Ice On The Birdbath !

Another cold night and really nippy morning.  We do this every winter, even here in FL.  But we then experience a really nice, blue-sky day when the sun gets up to warm the day for us.  We go from wearing a coat and gloves to just a long sleeved shirt by noon.

A few years ago I wrote a poem about 'ice on the birdbath' and it seems like a good time to share it with you.

Ice On The Birdbath

Poor little bluebird, you look so sad,

Or cold, or bewildered or...mad?

As you stopped by our birdbath this morning

For a drink it seems, and without warning

Your feet slipped and slid on cold, hard ice!

You looked all around just to see, 

"Was anyone watching me"?

You dipped your head for a little drink

And tap-tapped your beak... on a skating rink,

When along came a warbler so yellow,

Another curious fellow.

I fully expected to see a hockey game,

A la Woodstock, of Charlie Brown fame;

You, wearing a scarf of red

And a bright toque on your head!

Instead you puffed out your feathers

Pondering this nasty change in the weather.

Then you both flew away...

"We'll come back soon, on a warmer day"!

We really upset our local birds yesterday as the tree surgeons came and felled a very big live oak tree in back of our place.  It is sad to see these giants toppled but with the high winds and rain so common here in summer, and these great branches leaning toward our houses, it is a relief to know they won't come down and destroy our homes.  After cutting, we could see that it had started to have bad places in it's trunk and some of the larger branches.  So, today will be a busy time getting those huge logs hauled away and the tree folks will come again to mill out the giant stump. I am sure glad there are a few nice, fat, evergreen type trees near the feeder and birdbath for the birds to hide and play in or just wait their turn  for others to eat their fill and take their bath.