Pg36

There was some magic in the big snow of

January 2011. It brought hundreds of

birds to the yard and feeders, but that

was normal. The unusual aspect was that it

brought birds that I had only rarely seen

before, and this one, the very first

Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna),

made its first appearance ever in my yard.

The Meadowlark is a very showy bird, with

its dazzling yellow front and it’s beautiful

boldly patterned back.

Having not seen one before, the bird surprised me when it first showed up.

But, after it found its way to my yard, it was in no hurry to move on. It

came back day after day for as long as there was snow on the ground. It is

a ground-feeder and enjoyed the seed that I had scattered on the snow,

but it also would sit in one position for a long time, digging under the snow

and into the ground to find insects beneath the surface.

11 JAN 2011

13 JAN 2011

11 JAN 2011

13 JAN 2011