I guess birds get cold too!

14 years ago

I've been away and then got back and had out of state company, so I haven't been able to post this. A few days ago, on our coldest day, I went out to the veggie garden to survey the damage. I was looking around feeling good with the sun on my back, and when I started on my way back, I noticed something on the backside of my Nam Wah banana. It was this little screech owl sunning himself in full view and not bothered by me, only three feet or so away. He would barely open his eyes and then close them again. I had to take this pic of him to show my family.... and you! The last four days I've also had a yellow-rumped warbler hanging around the veggie garden after I water. In some areas I can see a wisp of steam coming up from the soil, and he gets in there and looks for bugs... or maybe he just likes the heat radiating up from the wet ground. He is almost tame as he lets me get very close to him and even approaches me, only 4 or 5 feet away. I've never seen a warbler do this, and he is always alone. Go figure, two birds tamed by the cold and doing everything in their power to stay warm.

After seeing so many dead lizards, it warmed my heart to see these awesome creatures in my little oasis. Lots of things in my yard look torched, by the way. We got down to 28 two nights in a row and have been in the low 30's the others since this cold spell started. Do you have any creature stories in this cold? BTW, the owl house that has been used the last three springs by the screech owls was occupied by a red-bellied woodpecker after the owls moved out last spring and now is occupied by a squirrel that has really appreciated it these last couple of weeks. At the dinner table I see him peering out of his little mansion on a regular basis. It has been a very popular house.

Anna

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Comments (10)

sharbear50
14 years ago
That is an awesome picture! I guess I need to get busy and build a couple of houses and put up some feeders. Thank you for posting this.
Sharon
gardencpa
14 years ago
Fantastic picture! I didn't see a whole lot of creatures when it was cold here. I think they were laying low and trying to keep warm. But then again, I was laying pretty low, too!

Melissa
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msmarion
14 years ago
I found a large dragonfly on the floor of our shop this morning. He was upside down and didn't move when I picked him up and put him outside on my car. I wasn't sure if he was still alive but thought I'd give him a chance just in case. Well 15 minutes later he was gone. Yea! saved another one.
solstice98
14 years ago
Beautiful owl picture! I hear them all the time but have never seen one.

Good for you, Marion, on your dragonfly save!

Kate
imagardener2
14 years ago
what a beautiful creature! glad he/she survived the great freeze.
your banana is greener than mine which are brown :-(

Denie
trini1trini
14 years ago
Oh Anna he is so beautiful. I guess you are attracting lots of wildlife with your little animal timeshare. It's precious.
garyfla_gw
14 years ago
Hi
I went to great expense and a lot of work to install an infrared heater for my outdoor birds.. They wouldn't come near it even avoided the usual roosting spots to get away from it. Oh well a few lizards made use of it and I'm sure I saved a few ants?? lol gary
annafl
Original Author
14 years ago
Sharbear, I meant to ask Santa for another house to put up, but I forgot. I will have to try to get another one before February, when they start their nesting. This little house has been so fun to watch.

Melissa, he was so easy to see. Almost at eye level for me and in full sunshine to warm up! Did not even move a muscle as I scooted around the bananas.

Marion, come to think of it, my yard is usually buzzing with dragonflies (because of the pond), but I haven't really noticed one lately. Haven't seen any dead ones either. Will have to keep an eye out. It always feels good to know we have helped a creature survive. The car was a good idea.

Kate, I got a new camera for Christmas, so I'm eager to start using it more and more. There is little in my yard to take a picture of right now, though!

Denise, most of the banana leaves are brown and sagging. The trunk and the little bananas on the one bunch have some brown spots, but don't look awful. I wonder if the bananas will continue to develop or it I need to cut off the bunch? By the way, the native rosinweed you gave me is looking great and starting to bloom. The dwarf poinciana is about four feet tall and had a few beautiful blooms before the cold came. It should do great this year. Will take pictures sometime. The kalanchoe are still waiting for you if you ever come up this way again.

Trini, I seriously need to get more houses!

Gary, could the heater be too warm? I've found lizards in my hoses trying to escape the cold. Boy are they sluggish.

Anna
whgille
14 years ago
Hi Anna

I am glad to see you posting again! And that picture is beautiful, nature at its best!

All my bananas are torched, but being strong as they are, they will comeback. I am happy to see warmer days.

And don't forget to start new seeds, there is always something to grow in the veggie garden. I will have to think of a makeover for the plants that I lost.

I am finding a lot of small animals like geckos and frogs frozen in the yard, and I have been moving them to safer spots and hopefully they will all be alive again.

I did find some bees coming to the surviving borage flower, the mints are also doing well.

{{gwi:119146}}

Silvia
annafl
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi Silvia!

Yes, I noticed a few bees on my african blue basil. The plant looks pretty bad, but it still has a few flowers that are attractive to the honeybees. I think over the next few warmer days we will hopefully see more critters out there.

Anna

I guess birds get cold too!

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