Big Fowl

With the onset of northeast Wisconsin's record-breaking blizzard (haven't had one like this in 129 years) the wintery conditions have likely created some hardship for the resident wildlife.

Twenty inches or more of snow have fallen in the last 48+ hours and the migratory songbirds have been really put-off their feed.  The robins and tree swallows have simply vanished.  To where is anyone's guess.  Everyone else is still hanging-on and we've put the feedbag on for them keeping three of the mixed seed feeders stocked along with a niger thistle feeder and a feeder with several pounds of beef suet.  Beyond that we've established four additional feeding stations on the porch for the juncos, the song sparrows, chipping sparrows, jays, cardinals, redwing blackbirds and other new arrivals to feed in relative security.  For the first time I spied a fox sparrow today.

Wonder of wonders was the arrival of seven sandhill cranes at dusk.  Followed by four more as I tap-out this post.  We're accustomed to the usual pair that arrived last month - now we have a flock.  Is it the tall grass cover that is attracting them?  Open water?  Or has the word gone forth amongst the bird kingdom that this is a safe port in a storm? 

Woops - three more makes fourteen going into the evening.

Spring can make an appearance anytime now...