....And, the lovely woodpecker...
Reminds me of an old school joke...
"What do you call a woodpecker with no beak?"
A Headbanger....! :).
And Kane does'nt look to bothered...Unlike the other
furry ones! Bless!x
How great that you had a woodpecker! Stay warm and safe! xx
ReplyDeleteI have several pairs of Pileated Woodpeckers on my property, but rarely spot these shy, shy birds. I love finding their rectangular holes , 2 holes few inches apart.
ReplyDeleteGod speed for the ferals. Thanks for feeding them.
We have pileateds here..their call sounds like a maniac's laugh.
ReplyDeleteI just kissed Kane's nose...please pass it on.
Jane x
Love, love, love that sweet photo of Kane. I've never seen a pileated -- always think of Woody when I see a picture! Today I need to refill feeders -- they're hungry but leaving the suet alone for some reason. I might take it out of the feeder -- it's there because of bad Bushy the Squirrel but I'm thinking maybe it's too frozen.
ReplyDeleteThose Woodpeckers remind me of the Woody Woodpecker cartoons!
ReplyDeleteYou will certainly have a beautiful garden with all those birds!
Gosh....so cold there....stay inside!
Cheers!
Linda :o)
We are right there with on the cold...it's just plain dangerous now!
ReplyDeleteThe woodpecker...oh, wow..that is just amazing. I've never seen that kind..what a beauty!
Leaving it up to God is the hardest thing I've ever endured, since I began to take care of the ferals! For the first years, they did not live in the shelter that we built, maybe because it had no straw. But my stress level was much lower, because hey, they showed up to eat and then disappeared! Now, they run out when the hear my feet crunching on the snow, and no one will eat until they've gotten enough petting, and I spend time brushing snow away from their Cat Hotel, and shoveling paths so they have trails. C'mon Spring!
ReplyDeleteBless everyone who helps wild animals make it through winter--whether feeding, watering, or providing shelter.
ReplyDeleteMy parents fed birds in their yard. They had an evergreen that was too close to the garage, but they refused to cut it down. Just kept trimming it so it wouldn't scrape the side of the car. The birds loved that tree and my parents didn't have the heart to cut it down. The new owners did, though ;-(
It's a good thing crows can eat just about anything, but some of that hard food will give him something better than lettuce, the poor fellow. And Kane at 14 and a half is doing pretty well; just keep warm, old boy.
ReplyDeleteHow do these woodland creatures survive in those cold temps? I do so worry about them all! Perhaps it's good luck to have a woodpecker visit!!! Lovely Kane...I could just kiss that sweet face!
ReplyDeleteDeb, you are all in my heart and thoughts these days for the extreme cold weather.
ReplyDeleteLast night thinking of that, I said a prayer for the feral cats and all others who are outside. May God answer with safety for them.
I am so glad that you and others care for the animals that they can reach - the cats, the birds, all.
I love the perfect photo of Kane.
Bless you,
Lily
My heart goes out to all who are suffering with this winter weather. My daughter lives in Chicago and by Friday AM it will be -30 degrees! While out west, we feel guilty about our spring-like weather but would be ever so grateful for some moisture. Prayers for all God's creatures that are trying to survive this winter.
ReplyDeleteWe had a bit milder weather today, Mary. Tomorrow will be the same. I hope this -30C nonsense is gone for this year. I noticed the birds seemed calmer and heard a bit of singing today at the feeders.
DeleteLove the picture of Kane. He looks so sweet. You are so lucky to get the picture of the woodpecker. My heart breaks for the animals too. I've almost worried myself sick. I have two ducks sitting on a frozen pond. I can't reach them and can't get them to come in. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI remember as a child spotting a pileated woodpecker hammering away at a dead tree in the woods behind our house (in Ohio). It was thrilling. He was so exotic and large. I haven't seen one since, but I know how dramatic they are. We are suffering in Boston from the cold and the snow. Now I have leaks in the house, so I'm terrified of what will happen when things start to thaw.
ReplyDelete