Voices tinkling like ice cubes, American Tree Sparrows jingle and flare over a suet block with cracked corn. You'd think they were tough guys the way they argue and fight.
Silver-eyed Common Grackles spread Darth Vader wings, threatening maiming and mayhem. The bad guys of the bird feeders. Everybody gets out of their way.
Red-winged Blackbirds, which normally at this time of year show only butter-won't-melt-in-my-beak pale yellow on their shoulders, squabble at the round feeder.
"Move it, move, it, move it, give over, get outta my way. I'll slay you with my epaulettes!"
Flash, flash, like a dozen stoplights blinking all at once they wear their prowess on their wings.
"No, you move! I'm brighter and redder. I keel you!"
The battle screams against a backdrop of snow-clad twigs and branches.
Jill takes it all in, gives me a sheepish look, and rolls and rolls and rolls in the soft fresh snow. What is up with an Oklahoma dog that is crazy for snow anyhow?
GOTTA GET YOU PUBLISHED MARIANNE!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's so wet and cold here, the birds are in hiding.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cathy, kind words indeed
ReplyDeleteLinda, it was pretty much the same here, although the feeder was busy. Got nicer a bit in the early evening and we went for a bird chasing drive. Got a lovely Barred Owl, which was a treat for me.
Hahaha the quote for the red winged blackbirds- "move it move it move it!" brings to mind Sargent Carter on the Gomer Pyle show.
ReplyDeleteWe have a little downy woodpecker that has made friends with Ted. If we don't have the right size of cat food in the frisbee that we use for a bird dish he gives him the side eye; isn't afraid when Ted talks to him where he sits 3 ft. away.
Shirley, that was in my mind as well. lol How cool that you have a tame Downy! They are such interesting birds.
ReplyDeleteHa ha! I have never known a dog that doesn't love to roll in snow! Well, maybe a Chihuahua. Love, love, love your play-by-play of competition at the birdfeeder.
ReplyDeleteJacqueline, Jill is obsessed! Any chance she has to get outside, even to sneaking around your legs when you open the door, is used to roll and roll and roll. Ya gotta laugh at her.
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