BIRD TELEVISION - THE OTHER CHANNEL WE LOVE TO WATCH....

 So, we have been looking into cable, internet, etc. and it is either not available out where we live or the cost is much more than we want to pay to sit on our butts and watch something that turns your brain to mush - except documentary's, history channel, shows like that.  Someone did tell us about a service available from the University of Northern Michigan - they send you the equipment and directions and you install it yourself - with a much lower monthly cost.  We are going to start checking into that. But, we are not in a giant hurry - it is still winter and we're really not missing television or the internet very much! We have phones - for an emergency - but that's about it.  And getting service is always 'iffy'.  We generally have to walk out onto the deck and move our head from side to side to even hear.  We deal with it to talk to our family every week.  But, if we need to make a call where we can have better service - we drive down to the end of our driveway and try there or drive further out onto the town road to get a clearer, stronger signal. 

The pictures that I am posting are from all seasons during the year - I just tried to pick out the best ones.  

The birds out here in the Northwoods are really something. In the winter, we see pretty much the same ones every day, but fall into winter showed us a variety of birds as they were gathering up to migrate - and winter into spring brought us a whole colorful show of birds returning to the area or passing through going further north.  

This mama Robin has a nest in our eaves, and we have left the nest untouched after her last clutch - it is in a protected area from rain and wind and close to our bird feeders- so hopefully she can return to lay more eggs and make more pretty Robins next spring. The only problem is that she doesn't understand that we are 'friends' as she dive bombs us when we walk in the area - her natural defense - we just cover our heads - they get close by have not hit us yet - just their natural protection of their little ones.  

This is a Flicker - the first one I have ever seen - it stopped and rested for a while by the pond.  It is called a Northern Flicker and is a member of the Woodpecker family.  

We have so many woodpeckers around.  We can hear them clearly rapping on so many dead trees in the woods.  The Piliated is the largest woodpecker and the loudest.  They have come to our feeder, but I was so excited seeing them and watching them, that I didn't go for my camera for a picture.  This is a male Hairy Woodpecker.  The look just like Downy Woodpeckers - they are just larger.  The females don't have a red spot on their head.  

Mr. BlueJay with his pretty little feathers fluffing out in the wind and showing so nicely in the bright sunshine.  He loves this basket - and is a daily visitor.  We put his favorites, peanuts and black sunflower seeds in the basket, and he is there grabbing foods many times per day.... It is hard to tell the difference between females and males.  Blue Jays are loud and aggressive towards smaller birds or really anyone that comes around them - so - this basket is theirs.  

These little Juncos...they are just always quietly around...they 'over-winter' in Michigan.  They are generally ground feeders, but will pick seeds out of flat feeders.  They roost in evergreens.  It is said that they have 30% more feathers in the winter than in the summer.  

We love our Mourning Doves.  They usually come to the feeders in a flock in the morning and in the afternoon.   They are basically ground feeders but will come up and into the feeders.  Love their gentle, soft sounds. 

Finches and a female Grossbeak.  There are Gold Finches and Purple Finches all together in the feeder.

This is a Nuthatch - they love suet and will hang however they need to get to the tasty treat.  They will hide seeds in crevices for a snack later.  

This is a Red Bellied Woodpecker.  They look a lot like a  Red headed Woodpecker - but they only have half a red head.  Despite their name they only have a tinge of red on their 'belly'. 

 

Birds will tolerate each other if they are on a large enough spot - for seed...

We put up Bird Houses and a Blue Bird decided to call this one its own.  

The Best Part of Winter - you can see their  beautiful colors so well against the white backdrop.  But some of the birds are prettier in the spring/summer - like the Gold Finches...

Although Female Cardinals are not bright red - their subtle colors are so soft and beautiful...

The Ruffed Grouse.  Such a great sighting.  They are usually in the underbrush - this one landed on our apple tree and gave me a few minutes to catch a picture.  When I first heard their 'drumming' - I thought someone - somewhere - was trying to start an engine. It starts out slow and works up to a much faster thumping sound and then stops.  It was our amazing Grouse doing what they do...drumming.  

We see Turkeys pretty much every day - males and females and their chicks.  The males make big thumping chest noises and puff up as large as they can to show dominance....

A beautiful Blue Indigo - so special because we don't get to see them that often.

And our sweet Chickadees - they are here year-round and at the feeders every day.

Gold Finches female and male - of course he's the bright one - moms need to be more subtle in color.

Our beautiful Orioles - they love oranges and grape jelly.

This is a beautiful Green Heron that landed near our pond - for a fish snack...

One of my favorites - a Rose Breasted Grossbeak - I love to see them every spring.  This is a male - the female of course has more subtle coloring...

We love to sit in our comfy chairs that can see right out to our feeders - we eat lunch right there, in hopes of spotting a new variety...and find comfort and joy in seeing our regulars.  They say that birds 'talk' to each other in the early evening - just making sure that everyone is okay and settled for the night.  So as the sun goes down and the birds aren't coming to the feeders - it's lovely to step outside and listen to them talking to each other and wishing each other a good night's rest.