Dickens Quote

 “A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.”

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Birds February 2021

         It has been a particularly snowy and cold February. Central Pennsylvania had a snow cover for three weeks beginning with the Nor’easter that began the month and brought 14-15 inches of snow locally. The backyard birds needed a little more food at the feeders than is usual. The below average temperatures froze open water, thus delaying the migration of snow geese and tundra swans to the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lancaster County.

The back and forth between the various species in our backyard is entertainment. It appears that three mating pairs of bluebirds have used our feeders as a base for food this month. No wonder, because the snow is deep enough that I have used my new snowshoes to deliver food and seed to the various feeders. The cats, Coco and Pip in particular, seem mesmerized by the squabbles between mockingbirds and bluebirds over the mealworms I have left. It is a drama that Margaret Renkl captured in her essay, mirroring many people’s concerns about the current state of the world during. The battle for food here, however, is not limited to these two species, joined by starlings and crafty squirrels. The starlings descend on our feeders like ravenous commandos, aggressively emptying them seemingly within second. The squirrels are much more methodical, deducing how to circumnavigate “squirrel-proof” feeders, to casually fill their bellies. Whether our intervention into wildlife is correct or effective, Angie and I are wont to open the window to chase the squirrels and starlings away frequently.

This month also reminded us of the great diversity and complexity of the natural world. A bilateral gynandromorph, half-male, half female, northern cardinal was spotted in Warren County, Pennsylvania, near Erie this month. It is a reminder that we are not all the same and that variations happen and are natural.

House Finch

Ring-billed Gull

Snow Geese at the Children's Lake (Boiling Springs)

Juvenile Snow Goose. The patterns on this one was interesting.

A squirrel-proof feeder...