Chinese Lunar New Year (新年快乐)

Today is Chinese New Year called "Spring Festival " (春节).    Since it depends on the lunar calendar, the date differs from year to year.  This year it happened to fall on January 31.

In my backyard, I can see and hear the approach of spring.  On the pear trees, I can see little leaf buds forming.  I can hear birds sometimes singing for spring courtship.

A week ago, I read in a book that Anna's Hummingbirds begin nesting in late January or early February in the Pacific Northwest.  It's just around the Spring Festival.


I saw a male hummer (with the pink helmet) was chasing a female hummer.

"Oh boy, your pink helmet is superb!"

"I have to get ready for nesting.  I'll probably

 fix up an old nest to use this time."

Can You Smell?

The most recent Audubon magazine had an interesting article on birds' ability to smell.  Many scientists have investigated and confirmed that birds can smell to help them to better survive in the wilderness.  Many species of birds have microscopic structure in the forebrain to receive odor signals from the nasal cavity.

Did you see an Oregon Junco lately?  They live around here and come to my backyard in a dozen or two during the cold months.

"Aha, you finally found out I can smell!"

"I search for my mate not just for pretty whiter tails, but for

 more female-like smell for chicks' better survival rate."

Pretty White

For a couple of days, the weather has been excellent with the sunny blue sky without wind.  So we took off to a nearby wetland.  As we had expected, we saw several dozens of Trumpeter Swans.  They eat mostly vegetation including aquatic plants and, when available, salmon carcasses and eggs.

"Ga, ga, ga.... we are a big family."

"Ga, ga, ga, we are three brothers."

"Yeah, we are in a race.  Swish, swish."

"Ga, ga, ga, it's fun flying over the reservoir with friends.  

We hang around here during the cold months till March 

when we have to head up to Alaska for nesting."

Grown Up

Yesterday I saw a matured Cooper's Hawk.  Through the fall months, he was still a juvenile with yellow eyes and brownish back feathers.  Now in January, his appearance has changed.

Let me introduce to you a fine grown-up Cooper's Hawk. Ta, da,......

"I am a good looking, but hungry hawk."

"Now, down to a branch to better

scrutinize the surrounding."

"Anyone around here?"

Sorry.

In the dawn on the cold winter day, many birds come and feed on the suet (fat) which gives them a lot of energy.

Early,  a male Townsend's Warbler stopped by.

"The black throat means I'm a boy."

"Yup.  I am a girl without the black throat."

Then, a Red-breasted Nuthatch made a beeline flying straight onto the suet with a yell.

Nuthatch:  "This is my suet.  Do you know that?"

Townsend's:  "I'm sorry, but the backyard owner lets me
 share the suet during the cold months.  I am a winter bird after all."

A Mistake

I often use the word "flock" to describe a group of birds.  But Dodd & Elrod with his comic strip says that there are a variety of measuring words to be chosen from.

For example, what would you call a group of Canada Geese?

"We are called a GAGGLE of Canada Geese!"

How about a group of gulls?

"When you see us in a bunch, call us a COLONY of gulls!"

Who is this walking bird?

"A group of ducks should be a BRACE of ducks!"

What eye-opening information!!!

A Worm

Bewick's Wrens live around here all the year around. They like to eat the suet and, if available, a worm. Today was cloudy and dark.  Early in the morning when everyone came out for breakfast, he showed up, too.  But instead of hopping along the fence to come near the suet, he was busy on the wet lawn.

"Do you know what I'm looking for?"

"Ta, da...I got one.  A delicious green worm."

"I like this backyard, 'cause I can find worms once in a while for a change."

A Stormy Day

Today was stormy with rain and wind, but I saw a few small patches of  blue sky.  While the sun was shining bright, a big flock of little birds just flew into a tall tree in the neighborhood.  On a computer screen, I discovered a bunch of American Goldfinches on it.  Can you count how many birds there are on the branches?

Sometimes some of them show up at my feeder.  They share the delicious roasted sunflower seeds with House Finches.

"It's crowded here today."

Othertimes, they land on the clotheslines before deciding which feeder to head to.

"I have my winter coat on: dark colored beak and body."

Wishing for a Safe New Year

In the wild when hearing or sensing any danger, animals stay frozen for a while.  The other day, I saw one frozen squirrel on the fence.  

"Just to be safe, I stay still for a little while so that 

no predator can detect my movement."

Up on an apple tree branch, I saw a Downy Woodpecker on  the suet.  Upon hearing my camera shutter, click, click, it hid behind a branch and stayed still.

 "Don't scare me, please.  Safety is our New Year's resolution."

Welcoming the Horse Year

Happy New Year!  This is a Horse Year, written as　甲午年.  The zodiac has 12 animals.  Those who are born in the previous horse years are considered to be lucky ones this year.

Northern Flicker:  "I'm flying into the happy new year."

Anna's Hummingbird: "My favorite new feeder for the Horse Year."

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle):  "Happy New Year to you all!"