This is a brutal storm, the opposite of a hurricane.  Sadly, we have a lot of broken tree limbs and damaged mature shrubbery.  My immediate concern is I really hope we don't lose power, it is just nasty out now and may get worse as temps drop this eve and snow continues to fall.  I expect some areas will have substantial damage to wildlife habitat.

This morning I shoveled for 3 hours clearing around the barn so we can care for our horses, but I made only a dent in what needs to be done.  I enjoyed watching the feeders when I came in for a break.  Activity at the bird feeders has been insane.  Just like the December storm, we have been invaded today by a large grackle flock, which I keep scaring away as best I can.  As soon as the grackles leave the song birds come bursting onto the scene, and it is amazing.  All 12 feeder stations are absolutely crazy, and species are completely mixed together with diverse combinations at all the feeders.

On a bright note, the Baltimore Oriole is still here and doing well.  It has been feeding here daily since December 31!  I tried to count birds as best I can when the grackles leave.  I tried three times and got pretty consistent totals of 165, 180, and 170 birds at the feeders.  Highlights include a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a lone Fish Crow (eating Black Oil Sunflower seeds; always present here, but a very rare feeder bird), 4 Am. Tree Sparrows, a Fox Sparrow, 55 White-throated Sparrows, 15 Song Sparrows, 16 Juncos, 14 Cardinals, 40 Am. Goldfinches (no Siskins), 12 House Finches, a possible Purple Finch (got only a brief look before grackles scared it off), and 15-20 birds of miscellaneous species.

Time to get back out and do more shoveling.

Hang in there and keep feeding the birds!
Jeff Shenot
Croom Md