"When the Winterbirds Come"

"The Winterbirds come with a breath of excitement, They show us a life of fearless contentment, They play with the snow, embracing the weather, Reminding us all that things will get better..."

from "Winterbirds", by Boreal

(See below for a link to this amazing piece of music!)*

It's always such a joy when our "Winterbirds" arrive from their northern breeding grounds to spend some time with us in Southwestern Ontario. They usually show up on the farm in good numbers early in the New Year, and are gone again by the first days of March.

This year, with unusually heavy snow cover, food has been scarce, and we have had regular visitors all season long. Cracked corn scattered along the edge of a field was replaced several times daily, and gobbled eagerly by hungry birds.

Many afternoons were spent sitting outside watching these wonderful wee guests that brightened the cold, dark days with their energy and beauty!

Snow Buntings are the earliest, and most abundant, Winterbirds that visit our area. Flocks numbering in the hundreds can be seen dipping over fields, landing together to feed and rest, flying in perfect synchronization. They often sit in a row on the hydro wires here.

If the timing is right, we might even see them dancing with the rising moon. (Photos taken a few years ago -- we didn't have many blue sky opportunities this winter!)

Sometimes the Snow Buntings land in trees, resting for a few moments before swooping to the ground to feed again. This Tamarack is a favourite gathering spot.

Fluffed up to keep the toes warm?

It was bitterly cold on a mid-January afternoon, and the Tamarack tree was full of little birds warming themselves in the sunshine,

and enjoying seeds from tiny Tamarack cones.

Although Snow Buntings are usually either flying, or running on the ground foraging, there are moments when they will sit briefly on a low perch.

This Bunting was eating snow from a small bird feeder.

So peaceful-looking in a few rare moments of late day sunshine...

Some old birdhouses, well-used by Tree Swallows and Bluebirds in the Summer months, make perfect resting places for tired Buntings.

It's always a pleasure to see a Lapland Longspur mixed in with a flock of Snow Buntings.

Not sure what he was telling the Snow Buntings here, but I find that Longspurs, small though they are, tend to be a bit bossy and "assertive"!

Too bad Christmas is over -- this would be the perfect tiny Christmas tree!

Resting for a moment among some evergreen boughs...

This Lapland Longspur seemed to be contemplating a few kernels of corn.

I have only seen 3 Lapland Longspurs, all male, this Winter. The male pictured below has a nice start on his black "bib"; it will be jet black by Spring.

Flocks of Horned Larks started to appear in mid-Febrary, and mingled with the Snow Buntings in the fields.

These Horned Larks are members of the "Northern" subspecies, with dark yellow foreheads and chins, stopping by for a short time.

There were around 100 (mostly Northern) Horned Larks in a flock that appeared on February 4. I think they were all males, with the well-defined colours and dark black markings on their faces.

Finding food has been a real challenge this year, and these guys were glad for some corn, although it was quickly covered with snow on many days.

Posing with some seed heads that had already been emptied, this Horned Lark doesn't look impressed by another overnight snowfall.

There might have been a few Hoyt's Horned Larks in these midwinter flocks. The males have a white forehead and white throat, and sometimes show a small light yellow patch in the centre of the throat. Pretty hard to identify these subspecies, though ...

And this would have been a better photo if the Snow Bunting hadn't hidden behind the dead flower head at the last minute!

Another possible Hoyt's Horned Lark... or a Prairie without much yellow? Pretty cute at any rate!

Later in February, Horned Larks that showed up in flocks were likely the Prairie subspecies -- white or cream forehead, and lighter yellow throat (than their Northern cousins). These are our resident birds, and they will soon be pairing up for the season. As of March 6, almost all of the Prairies that I have seen have been males.

These boys only hung around for a few days as a flock, then dispersed along the roadsides and into fields, perhaps beginning the hunt for nesting sites.

Stepping out....

Horned Larks are so photogenic, with their expressive faces and entertaining moves!

They seem to like to pose too.

Horned Larks rarely perch anywhere except on the ground or on short cornstalks here, but this one decided to try out the birdhouse.

Technically the Prairie Horned Larks aren't really "Winterbirds", I guess -- they appear near the end of Winter and stay around to breed here. We will see pairs of them all Summer, on the roadsides and in the fields.

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And now "Winterbird Season" is nearly at an end. We eagerly await Spring, and yet there is a trace of sadness as we say good-bye to all of the creatures that we have had the privilege of hosting in our part of the world for the past months. Fly safely, little ones!

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*When a friend (thanks Pat!) sent me a link to Boreal's beautiful song, "Winterbirds", I knew that I had to share it with all of you! I have included the link here, with kind permission from the members of Boreal. Give it a listen, and I know that you will be as impressed as I have been with the perfect descriptions of our Winterbirds, the lovely voices, and a melody that will play over and over in your head. There is such a sense of joy and celebration in this piece ...

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd6i-SFslBU

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Happy End of Winter!

-Merri-Lee

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