The Plus Side

I tell people that I leave the window over the kitchen sink dirty to prevent window strikes.
That is, at least in part, a lie.
I just don't do windows.

There are at least sixty goldfinches on the two tray feeders that Linda sent me or on the ground or little honey locusts around them. I know because I counted, one bird, two bird, three bird, four..... There are no doubt a good many more than that as well, as you surely can't see all of them from the windows.

They are very spooky, whether because of the wind or an accipiter being around I don't know, but they swirl like yellow snowflakes every few minutes. I put extra seed out this morning because of the weather, but it looks as if I will be doing a refill pretty soon.

We had a flock of three-hundred or so up in the old cow pasture all through the cold season. I wonder if this is part of that flock, driven to the feeders on the breath of winter that is wafting away our little bit of spring.

There are also Common Grackles, Downy Woodpeckers, Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, a smattering of House Sparrows, Mourning Doves, and our good buddy, the Red-bellied Woodpecker, who never fails to amuse with his startled expression when he peers in through the kitchen window at me.

They all seem desperately hungry and very nervous.