Saturday 19 January 2013

Winter is here, winter birds!

Yes. Snow, melt, snow, deep freeze this week. Jack Frost, who visited the deck, has had his work covered up by a few more cm of snow.

I went back outside to check the body of our friend owl, who was likely hit by a car. I put it out in the forest, at the suggestion of my friend, Nancy, rather than leaving it by the side of the road. It was pretty much gone, and I send its soul over the Rainbow Bridge. It was eaten on the spot. No photos. It is just nature and the cycle of life and death, which we can all count on. Humans deny this eventuality,

Owl feather
Bones and feathers will go back into the earth, but not on the gravel at the side of the road. Roadkill, that is just ugly.

Not much snow in the forest,
but there is more to come!
Out in the forest, I saw that the woodpeckers have been at it. Making holes in the trees, looking for sleepy bugs. There are those who get upset with them, but it is all about the cycle of life. The bugs and birds have as much a right to do their natural work, and the trees must fall, in order to make way for the younger trees.

Flickers, Pileated, Downy and hairy Woodpeckers, they are quite the critters.
Yes, -10 C.!

CC #250
Don't you love the Pileated Woodpeckers? When we were looking to buy this house, on the first day, there was a Pileated in the forest, just beside the driveway, pecking a welcome.



11 comments:

EG CameraGirl said...

Nice shot of the pileated woodpecker. I haven't seen one yet this year...but I want to.

Judy said...

I would love to have a pileated woodpecker living nearby! Of course, there are not enough trees nearby, but I can wish for anything, logical or not...
Isn't the snow lovely? We have gotten a couple of inches!

Unknown said...

Beautiful shots of the woodpecker! We had -27 celsius here this morning, now it's -16 celsius.

Nancy said...

So sad about the owl. We found one in a farm field that looked as if it had broken its wing.

Love the woodpecker images -- wish we had this variety in Nebraska.

Visiting from Misty's Camera Critters.

Karen said...

Excellent shots of woody!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I like your living winter birds very much and I accept the cycle of life...you did the right thing for your owl.

Here in Florida roadkill doesn't last too long though -- we have huge quantities of vultures whose job in the cycle it is to clean that up. We respect them (and when they circle above us we get up and move so they know we're still kicking!)

Red said...

Amazing the size if chips the pileated hack off. Up close they're an impressive bird.

Jackie said...

I absolutely love woodpeckers and we use to have a ton of them around here.

I got two new cats last year and I think they must try to catch the woodpeckers because my woodpeckers don't come here anymore. :-(

Great shots!

http://expressionsneeded.blogspot.com/2013/01/im-back-with-birds-critters-and-even.html

Happy weekend! :-)

Vagabonde said...

It must be so pretty where you live. We have not seen winter yet and I don’t know when we will. We are to have sun for the next few days and temperature in the mid 50s. So I enjoy your winter, virtually.

Pia said...

Oh yes I love woodpeckers! Oh the poor owl...

eileeninmd said...

AWESOME! Love the Pileated woodie! Great post and photos. Have a happy day!