The Blues Brothers, Snacking in the Snow

We have a very healthy population of birds at our house, and my husband enjoys putting out chopped peanuts for them several times per day. When it's really cold, or poor weather conditions, they gobble up every bite as quickly as he can put it out. Like the bunnies, the birds keep a close eye on my husband, as he is the bringer of treats!

We have several very large blue jays who come to the feeder, usually in the morning. They are big, raucous, bossy birds, who make lots of noise while they are visiting. We believe at least two of them may be brothers (or a friend has suggested it's possible they may be a mated pair), as they hang out together constantly and even eat at the feeder at the same time.

My husband has a special spot in his heart, though, for the cardinals. And especially for the lady cardinal, whose mere batting of an eyelash can cause him to break out more snacks. She has him wrapped around her little . . . um . . . finger?

I've included a photo of "ladies who lunch" in the extras, though that may be a bit of poetic license. I know for sure that the lady cardinal is a female (and so well dressed, and accessorized!). But I'm not so sure about the junco on the left. In any case, MANGIA!!!

The soundtrack . . . I know I've used this one once in the time I've been on Blip, but it seems like the situation calls for it here. The song is Julie Andrews, singing Feed the Birds, from Mary Poppins.

P.S. If you are interested in feeding the birds yourself, here is a list of 10 foods that your birds may enjoy in winter. (Bread is not on the list, as it isn't a nutritionally sound food for birds; please do NOT feed bread to birds!) And be sure to put out fresh water, so that the birds may drink as well, as liquid water can be quite hard to come by in the frozen winter months.

P.P.S. The list of bird snacks just above this mentions that peanut butter treats may be made for birds. If you do so, please be sure to use a peanut butter that does NOT contain Xylitol! Xylitol is very bad for birds (and it is deadly for dogs, too)!