Have you heard that it’s been cold in New York? Yes, yes you have. It’s all anyone’s talking about and I won’t deny, it’s freezing! There’s snow expected tonight and even though I know that city snow has nothing on country snow, I am so excited. Since returning from our wintry trip upstate over Christmas, I’ve been hoping for a good snowfall in Brooklyn.
Almost as much as I’ve been missing the snow, I’ve been missing the winter birds that went along with it. My father-in-law has an elaborate set-up of birdhouses in the backyard and I promise we spent what must have been hours just watching the winter residents flit about. Turns out adulthood has made me no less eager to be the first in a crowd to identify a species. In case you are curious, and even if you’re not, I present to you: a chickadee, a red-breasted nuthatch, and a titmouse.
When I got back to the city, I decided to try to recreate the experience outside our apartment window. Rather than investing in the palaces that my father-in-law has set up I decided to make one myself. My feeder is Smalltown, USA to my father-in-law’s Dubai, but it’s doing quite well. Now, if only our neighborhood cardinal would come over for a bite to eat. Doesn’t he know it’s rude to ignore an invitation?
UPDATE: A how-to for the feeder that I made is over on Gardenista.
16 Comments
Its freezing here in D.C. too. We got a little snow here last night and I just didn't want any snow at all this year. Anyhow..I'll be glad when spring arrives!
That bird in the first pic is gorgeous. I dont ever think I've seen a bird like that unless I hadn't paid much attention. LOL
Anyway, stay warm up there in NY!!!
Pretty Girl Rock Blog
Oh yes, talk of cold weather has blown up my newsfeed! These birds are gorgeous, and so is that birdhouse.
Ooo, that sounds lovely! I'm in downtown Manhattan and I think being surrounded on both sides by the rivers makes it even MORE cold. And, we live in an old bank building so the windows are huge and uninsulated, making for chilly nights. If only we were closer to the ground (and near some trees) to make birdhouses a possibility! I'd love to start my mornings with some feathery friends. Will keep an eye out for your Gardenista post.
I've been wearing fleece-lined tights underneath my pants and a lot of other layers to keep warm, but my face still freezes within a few minutes. I love the colors on the red breasted nuthatch!
Sending a warm(ish) breeze from CA. Thanks for the feathered friend education…I always assumed a titmouse was..a….mouse! Dare I quote the great Mr. Hopkins who first intro'd me to the word? “There’s not an ounce of excitement, not a whisper of a thrill. This relationship has all the passion of a pair of titmice. I want you to get swept away out there. I want you to levitate. I want you to sing with rapture & dance like a dervish…be deliriously happy or at least leave yourself open to be.” Happy Thursday!
really hoping for some lovely snow tomorrow night! i live in park slope.. can't wait to walk through prospect park. x what is the folk tip? to wear your socks inside out?
In my city, it is impossible to find snow.! yes i can only find it in de-fridge.. pics look beautiful!
No snow in the Carolinas but its still been an interesting winter for birds at feeders. So far this winter I've had Pine Siskins and one Red-breasted Nuthatch which are both pretty uncommon this far south. Other people have reported Evening Grosbeaks, Common Redpoll, and even a mega-rare Buff-bellied Hummingbird, all at feeders!
I love watching birds, not so good at identifying them. These are beautiful photographs! We've had no snow this winter in my neck of the woods so its so wonderful to see pictures like this and dream of it.
Yes, it is freezing! I never want to leave my apartment ever again.
I recently bought and hung a feeder on my fire escape and I had to take it down after a few weeks because the birds would seriously binge eat. I had to refill it every day! Is that normal? After a while, I felt like an enabler, so I just stopped. But it was fun while it lasted – blue jays and lots of house finches, etc.!
I'm way south of you and we're getting quite the cold snap too! I love bird watching, and the birds you featured in your lovely photos are three of my favorites. I saw a pair of nuthatches the other day on a neighbor's tree. I love the sound they make. Wrens are another favorite. Good luck with your bird feeder! I hope you get some visitors. Let us know!
It is cold, cold, cold up here too, -25 the other day! Ugh. Love these photos though, I still don't understand how their little bodies adapt to the crazy coldness. Too cute!
Birds are the cutest in snow!! They always look content then confused then if they fall into snow they freak out! I'm in New York too so I'm hoping we get some nice snow to play in for Saturday!! =) Keep warm!!
Ergo – Blog
Enjoy the weather. Your birding adventures remind me of the Wendell Berry profile in G&G you linked to a couple of weeks ago.
Love the grapefruit feeder!
it is freezing! I never want to leave my apartment ever again.
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