Will today be the last day for our American Tree Sparrows?

Usually the sun keeps away from our north-facing kitchen window, but for a brief time in the morning a few rays creep into the tree and on the feeder just outside the window. The other morning, as I was getting ready to fry an egg, I peeked out and saw the sun lighting up the browns in this American Tree Sparrow' feathers as it nipped at the thistle. The browns were so rich and warm I let out an "ooohhh......" and ran for the camera!

The sun enhanced the brown feathers on this 

tree sparrow, making them glow with warmth.

I will miss this little fellow and his flock because they kept us entertained all winter. After the big snow, we had 20+ eating, flitting, twittering and looking cute daily at the kitchen window feeders. The entire month of February was an American Tree Sparrowfest. All you had to do was glance out the window to find either a small group or the whole flock busily going about their business, which usually involved eating seeds, twittering, or looking up at me as I cracked the kitchen window to listen to them! 

A brave little fellow, he would barely flinch as I cracked 

the kitchen window for better viewing and listening!

I wonder how much longer they will be around…will today be the last day? I’m keeping track. Three were at the feeder this morning, but when I came home late this afternoon, there were none. In their place will come the Chipping Sparrows, but they are usually not as feeder friendly, preferring instead, the insects found in the grasses in our back yard. That’s okay. I will set up a portable bird blind and watch the chippy little cuties hopping around scoring invertebrates off the grasses, and I'll snap their pictures in the sun too.

Click here for a previous post on American Tree Sparrows, and a little more information on them.