In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer.
Albert Camus
A snowy covering blankets everything, from the feedertops to the treetops. Deep furrows reveal our well-traveled paths to the birdfeeders, and bird tracks decorate the light dusting of snow that covers the deck. Mounds of snow 4 feet high rim the deck, making each subsequent snowfall harder and harder to remove.
It's only mid February, and I know there's more snow yet to come. Like in 2001, when we had 30" delivered to our doorsteps over two days in early March. Even April is not safe from winter's gifts. Back in April 2000, 18" of snow fell just days after we were basking in 70° temperatures. Within days, the warmed earth had taken back all the snow.
Yet today I hear the promise of spring. From across the snow-covered yard, a Tufted Titmouse sings a variety of songs, quivering his wings, and looking to see if he's being noticed. Our Northern Cardinal pair is starting to feed together. They keep in touch by singing to each other from the trees. The Black-capped Chickadees are chiming in too with their sweet "fee-bee" calls. Blue Jays touch beaks and the earliest signs of the coming molt show on the forehead of a male American Goldfinch.
By the end of the month, Red-winged Blackbirds will have returned to the area. And thousands of miles to our south, our beloved Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will start arriving by the millions along the Gulf Coast. It will take another two months of travel before they arrive in our yards in early May.
The wheels of the seasons are always turning. Even from deep within winter's grip, spring is beginning to awaken. The snow muffles its sound, numbs us, causes us to be unaware of its approach. But watch and listen closely, and you will see and hear signs of spring's progression towards its inevitable and welcomed arrival.
Elaine, the jay is perched on a Decorative Branch that is an accessory to the WBU Advanced Pole System. It can be bought on WBU's online store at http://shop.wbu.com/?os=354
Barbara, Ellen, and Joyce, thanks for your nice comments!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | February 25, 2014 at 03:15 PM
What a beautiful reminder that Spring is indeed around the corner and that we have passed the long nights and can expect more fun with our backyard birds... thanks Nancy!
Posted by: Barbara | February 20, 2014 at 07:52 AM
Nicely written post, Nancy. The birds are on their own internal clocks.
Posted by: Ellen | February 19, 2014 at 02:32 PM
What is it that the Jay is perched on?
Posted by: Elaine Snow | February 19, 2014 at 11:16 AM
The Red-winged Blackbirds are with us now in Alabama - or they were during our snow last week. We had fun looking up why some of them had only part of the red and yellow on their wings. Our Hummingbirds will come in during early April; I continue a chart on them that my parents began 20 years ago. We keep records of their cominghs and goings here in Birmingham and in our mountain home two hours to the north (almost Tennessee and Georgia). The big indicator of Spring to me is when the Robins are out in force picking around in the yards and gardens. They use to sit on the fences literally two feet from us as we turned the garden soil in early Spring. Thank you for your blog; I soooo enjoy it.
Posted by: Elaine Snow | February 19, 2014 at 11:14 AM
Thanks, Nancy, I needed to read something like that on this dreary, snowy day! It picked up my spirits - :)
Posted by: Joyce Conley | February 18, 2014 at 12:30 PM