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| The Creature of the Year award for 2017 goes to the Chincoteague wild ponies that were featured in the May Mother's Day blog. Congratulations to the ponies for outstanding cuteness! Click to enlarge. |
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| In the event that the ponies are unable to fulfill their duties, the runner up peacock fly from June 4's blog -- pictured here reacting to the announcement -- will step in. Happy New Year and good wishes to all for 2018. |
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| “I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as
a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to
everybody! A happy New Year to all the world!”
-- Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. |
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| The tufted titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor, is a frequent visitor to my seed feeder, summer and winter. Males and females look alike, so this one could be either. The crested head and big dark eyes make it adorable, right? Click to enlarge. |
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| Tufted titmice hoard seeds against the uncertainties of finding food in winter. They are "scatter hoarders" that tuck seeds away in numerous small caches, an approach that gives some insurance against catastrophic pilferage by raiders. They hide seeds under bark and in tree crotches and similar places. I see them taking seed after seed, one at a time, flying away and then flying back for more. |
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| Birds that hoard seeds like tufted titmice are famous for having well developed spatial memories that allow them to remember hundred to thousands of hiding places. Smart! |
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| I'm a scatter hoarder, too. |
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| This female downy woodpecker, Picoides pubescens, seems to like my new suet feeder. She's about 6 inches long. Click to enlarge. |
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| Before she flies to the feeder, she sits in a nearby tree for a few moments. I assume she is checking the area for dangers. |
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| A male came by soon, too. You can tell the difference by the red patch on the back of his head. I often see a male female pair pecking in the trees together. Handsome couple! |
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| That cone is supposed to keep squirrels off the bird feeder? LoL! Click to enlarge. |
