Dark-eyed Juncos are frequent visitors to the feeders in my garden in winter.  I love their peach-colored bill.  Here’s one sitting on the branch of my Yew bush in between snacking on seeds and visiting with St. Francis (see yesterday’s post).  On another bird related topic, this afternoon I noticed that one of my birdhouses was lying in the snow, instead of being mounted to the tree in its usual spot.  I saw squirrels near it this morning, so possibly they knocked it down.  When I looked inside, I saw the remains of a nest from the summer and acorns!  Now I’m wondering if the squirrels dropped the acorns in the opening at the front of the birdhouse and then couldn’t figure out how to get back inside to retrieve them!  Guess I’d better put out some extra food for the squirrels!

It’s been a long, cold winter, not only for humans, but for wildlife as well.  The ground has been snow covered for months and food is likely scarce. I’ve been filling my feeders with sunflower and wild bird seed, corn, and suet.  Not only do the birds love it, but so do the squirrels, deer, and a raccoon or two!  The deer are especially hungry.  They visit my feeders nightly and look in the window to find me if they are empty.  When seeds are scarce, they take to eating any green vegetation that they can find.  My Yew and holly bushes are nearly devoid of foliage.  I hope they survive.  Over the weekend, I spent a little time photographing birds at the feeders.  This is a Tufted Titmouse perched on one of the remaining branches of the Yew bush that is green.  Such a pretty little bird!