We got up and out early in hopes of seeing beaver this morning. The sun had just broken the horizon and it was cold. We scoured the marsh but saw no activity. The woods were quiet too. We walked to a spot where I always see at least a few little birds. As we approached, I saw a man walking towards us. He stepped off the trail to a tree stump and then stepped back onto the trail without pausing. When he had passed, I approached the stump and realized that he had deposited a small handful of peanuts into the stump. No wonder I always see birds here! This quiet benefactor is leaving a meal for them.
I stepped away and waited. Before long, the stump was busy with little birds coming and going. White-breasted nuthatches skittered up and down the tree trunk ducking down quickly to grab a nut before darting away. A tufted titmouse perched on a branch nearby to survey the situation before taking his turn at the table. Tiny black-capped chickadees disappeared entirely into the turn before popping out with little bits of food in their beaks. A few larger birds barged in – a red-bellied woodpecker and a cardinal took turns showing off their vibrant plumage, but they didn’t stay long. A sweet little downy woodpecker appeared. It was a treat to see one so close; they are shy and quick. But food trumped fear and so I was able to get a clear close view of his intricate feather pattern and the spot of red on the back of his heat. It was hard to tear myself from this busy spot, but Chuck insisted it was time to go. So, we moved away quietly, leaving the little birds to their feast.
