wordsfromanneli

Thoughts, ideas, photos, and stories.

Category Archives: Birds


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Looking for Love

Two years ago almost to the day, a red-shafted flicker landed on our chimney to take advantage of the reverberations of the drumming on metal. It saves his vocal chords when calling for his girl.

Turn up the sound on the video, and watch for these cute little actions:

Mr. Flicker talks to Mrs. Flicker just before she arrives, doing a little dance on top of the chimney, tail feathers spread out as if he’s trying to be a peacock displaying his fan.

Mr. Flicker has the red cheek slash while Mrs. Flicker does not.

She arrives and looks around as if she’s trying to find a way up to the top. He chatters to encourage her, she flies down onto the other side of the roof, and then comes back for a second look. She stretches her neck to look around the other side of the chimney as if she’s looking for the elevator.

 

 

If you want to have another look at the video clips I put on here two years ago, including a love poem for birds, please click on the link.  https://wordsfromanneli.com/2024/03/22/calling-all-girls/

 


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Spring Snow

There’s no denying snow looks fine,

It makes the scenery divine,

 But what effect on bird and beast?

I’m sure they like the snow the least.

 

They migrate down the mountainside

To lower levels and abide,

They beg the sun to melt the cold,

Because they’re tired of being bold.

 

In summertime the hillsides warm

And sunny bees will hum and swarm,

The berries waft about their taste,

So very few will go to waste.

 

The easy life of leisure times

Is special to the warmer climes,

And when the frosts of winter leave,

The living hill enjoys reprieve.


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Like it or not

Tired of this winter! Do you feel it too?

No time for resting with nothing to do.

Searching for food to keep warm every day,

When will the sun come out so we can play?

 

No leaves are out yet,  no blossoms appear,

I liken the weather to winter, I fear,

It looks like these lichens are tired of it, too,

I’m simply not likin’ it, how about you?


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Bugs for Lunch

Please watch this clip and see the ways,

I work so hard to try,

To feed myself in hungry days,

To make sure I don’t die.

 

The maple bark was way too clean,

It came apart with ease,

But nought was there for me to glean,

No breakfast bite to please.

 

I flitted to a nearby fir,

You see the different bark,

Its bumpy, roughness won’t deter,

My beak will find the mark.

Oh dear! I must take much more care,

To eat bugs ere they fly,

Right in my armpit, he did dare

To bite me. “Now you’ll die!”

Elusive little bug, you are, 

But mind my bendy neck,

I’ll find you, and you won’t get far,

I’ll eat you with one peck.


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The Eagle-eyed Weatherman

My eagle eye inspects the sky

To ferret out the chill,

And now I’m left to wonder why

The snow came down at will.

 

I know it’s colder in the heights,

And all the air was wet,

So pondering that, I knew by rights,

That snow was what we’d get.

I’ve fluffed my feathers up a tad

To keep the warmth inside,

I’ll check the depth of snow we’ve had,

And take a chilly glide.

I hope you’re hibernating, all

You creatures of the hills,

You must have known this snow could fall,

It’s testing all our wills.

 

But worry not, the rain will pour,

And wash the ice away,

Then soothing days will evermore,

Bring sunshine every day.

 


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The Joy of Light and Warmth

So good to see the sun again!

I’d almost forgotten the wonderful glow

That sunshine can bring to the world after snow,

Natural therapy soaks into me,

Warming my spirits, survival is key.

 

I should have flown south, but decided to stay,

And when it got colder, each day after day,

I doubted the wisdom of staying in place,

Depending so much on the humans’ good grace.

 

The sugary feeders they offer get cold,

And often I knew that I had to be bold,

To drink icy syrup and fluff up my down,

Just trying to hold any heat to be found.

 

But wait, what is this? It’s a feeder with heat,

The nectar is warm, I should stretch out my feet,

To rest them and thaw them, to get through the day,

But simply to drink soothing warmth is okay. 

 

Today I was lucky and felt oh so good,

As sunny rays warmed me while perched on this wood,

It can’t be much longer before it is spring,

And whirring so freely, I’ll  joyfully sing.

 

 


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Harry and Harriet

Harry and Harriet are hairy woodpeckers who live in the trees near our house. Sometimes they come closer for a visit to check out the bird feeders, but what they really like to eat is anything that is small and moves, usually under the bark of trees,  rotten or otherwise.

They’re not that fussy. Fruit, berries, and nuts make them happy too. They’re generally not seedeaters, but I was wondering if Harry was interested in that sunflower seed he has wedged in between the boards just by his right foot.

Harriet has one by her foot too, but it’s hard to say if she put the seed there or if a nuthatch was working on it and Harriet came over to check it out.

I sang a song for Harriet,

I like to call by trilling,

So far, she hasn’t noticed yet,

I’d hoped she’d find it thrilling.

 

I said, “Let’s check the feeders out,

We might just find a morsel.”

She gave me an indignant shout,

“I have to watch my torso.”


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Leaving the Hills

Hi! I’m Robbie Robin. I want to explain why I’m down here at the lower elevations.

It got darn cold up in the hills where we’ve been hanging out for several weeks. When a dusting of snow covered the ground and froze, it was harder to get the bugs and worms out of the ground. Most of the berries were already long gone.

So we decided to come down closer to sea level and check out the gardens and people’s back yards.

Did you count us? It’s a bit blurry but see how many of my friends you can find.

I’ve been here before so I got right down to it. I know the worms hide under the leaves that mulch the garden. Check it out and you’ll see how I find them.

Flicking dead leaves all around,

Until yummy bugs are found,

Eat them quick before they stray,

As they rush to get away.