Birds of the Prairie in Winter

I enjoy feeding the birds in and watching them as they eat.

"This snow is so cold it makes my hair stand on end."
 "May be static electricity, Ralph."

"Just what are you thinking?"

Cardinals feed with white-crowned sparrows.

White clouds like tufts of cotton in a bright blue winter sky.

Hay bales topped with snow like iced cinnamon rolls.

Truck tracks in the driveway like the fancy stitch patterns my new sewing machine makes.

Dry grass like raffia ribbons.

Where do all the birds go to stay warm all winter? Not in nests. Birds only lay eggs and hatch and raise young in their nests leafless trees provide little shelter. Birds shelter in brush piles, fence rows, dead tree hollows, old barns, eaves and buildings, along the ground in old brier patches, layers of grasses, and in hay and other man made shelters.

Snow on the hill side under the old oak tree What a pretty sight. 

Tracks in the snow remind me of patterns cut in white paper snow flakes. Ever make those?

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This bird decided to" hunker down."Not a bad plan for crisis.

The meadowlarks are my favorite birds.

Long beaks, bright yellow bellies and black markings, not to mention a song that can brighten any day.

The stripes on the meadowlarks head remind me of something I can't quite remember.

Goldfinch on the feeder. Soon changing to bright yellow too.This one is starting.

Soon all his feathers will be yellow except the black and white wings.

Meadowlarks only come to eat in winter and only feed from the ground.

The top bird is a juvenile meadowlark and the lower one is a Harris's sparrow.

The meadowlarks are my favorites of all prairie birds.

A junco, Meadowlark and a Harris's sparrow.

The Meadowlark What a pretty bird! 

Bird tracks on the rocking chairs

I love the little gray capped titmouses.

A palliated woodpecker works most days in the big oak tree out back.

WHEEEEEE! Look at me Guys!

Snow on the porch swing like seven minute frosting on a spice cake.

A swirl of brown-headed cowbirds in the pasture with the horses.

From my back porch I find beauty in every season!