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Just finished filling the bird feeders. Didn’t want to do it. It’s so cold that going outside for any reasons looms like some sort of epic quest where you know there will be hardships. But we did it, Jon and I. I was actually out long enough filling the suet feeders that my finger tips started doing that hurting thing. That sharp hurting, just before it starts to burn from the cold, the next step after that is you stop feeling your finger tips. After that you get frost bite, but we weren’t out nearly that long. I’ve had mild frost bite, and once you’ve had it, it makes you overly aware of the cold.
The birds are usually cautious for a little while after the feeders are filled, afraid of the newness, I guess. But by the time we got inside, unwrapped ourselves, and I had cleaned the suet off my fingers, there was a Downy woodpecker at one of the suet feeders. It’s our smallest woodpecker in this country, not much bigger than a sparrow. A tiny black and white bird with a dot of crimson on the back of it’s head if it’s a boy, plain if it’s a girl. The downy hadn’t waited to see if it was safe, she had just headed in for food. When it is bitterly cold like this it’s hard for them to find food, so the feeders become very important. Especially, if you’ve got the birds expecting the feeders to be filled. They’ll treat your feeder area like a berry bush, or any other food source and will plan their winter territories around it. So, you gotta keep it up, especially when winter gets harsh. And it feels harsh out there right now. I am very glad to be in my nice warm house, sipping tea and watching my feathered friends come in to eat and drink. They are really liking the heated bird bath today.