Saturday, January 3, 2009

DOIN' THE STARLING STRUT


When it was so bitter cold and the wind so very fierce, I tossed some birdseed out my back porch door, into a more sheltered corner. Now today it's several degrees above zero and the sun is bright bright bright. Pearl and I watched a group of starlings pecking at the seed remnants, and Pearl was doing that low chattering thing cats do when they see something they'd like to pounce on. I went out with the camera and took this shot of the starlings' tiny tracks. I tried to follow their lead, as you can see, but I just don't have their style.

There haven't been many birds at my feeder today. I call them "foul weather friends" because they only come around for food when it's really nasty out. But that's really the way it should be. They probably can find enough natural food to eat on the mild days, and only need my feeders when they really need to stoke their inner furnaces against a big temperature dip. I topped the feeders up again this afternoon. Well, guys, I said to the empty lilac branches, it's here whenever you want it.

10 comments:

Rose said...

My cats' tails always twitch when they see something they think they should catch! Sometimes they chatter, too, but the tail is their give-sway.

Sylvia K said...

I don't have a cat now, but I do remember when I did in past years and how they would twitch and twitter in their own funny way, just itching to grab one of those feathery things. Love your photo!

bobbie said...

I love those little tracks. So cute.

Shelley said...

The starlings always remind me of inspectors searching the ground. Loved this perspective of their bird tracks. Marvin my cat would've been right there w/ yours doing that quick chatter and cheek twitching.

Cloudia said...

Aloha, glad I found your blog. You see, i'm not only a lover of birds and cats, but a Cloudia messenger as well! ;->

SandyCarlson said...

Those tracks are great. I am always grateful to the snow for showing me who my fellow travelers are.

God bless!

Kim said...

I love watching my cats going crazy over the birds. They are so funny with their mouths and tail chattering.

Love the photo too. The starlings are annoying little buggers but they walk like little old ladies and it's fun to see them do that!

kesslerdee said...

My little puppy peers out my office window at the bird show at my feeders. There must be close to 100 birds out there at times and she just goes crazy with wanting a birdie-snack.

me ann my camera said...

The beautiful delicate chain of prints remind me of a wallpaper border of ivy that my Grandmother once had in her kitchen.

I top our feeders each morning but when I look down I find mixed with the bird prints, hoof prints of hungry, visiting 'all weather friends, the White-tailed Deer that empty my feeders each night.

Quiet Paths said...

There is something so endearing about bird tracks. My Mom has partridges but they are so nervous we usually only see their foot prints. You are a good fowl weather friend.