I chuckled when I came across this cute photo because this little guy reminds me of my canary, Buddy, who often steps right into his food or treat dish while he chows down. The coloring for both birds is even similar. Well, our little feathered friend above has staked a claim on this treasure trove of treats and seems to say “I got dibs on this food – just try and take it away from me!”

When I trotted out the door this morning, at first blush it felt downright balmy, especially after the past few days in the Deep Freeze. Could it be that we have turned a corner and finally kicked that Old Man Winter to the curb? The sun was shining and a big ol’ flock of birds filled up the empty spaces between the bare branches of Marge’s plum tree, just cheeping and twittering away. It was wonderful to hear them. Of course, they have been singing their hearts out, even on the coldest of mornings, when I came outside in multiple layers and still was shivering. I’d glance over or up, and there they sat, lined along the fence, or up in the tree, with a “lookout bird” who was no birdbrain as he was busy scoping out the homes of those kindly souls who regularly load up their birdfeeders. Soon he would alert his brethren … then off they’d go. The expression “this Winter is for the birds” would really disparage the birds, rather than the season, not that this entire season doesn’t deserve every sneer and snarky criticism we can hurl at it. When I see those birds all fluffed up and huddled together on a wire, or in a tree and singing their hearts out, I’d choose the expression “cheerfulness in the face of adversity” instead. All Winter, as I continually heard those chirrups, they cheered me up despite the gloomy sky or adverse weather, and I wondered anew how all “my” Council Point Park critters were faring. Hopefully, some of the stalwart walkers have been tossing an occasional treat or bread morsel their way throughout this ever-lasting Winter and I trust my peanut pals squirrelled away some of the cache of peanuts I kept gifting them as the cold weather set in back in November. I get a kick out of the birds and squirrels and their antics, especially when they are oblivious to me. During this morning’s outing, I spied a cute chickadee scrambling around trying to perch atop my holly bush. He was having considerable difficulty and kept losing his footing, struggling to keep his balance on the hard and pointy leaves. He had some food in his mouth and was determined not to lose it as he tried to right himself so he could enjoy his treat. I tried to glimpse what he was eating, but I couldn’t tell what it was. My neighbor, Marge, discovered earlier this season that the outside critters liked dry spaghetti noodles. She tossed some out on the deck one day, and those noodles, which looked like a blah-colored version of the children’s game of Pick Up Sticks, were finished off in no time. Buddy’s veterinarian is always encouraging me to feed him more “people food” … Dr. Cook has a parrot who loves spaghetti and meatballs. Every time she makes spaghetti, the bird gets a paper plate filled with pasta to enjoy. She assures me that bird eats every bite. Can’t you just imagine what his face looks like when he is done slurping down a plateful of spaghetti and meatballs? Mamma Mia!