Mr. Downy Woodpecker & Friends

I feed the birds year-round, but I especially enjoy feeding the birds in the winter. It seems like there are fewer birds in the winter, and there are birds that I don't normally see during the summer. It's very relaxing to watch the birds from the warm chair in my house.

We've had quite a bit of snow the past few days. The temperature has been in the single digits and the howling winds have blown the snow into deep drifts and brought the wind chill down into negative territory. The feeders were empty this morning, so I trudged through some deep snow to fill the peanut feeder, the thistle feeder, the sunflower feeder, and the suet feeder. I also threw some corn cobs out onto the snow and poured some corn, peanuts, and sunflowers onto a section of snow as well.

As I was about to hang the suet feeder back up I heard a familiar chirp, and there was Mr. Downy Woodpecker, just a few feet away in the tree, ready for his breakfast. I had scarcely hung up the feeder and walked a few feet away and he was already on the suet happily pecking away. I think that's why I love Downy Woodpeckers so much - they are such friendly birds. Often both the Mr. and the Mrs. will hang around and keep me company while I shovel snow.

I went back into the house to warm up and then looked out the window. Word had travelled quickly that the buffet had been replenished because there were at least six finches on the thistle feeder, three woodpeckers, a pair of cardinals, three blue jays, at least ten juncos, along with three chubby squirrels. My quiet yard had been turned into a hub of bustling activity within minutes. And I settled down into my warm chair and enjoyed the show.