For the birds: Backyard hobby heats up in winter
Photo submitted by Bill Thompson
This photo of a bluebird perched on an icy feeder was taken at the Liberty Township farm of Bill Thompson III and wife, Julie Zickefoose, last winter.
They may not be considered a pet in the traditional sense, but for those who love to attract and observe wild birds, nothing can compare to the experience of watching the animals in their natural habitat. According to Bill Thompson III, editor of the Marietta-based Bird Watcher’s Digest, there are quite a few native birds that hang around during the winter months and some that consider southeastern Ohio “going south” for the winter. “There are dozens of species, including cardinals — the state bird, of course, — the carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, the American goldfinch, which is really a drab green this time of year, dark-eyed juncos and five or six different species of woodpecker,” Thompson said. Attracting these birds is as easy as scattering some seed around your yard, on a deck or pouring in a hanging feeder. The love of bird watching is progressive, according to Thompson. “It grows on you,” he said.
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