Reflections on the Fourth Week of Winter

      Temperatures plummeted to the teens, six inches of snow blanketed the field, and the rumble of a township snowplow echoed through the valley. Winter weather had finally arrived, and we readied ourselves for the seasonal bird show.

      Spence hung two suet cages and poured sunflower seeds into the feeder attached to the sliding glass deck door.

      As red, yellow, gray, and blue-gray birds zipped to and from the feeder, their bellies plowed notches in snow piled on the railing.

      George, tail wagging, crept behind the rosemary plant for a futile pounce on the glass door.

      Titmice and chickadees ignored him. Dining like carry-out patrons, they zoomed in, selected a seed, and zoomed out–pausing occasionally on a bare wisteria vine to crack open the seed.

      By the wood stove Emma rose to her hind legs and monitored aerial and deck flutterings.

      Cardinals and juncos dove to the deck and sunk back-deep into the soft snow. One by one, they flit up and over to scrounge for spilled seeds under the feeder.

      The four goldfinches, in winter-faded yellow, didn't share. They perched on the feeder and ate seed after seed as if dining in a fancy sit-down restaurant.

      In yoga clothes, I slipped bare feet into boots; added vest, winter jacket, hat, and scarf; then walked out to the deck for photographs. Birds swooped toward the feeder only to veer off when they saw me and the long barrel zoom lens. Brave chickadees flew out of sight to the perch on the other side of the feeder, grabbed a seed, and sped away. With no birds in camera range, I retreated into the warm house to try for bird portraits through the glass.

      The red-bellied and downy woodpeckers preferred the suet cages–too far away for clear pictures. Black feathered heads masked chickadee, junco, and cardinal eyes. Scrawny goldfinches glared as if warning me to stay away from their perches.

      I concentrated on titmice. They zipped to and fro, cocked their heads, and radiated personality. After selecting the best photos, I held up my computer screen for Spence to admire.

      He nodded and said, “Great tits.”