Garden

[Susan Louise]

The Sandhill Cranes have started to arrive at the Platte River here in Nebraska...Yay! Today was near 60 degrees and a great migrating day for them.

However, I won't tell them that they are in for several bouts of snow showers and cold weather over the next couple of weeks...LOL...poor things.

[StylishLady]

Bird migration is largely influenced by the length of daylight hours. Our snow-bird like PAinted Buntings will be here till April and then return to the Carolina's where they nest. 

[Susan Louise]

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@StylishLady wrote:

Bird migration is largely influenced by the length of daylight hours. Our snow-bird like PAinted Buntings will be here till April and then return to the Carolina's where they nest. 

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@StylishLady  Yes, I have been a birder for many years. I have yet to see a Painted Bunting...one of many I want on my lifer list.

A few years ago we had a wonderful surprise having an Indigo Bunting visit one of our backyard feeders during a Spring Migration. Unfortunately, the stunning Painted Buntings don't come north enough to breed for us to see them at our location in Nebraska. Maybe someday DH and I will take a trip southward and see them on a future vacation during the winter

Here's a pic of the Indigo Bunting visitor we had...

[phoenixbrd]

STUNNING!

[In-x-s]

Maybe the groundhog (and the birds) is right!!

[BirkiLady]

@Susan Louise  Beautiful birds!  Big changes in temperature today. It's 14 degrees at 7:35 AM. Have no idea what it was when I woke up at 5:00. The Cranes are hardy and will survive near the Platte. Lots of shelter for them.

Thanks for posting your picture. I've never seen buntings. Gorgeous. 

[Sooner]

Where we live, the rabbits reappeared over the weekend.  We have hardly seen a rabbit over the winter, but suddenly this weekend we saw a number of them in our neighborhood.

And one brave soul showed up at the back patio to see if he could get a carrot from us.  So we tossed one out and he ate part of it.  I assume he is a friend from last year if he knows to come to the door!  

[Lilysmom]

@Susan Louise, I am in Nova Scotia, east coast of Canada.  One day I was sitting in the living room overlooking the back yard.  It was late Fall I think.  I looked down in the garden and saw a bright turquoise color.  I thought it was a rag.  It was an indigo bunting blown in by the storm.  They are at the northern extent of their range here for sure but we do see them from time to time.  I have never seen such a spectacular color.  Very unique for our area.

Great photo by the way!  LM