Must ... have .... this ... plant

New from Renee's Garden Seeds: Neon Glow Rainbow Chard.

Goldfinches

I think the one at top left is up to no good.
He reminds me a bit of Dick Cheney.

Snow-covered suet

White-breasted nuthatch


Downy woodpecker

A significant snowfall

Maybe 3-4 inches. A rare treat for central North Carolina. This female cardinal assesses the situation.

Bald eagles are killing us, I say. Killing us!

Biologist Richard Dolbeer said of the bird-strike that precipitated yesterday's emergency landing of a commercial jet on the Hudson River:

"The root of the problem right now is that because of the very successful wildlife conservation programs in North America since the 1970s, we've seen a tremendous resurgence of many wildlife species, particularly large bird species -- species that weigh over 4 pounds, including Canada geese, snow geese, bald eagles, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants, turkey vultures and black vultures."

Wow, what's to be done? Bring back the market hunters?

Blue jay through the window

When I woke up today, this blue jay was sitting in this little decorative bird feeder on a stake (Christmas present from my sis-in-law). I had put sunflower seed in it the other day. I swear the jay looked like it was brooding eggs, sitting there so still and quiet. And it was all puffed out and fat. Occasionally it would get up and eat some of the seeds, then it would sit down again. I took this photo through the dining room window. Something about its fluffy head makes me think of a baby penguin.

All the blue jays in the yard are so zen. They're not kicking up a ruckus, not even with a neighboring cat. Squirrel on the feeder? Not a squawk. Maybe because it's not breeding season? Any thoughts?

Nuthatch on dogwood

They say pigs don't fly. But I think refilling a suet feeder is akin to hollering "Suuuuuu-weeeeeeee." It summons the little winged hogs every time. This one was awaiting its turn at the trough.