THE SPECTER OF WINTER HAUNTS MAINE

Fall is on the back side in the western mountains of Maine.   Tonight, for the first time, temps are supposed to drop below freezing.   Our day time temps are in the low fifties (not bad for this time of year.)   There is a feeling that specter of winter is hiding around the corner, but she is unable to disguise her chilly breath.   

 Most of the bright reds and oranges are gone and now the vista is earth tones of yellow, copper and brown.   The copper beaches in my back yard are in their height of color and many of the leaves will survive until mid winter.  

I expect within the next week we will see snow capping the larger mountains. 

Like the squirrels and chipmunks I am scurrying around trying to finish projects that should have been done during the summer.  

fat face stuffing his cheeks with sunflower seeds

 I have changed the oil and adjusted the belts in the snow blower, put away the lawn mowers, winterized the motorcycle; but still have to change the lights in the crawl space under the house, re-insulate my water pipes and check out the well house.     

Today I called the oil company to fill my tank with kerosene.  I have a Monitor as the primary source of heat (besides the wood stove.)   

Our girl - 19 years old - Monitor in background.

This is a major output, along with property taxes, that I face each year at this time.   I use approximately one hundred and twenty-five gallons of fuel and three cord of wood each year. 

My bird feeders are now supporting mainly chickadees.   Most of the other birds have left for parts unknown.  The chickadees fly in and take one sunflower seed, fly away and eat it and then fly back in for one more seed.   They burn so much energy just to feed during the winter that they depend almost totally on the feeders.  

I spend so much money on sunflower seeds I feel I should be able to claim the birds on my income tax return. 

I actually look forward to the first big snowfall.   The leaves will be gone on the trees and black spruce will be a stark contrast to the skeletal white world.   Grey snowy days – the wood stove pumping – a bottle of wine – books to read – my wife for company: it doesn't get any better.  

the Ol’Buzzard

FEEDING SQUIRRELS

I have often joked that I should be able to claim the local birds as dependents on my tax return.   I go through a forty pound bag of black oil sunflower seeds every two weeks in the winter – and this doesn't include the shelled seeds and suet bars I put out during the coldest weather.  

Hard to see through the snow, but there is a Pileated Woodpecker hanging off the right side of the feeder.

 

For years I fought squirrels that kept destroying my feeders.  Now, it may be that I have mellowed with age or have just gotten lazy, but over the last three years I have scattered seeds on the ground in a quantity to allow the squirrels to feed with the ground feeding birds.  Now the squirrels leave my feeders alone.   Not only that, but the two squirrels that are wintering over come out to meet me each day as I refill the feeders.   They are quite friendly and I look forward to their greeting.

Reevaluating my reaction, I have come to realize that like any wild animal the squirrels haven’t intentionally carried on a conflict with me, but are reacting instinctively to procure needed food.     It is my need to control the environment and all the creatures in it that has driven me to squirrel hating frenzies in the past. 

One of the denizens at my feeders in the summer time is a falcon that every few weeks swoops in and kills a dove that is ground feeding.   I wish this didn't happen, but again the falcon is acting instinctively, within its nature.   Who am I to decide who lives and who dies?  

Zombie turkey attack

Normally, in the past, the only birds that wintered over were Chickadees, Nuthatches, Finches and Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers; but over the last two years I am finding birds at the winter feeder that are not suppose to be here this time of year.   There are doves, blue jays, a cardinal and titmouse. 

Pileated Woodpecker - not my photo: from Google

This year I also have two huge Pileated Woodpeckers that are regularly at the suet bars.   I have had Pileateds during the summer, and know that they often winter over in this area, but this is the first time I have had them at my feeders during the winter.

Google again.
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The Chickadees are my favorite; they swoop down, take one seed, fly back to a tree to crack it and eat it, and then swoop down for another.   However, all these birds (and the two squirrels) are depending on my feeders to get them through the cold, snowy, windy, short days of winter.

the Ol’Buzzard