As you prepare for the holiday season, be it Christmas, Hanukah, or another celebration, don’t forget our winter birds! The juncos arrive in October and with their slate colored backs and white undersides, they blend nicely into the gray skies and snowy landscape. The males stay in Minnesota, but the females and young ones go further south.
The American tree sparrow winters in our area also and is identified by a rusty crown and black mark on the chest. Their diet is mostly seeds.
The snow buntings also visit us in the winter and are well camouflaged with the snow. They burrow into the snow at night and emerge at daybreak.
Many of these birds can be seen if you visit the Minnesota Arboretum during the winter. Also, keep your bird feeders filled with seeds and suet feeders too. I enjoy watching the birds light on my decorated “kissing balls” of fresh greens hanging outside the window as they rest between bites. We wish you a wonderful holiday season!
-Nola
