Subject: [Tweeters] Polar Bear Anna's
Date: Dec 13 13:27:04 2011
From: johntubbs at comcast.net - johntubbs at comcast.net




Hi folks,



For the first time in nine years here, we are having an Anna's (actually at least two) wintering over at the house.? At 800 feet elevation in Snoqualmie, with incrementally colder, wetter weather than in the lowlands, I'm guessing this might be about the eastward/elevational?limit for this species in the Puget Sound area...but then again, they've proved very hardy and adaptable.? It seems unlikely they would survive the winter here without feeder help, so I've opted to keep a feeder out all winter with a thawed backup available all the time as well.?



The resident bird who has claimed the feeder is a female, and the occasional second visitor is a male, who is not in the least tolerated by the female who drives him away instantly when he shows up (yet he still keeps trying).?



We've had lows in the mid-20's here at the house for the last week, but 'our' bird has shown up every morning to get fueled up and pops in and out during the day.?



What has surprised me about the bird's behavior is its bathing in this weather.? Right outside the window by my work area is a drip birdbath which I keep going all year unless a very hard freeze shuts it down for some time.? As I write this, there is only about 1/3 of the water open in the bird bath, the area where the recirculating mini-fountain and drip kept it from freezing - the rest is solid ice.? The Anna's female just showed up, perched on the outside of the birdbath contemplating the situation, and then hopped right into the middle of the water and proceeded to bathe.? This has happened several times in cold weather, but not with most of the bath covered in ice.? Hardy critters, despite the small package they come wrapped in!



John Tubbs

Snoqualmie, WA

johntubbs at comcast.net