Hummmmmmmingbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrds
I'm sitting here in a warm robe, and air vent blowing my way. Tasty coffee in hand, a deaf cat sleeping on my feet keeping them extra toasty warm. Happy Saturday from a very frozen chunk of America.
And then I saw something darting across the sunlight that is streaming in from the cold frozen outdoors.
A little tiny hummingbird, looking pretty much the worse for wear. He was investigating christmas lights since the feeder is frozen solid. I usually have two hummingbirds in my yard. The green headed one and the purple headed one. This new little fellow was tiny and brown. Not my usual hummers. My yard is a flower oasis in the summer and this year the flowers lasted until November. A month longer than usual. Maybe this little guy had gotten lost on his way South.
He kept returning to the feeder looking a little worse each time. How those tiny birds can survive out there is beyond me.
I thawed out the feeder and put it back up. The wind and freezing is terrible.
I came back in, got my coffee and my foot warmer (purrrrr) and suddenly, out from the yard there arose such a clatter. Six or seven hummingbirds all lining up waiting for some food. I've never seen them grouped like that. And for the next half an hour I had a steady stream of hummingbirds filling up. Birds I've never seen before. A dark green one that was almost blue, I purply guy that had a red head. A new charcoal colored one that was the biggest hummingbird I've ever seen. They were not being territorial, they were taking turns. There were so many that they must be coming from all over the neighborhood.
But the feeder started to freeze up again. Birds were showing up who couldn't eat. And then it hit me! A handwarmer! I taped a handwarmer to the feeder and since then the food has stayed liquid and the birds are still showing up on a steady basis. But while I was out, I noticed the yard is full of birds. We have a feeder, but they aren't anywhere near it. They are over at the pond. It is frozen over but the waterfall is still splashing down to the lower pond. It is iced up but not iced over. There is a steacy line up of birds drinking. Crows, a couple of ravens, several flocks of little brown birds. My little waterfall might be the only running water in the neighborhood. Maybe in my whole area of the city.
So I made a party out of it. I put out my walnuts I was going to use for Christmas, put out my almonds and some granola, and all morning, as I sit here listening to classical music, drinking coffee, enjoying warmth and a home, I'm seeing new birds every couple of minutes. I haven't gone five minutes without a hummingbird.
And it makes me think of all the cold living creatures out there. And my nice warm house. And my closet full of coats and scarves and my drawer full of gloves. Brown for brown shoes, black for black shoes, a grey pair, a blue pair. I never wear the blue pair. They are too short for my fingers. I have some old hats that I think look stupid on me. I have a scarf my mom gave me that is uuugly and I'll probably never wear.
So I'm putting all those extras in ziplock bags and putting them in the car. The next homeless person I pass is getting a bag with gloves (blue with short fingers), a hat that looked cute on the rack (but makes my head look like a giant red melon) and a scarf (that has no redeeming qualities except that it is warm) thrown to him/her out the window of my car.
So I'm asking you to think about some other living critters during this cold winter. Put out some water. Share some nuts and seeds. Turn that horrible sweater Aunt Mabel gave you into a warm layer on a cold cold person. That hat you never wear could be someone's cherished favorite warm hat. That terrible quilt you made that hides in the back of the closet, could be the snuggly blanket a little kid curls up under tonight. Those things can all be treasures to someone in need.
Share a little. Give a little warmth. Throw those hungry birds a few seeds.
It will make you a better person.
Happy Warm Saturday From Our House To Yours.
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We usually have birdseed out, but the tray is full of ice so I've just been putting it out on the patch of patio right by the house that is not covered with ice. Big bird party going on, and the cats have been closely monitoring it. 
Thanks for looking out for the birds
Rec 
Not bad for a cold Saturday! Bless your heart. It is 19F here in MI. Brrrr.
I feed the birds & squirrels here too. No hummingbirds this time of year obviously, but lots of finches, jays, cardinals, chickadees, doves, & a cedar waxwing or two. Plus fat sassy brown squirrels that my cats love to chatter at thru the window. Stay warm and again:
We used to have bird baths and bird feeders that attracted gorgeous birds. But the neighborhood cats and then the hawks came. To protect the birds we had to shut down our feeders and baths. Broke my heart.
The hawks would stand watch from the dogwood tree, then swoop down on a bluejay or cardinal.
Thanks for sharing.
She was so thin, and pathetic, that I started feeding her. I made her an easy, insulated kitty house and got her a cheap dog bed to put in it along with an old fleece blanket. That was five years ago. She's sound asleep, fat as a tick, safe and happy on the rug inside .
You remind me of my father, who would do similar acts to help animals and people. He was my hero.
Male and female Anna's and bonus skunks
LOVE this story
I've been feeding my birds extra treats
A blessing upon you.
We have never had hummingbirds stay the winter here in the Omaha metro area.
Groundhogs, opossums, raccoons, squirrels, mice, deer, and over a dozen species of birds in the winter enjoy our feeding grounds in the backyard.
This first photo of Bluebirds was taken last January when the temp was about 10 outside. You can see the cord for the water heater in the photo.
OS
EXCELLENT!!!!!!
Such a great post - just crammed full of great ideas!!!!!
I always keep my feeders full this time of year, and make sure to put out suet cakes as well since they are nice and high in fat. Gotta keep the birdies plump so they can stay warm.
My birds and squirrels come first. They have water and food early every morning.
We've trapped and brought in three feral cats, because living with wild animals is better than them bothering my outside critters.