Sunday, February 14, 2010

Love is...

Love is...


A pair of Red-bellied woodpeckers at the feeders this weekend (male at left, female at right)


Peek-a-boo!

I have also seen a pair of male and female Northern Flickers (yellow-shafted variety) in the yard this weekend, which is a huge treat because they don't visit our woods very often. Another pair of note is a male and female Eastern Towhee.

Love is...


The color red

Love is...


"My" Carolina Wren pair, both sharing bites from a homemade suet block. These two stole my heart this morning. (Sorry for the poor picture quality.)

While I have no evidence that any of the above-mentioned couples are mating pairs, the fact that I see them only in pairs (i.e. no 3rd wheel bird of the same species) makes me awfully suspicious that they are mated pairs. I can hope, right?

Happy Valentine's Day!

10 comments:

Kelly said...

...I've noticed our birds are starting to pair up too. I'm sure your hope is right.... Love is in the air (and snowflakes too). Rick just told me 6-8 inches are on the way tonight and tomorrow. Are you ready?

I love your photo of Red...gorgeous.

Warren and Lisa Strobel said...

Funny, we just noticed two of our Carolina Wrens pairing up this week too. Ahhh.. spring must be in the air!

Heather said...

Kelly - Yes, those snowflakes sure are in the air. I'm as ready as I'll ever be for the snow, but I'm really looking forward to spring!

Warren and Lisa - Yes, the birds know spring is on the way. Too bad our weather shows no indication of that!

Monika said...

What a nice way to look at Valentine's Day. I've started noticing some paired up birds, too...a nice reminder that spring is just around the corner even if no one has the weather to justify that belief!

Anonymous said...

I have noticed this last week or two, also.

Your cardinal shot is wonderful, Heather.
Happy after Valentines Day!

Heather said...

Monika - Well, I guess technically we still have several weeks to go until it's actually spring. I really hope things shape up by March, though!

Sandy - Wow, it's really interesting to hear from everyone else that they are noticing the same thing! Thanks for your input.

Meg said...

I love saving up and then visiting your blog--so many great posts! The Snow Queen/Snow Fairy post is just gorgeous--in both word and image. And I'm right there with ya on the other side of winter wonderland! And yes, your picture of Red is stunning. I've noticed some wrens checking out my front porch. I don't have a ceiling in there yet, and I'm afraid they are scoping out the real estate in the rafters. Nothing firm yet, but they are looking around the neighborhood, you know. I hope they realize that I come and go through that door A LOT. I don't relish being yelled at all spring : )

Heather said...

Meg - Our Wrens love the open rafters of our wood shed, but they also love the flower pots that I put close to the house. I can't wait to see where they decide to nest this year. I hope your happy little couple decides on some place a little further away from your door. Hell hath no fury like a p'd off Wren!

Steve Willson said...

I think you're right about everybody having about the same core group of birds visiting their feeders. Of course, as you say, the big difference is that those birds outside your window are "Your" birds.

I've also noticed a lot of birds pairing. While I was out cleaning snow off the driveway Monday, with the cold wind blowing ice crystals against my face, I was surrounded by singing Cardinals. From that sound, I could picture a mild spring day and the storm didn't seem quite as bad.

Heather said...

Steve - I heard a Towhee sing for the first time today, which was a sound that brought a smile to my lips for sure. It seems so early for them to be pairing up, but the boys certainly are out there singing already, teeing up in the tops of the trees even to make sure they are heard. I'm envisioning nice spring days ahead, too.