Ozarks birds Archives - GoatKeepers Press

February is still winter. The days are getting longer, but cold rules. Yet the birds are showing off for spring nesting.

Male blue jays are bright blue. Male cardinals glow red. Bird songs sound on the hills.

Male cardinals are easy to identify by their bright red plumage, crest and black mask. The female goldfinch is harder. Her color will change to more greenish later in spring. The black wings with wing bars are my tip off.

Watching the Bird Feeder

All winter flocks of birds come to raid the feeder. It is wall to wall birds with others waiting to swoop into any opening.

There is an order. Blue jays come first. Morning doves come second. Cardinals are third. Titmice, chickadees and nuthatches slip in to grab a sunflower seed and take off with it. Juncos and sparrows search the ground for any seeds knocked off.

In February only bad weather brings in such a crowd. The feeder has a few birds come by at a time.

Juncos are winter visitors in the Ozarks. They spend much of the year far north of here and come here for warmer weather, more food over the winter.

Squirrels Were Gone Too

All winter the squirrels have been nuisances at the bird feeder. At times two gray squirrels will be in the feeder with another one hanging on the edge. Red squirrels eat alone.

These interlopers were mostly gone. They were pairing off and starting families. Now they are back scarfing up sunflower seeds.

The feeder may be put up for the birds, but the squirrels love sunflower seeds too. This was one of four gray squirrels to visit this day along with at least one red. If there’s a way to keep them off, we haven’t found it yet.

Woodpeckers

Red-bellied and downy woodpeckers are regulars at the bird feeder. This is even more true now.

Woodpeckers nest early. They dig out their nests in January. Drumming resounds through the woods. Now these parents are eager to eat the suet cakes for that extra nutrition.

Migration Begins

The first summer birds are arriving. The vultures circle over the pastures. Purple finches and goldfinches are stopping by the bird feeder.

These birds are showing off for spring too. They will nest up on the hills and along the roads soon.

February is still winter and tries to drag it out. But winter’s grasp is slipping. Spring is still months away, but it is coming. The birds will be ready, hiding their nests in the trees and bushes up on the hills.