Birds

The Hummers Have Landed

sandyjwhite Birds, Nature, Photos

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The first hummingbird
Of the fall migration
Arrived on
September 8, 2015
At our nectar feeder.
This is almost
Three weeks later
Than last year.
We spotted another
On Friday, the 11th.
Hopefully they will
Stick around for awhile
And bulk up a bit
Before moving on.

A Bald Eagle Bonanza

sandyjwhite Birds, Nature, Photos

 

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A Bald Eagle At Branched Oak Lake – February 20, 2015

Bald Eagles migrate through Nebraska
about this time each year. Some remain
here to nest, while others move on north.

 They can be seen at area lakes congregating
on the remaining ice sheets, where they feed
on winter kill fish, and roosting in nearby trees.

A visit to Branched Oak Lake this past Friday,
February 20th, 2015, yielded a true bonanza
of Bald Eagles.

With the aid of binoculars, we counted 70 eagles
on the ice from our vantage point at the dam.
Driving around the perimeter of the lake, we spotted
at least another 20 up in the trees.

A spectacular sight!

The Downy Woodpecker

sandyjwhite Birds, Nature, Photos, Poetry
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Male Downy Woodpecker – February, 2015

Bobbing and weaving from side to side
With moves that would give Ali pride

Inching slowly down the tree
Step by step it looks a breeze

His sturdy tail a built-in pivot
Lights on the feeder in but a minute

Clinging upside down with ease
An acrobat whose antics please

His tank refueled with dabs of suet
He’s primed again to hop back to it

Up the tree clear to the top
Steadily he climbs nonstop

Quickly now he soars away
To reappear another day

*The Great Backyard Bird Count is February 13-16, 2015.

Not Your Thanksgiving Turkey

sandyjwhite Birds, Nature 1 Comment

Scan0044You’ve heard it before…
so and so is “A Tough Old Bird.”

We could take a cue
from our feathered friends
when it comes to resilience.

Male emperor penguins balance the egg
of their future offspring on their feet
throughout the cold, dark Antarctic winter,
huddled together for warmth, while
their mates head back to the open sea to feed.

With split-second precision, the females
return in early spring with food
for their newly-hatched chick and
to relieve their mates of parental duty
before either succumbs to starvation.

And we draw straws to see who goes
to the refrigerator to get a snack.