I had this idea that feeding the birds would be a pleasant way to pass the winter. I have three tube feeders, two suet feeders, a heated birdbath, scatter seed on the ground for chickadees and other birds that would rather eat on the ground. I’ve become very popular with a wide variety of birds. But something has gone terribly, terribly wrong.
It started a week or so ago when a few redwinged blackbirds visited the back yard. As I mentioned at the time, it’s unusual to see these harbingers of spring visit the garden in January.
Yesterday, there were more than a few. There were hundreds of them.
Within a few minutes of the arrival of the first group, more appeared, and then more.
Maybe this means something. I grilled some chicken out on the patio the other day; do they know that? What if twice as many come today? Could this be my last post?
the miserable gardener 
We should go see “The Master” (I have a hunch it is fun–about the filming of “The Birds”). I remember when that came out–my sister worked at the theatre. I adored my sister (and still do) and she had a colossal Freudian phobia of bird wing flapping (parakeets fluttering in a cage gave her the willies): needless to say she didn’t venture into the theatre once when it was playing. Was it Hamlet who said “Get thee to a rookery!?”…Love that Western song with the redwinged blackbird in it. I just saw a very big red tailed hawk swoop by MY window in pursuit of rabbits perhaps? Go hawk Go hawk!)…synchronicity?
Nay, it was that Macbeth guy. “Light thickens, and the crow makes wing to the rooky wood; good things of day begin to droop and drowse, While’s night’s black agents to their preys do rouse.”
They came not today, save for a solitary bird; ’tis a mystery.
That is a lot of birds! Hopefully they leave you alone… 🙂
Just one blackbird today. Very strange. I wish I could have captured hundreds of them in flight, but they scare easily, I guess.
“How Hitchcockian” was my first thought too. We’ll be checking on you soon.
Still here. Not very many birds at all today, but the only time I looked at the temperature, it was 11. I’d stay at home too.
Wow…I’d stay inside for sure. Not because of fear they’d peck my eyes out but fear they might “have a moment” just as they passed over me. I’ve been to Venice, I know what happens when there are a whole bunch of birds flying over head, it ain’t pretty.
I’ve been pooped on by birds at least three times in my life, and each time there was someone else there who thought it was hilarious.
The house three down from me has always attracted pigeons, lots of them, and no one can figure out why; I guess I’m lucky.
At least they aren’t vultures!!! Always look on the bright side!
Hi Bob, Cliff Booker here … attracted by the humour and the plants … and where else can I read about bird poop in my own living room?
Greetings from a snowy Lancashire, England.
Hi, Cliff.
I could have vultures. There used to be a flock at the Federal Correctional Institute (ie, prison) a half mile or so east of here.
Terrific photos you post on alpine-L, by the way.
Hi Bob, I always knew that vultures were trouble, but ‘correctional institute’ … wow!!! LOL.
Many thanks for the very kind comment.
Sure.
On the other side of Kipling Street, the “main drag” here, there is a huge Federal prison, with concertina wire, etc. It’s a pretty scary-looking place. There used to be vultures hanging around there, but I think that was because of the large prairie dog colony.
My grandma would have loved to see that; Red Winged Blackbirds were her favourite.
Strange that they’re here in the winter, but they have been for the last two winters.