JAN. 8 - BUSHTIT

It’s a cold and dreary day. The Kind of day you spend indoors and watch the birds come and go from your feeders in your backyard. It’s early January and the light snow falling is a sight to see as we’ve been experiencing a very mild winter. It has been unseasonably warm and dry so the falling snow is a welcoming joy.

It ushered in a small flock of about 10-15 bushtits to our backyard. A family favorite of ours as they chirp their little calls while dancing from limb to limb along our dry creek bed. They were all puffed up due to the cold and falling snow, but looked as content as could be making their way through the choke cherry bushes. It is understood that these little songbirds are known to be fierce for their size towards other birds as they stand firm in their habitats and like to definitely dominate the feeders when they arrive. I noticed a few black capped chickadees try and make their way towards the feeders, but they were not allowed to approach the feeders due to the bushtits confronting them whenever they got close or tried to land on the suet. It is hard to imaging them as fierce and dominant, due to their cuteness and size, especially when they are all puffed up like tiny balls of fur. But they were able to hold their own and dominate until they all eventually flew off to another yard nearby. When they come, they usually pay a visit for a few minutes and stick like glue to the suet feeders, then off, leaving only one or two as those eventually realize they have been left behind and quickly fly off catching up to the others.

I enjoy these quiet moments at the feeders. It only lasts for a few minutes, quick enough to make a few notes, grab a couple of images, but most importantly, enjoy a few laughs with my family as we admire these little, but fierce puffed up birds, we call bushtits.

A quick watercolor sketch of a bushtit.