Among my four acres of trees here in Cinebar are many berry bushes and
other shrubs whose seeds provide an abundance of food for the birds, so
usually, there are many more of them on the five acres than I ever see
at the feeder. But by Wednesday this week, over 15 inches of snow had
fallen here, and many bushes and shrubs were covered or had big crowns
of snow on top of them. At least, that is the reason I am crediting for
the unusual number of birds at my feeders.

Those feeders hang in an Elderberry and a Hazel tree that have grown up
together across the driveway from my home. Below the feeders is a
4-foot high brush pile about 6-foot long and in front of it are ground
feeders. By mid-day Wednesday, the snow had stopped, but tall piles of
it filled even the covered hanging feeders. So, I shoveled a path for
myself from the deck to the feeding area and cleared a small place for
the ground feeders, tossing the snow up lightly along the trail as I
made it. The feeders in the trees were under siege by the time I was
back in the house with my outerwear off and my coffee ready to drink. I
was amazed by the number of sparrows that were emerging from the brush
pile; no doubt finding protection from the weather there, thanks to all
the snow piled on top of it. But I was surprised that the ground
feeders?usually the most popular place for the juncos, towhees, and
sparrows?were being ignored for the few grains of millet that I had
spilled on top of the snow piles. I could only surmise that the steep
sides of the path made it a scary place because of the limited view.

I didn?t do anything about it however because so many birds were
congregating by then?over four dozen of them eventually, including: a
pair of beautiful Nuthatches, many Black-capped and Chestnut- backed
Chickadees, uncountable Oregon Juncos, several Song and Fox Sparrows,
Spotted Towhees, and even a Hummingbird although it just sort of buzzed
by. There were more than a half-dozen Varied Thrush, too?males and
females--with their feathers fluffed out, so they were almost as wide as
they were long. This was a thrill for me because they are my favorite
birds, but seldom do I see so many here. I hope they stay around


A little later as I was trying to count the various species for my
records, I noticed a dark head with a relatively long bill popping up
out of the ?tunnel? over the ground feeder and then disappearing again,
and it took me a few times to recognize it as a Flicker! That surprised
me even though a pair of them are permanent residents here. In the
past, the only feeders we have seen them visit are the hanging suet and
peanut feeders. After awhile, the other Flicker appeared in the
Elderberry tree, and soon they both flew away. But after that, the
thrush and then the juncos and sparrows began to visit the ground
feeders also! ?I couldn?t help but wonder:? was the Flicker there all
the time, keeping them out, or did his safe sojourn there make them feel
it was safe to venture in?

Here in Cinebar, it began raining Wednesday afternoon and has rained most
of Thursday and today with temperatures in the low 40?s, but still the
frenzy in the feeding area has continued with the same species and more
of them.