There are a number of sayings about birds… something is “for the birds”, “up with the birds”, “tell it to the birds” and the list goes on. Sadly, most of those sayings have a negativity about them and I’m not sure why birds get this bad rap, since they’re mostly beauties like the trio of photos we have from an equal number of photographers today.

We start with a pair of eagles in Baraga. Kassy Kallio spotted these two in Baraga and ran through knee-high snow to get a better shot of them. Now that’s a sign of a true photographer, doing anything you can to get a good photo. I wonder if the eagles are plotting together for their next meal or if they’re just taking a break in the sunshine?

The second photo comes from Laurie Bashaw, who said they’ve had a Pileated Woodpecker visitor at their bird feeder log lately and he finally stuck around long enough so she could snap a picture. This is the largest woodpecker in North America, anywhere from 16” to 19”, with a wingspan of 26” to 29”. So fun to see at your feeding station.

Jean Dessellier had one visiting her feeders and said she was excited to see it this day. They peck away at dead trees and fallen logs to find carpenter ants and in the process leave rectangular holes in the wood. Pileated Woodpeckers are not real common at backyard feeding stations, but sometimes visit bird feeders, especially for suet, like Jean has in her wire hanging feeder.

Backyard feeding stations aren’t just for the birds. Lois Haglund shares a video of her visitors, which she says are a daily occurrence at her place.

Cool stuff! And the bird in #3 should "Call Sam" if
it's going to sue it.

Nice pics and video!! Alex, I don't think everyone
is going to know about Sam Bernstein, lol.

Very nice photos. We've had them visit our
yard also. So cool to watch. Our mornings
are spent playing cribbage by the kitchen
window and watching the birds at the
feeders.

Cool video also.

Trust me...the Eagles sitting there ARE watching
for lunch. I've seen one flying along, dive down
and grab a fish and fly off, all in one fell
swoop.

The log feeder is the best. When living in Baraga,
I had one like that. I fed every woodpecker in
Baraga county! These birds are both females. The
males
have a red streak on their cheek. The females are
black.

And those turkeys...I used to have flocks coming
in too, and if a deer DARED to try to eat....the
big guy would flip up his tail and go at him...the
deer weren't allowed to eat till the girls were
done. Every single time!

These are positively wonderful....thanks to
all...brings back the most awesome memories.

Alex "UP-Goldwinger" (Alex):
"Cool stuff! And the bird in #3 should 'Call Sam' if it's going to sue it."

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