Reflections of a New Hampshire Snowy Day

It’s a snowy day in New Hampshire and I am having a rare moment of being able to sit and watch the birds flock to my feeder. There are the usual breeds, the Chickadee and the Tufted Titmouse. The Cardinal couple is here, the male at the peak of his red splendor against the white background of snow. The Downy Woodpecker is doing his usual comic routine of trying to feed from a feeder not meant for the grip of his feet and claws, but always managing to overcome the obstacle and maneuver his way to a feast. My favorite fliers, the Nuthatches, are also here. From high in a tree, they pick their target, the feeder, then dive full speed in a straight line, while darting left to right, as if avoiding some unseen objects in the sky.

But a few new breeds are here today. Round bellied, black and white Juncos whose legs seem to disappear when they perch in the snow on the railing. Speckled, tiny Sparrows have also found my feeder.

As a behaviorist at heart, I can’t help but take note of how diverse the personalities are of the various breeds, and the hierarchy of nature at work. The Cardinals are the largest and literally chase away any other bird on the feeder. The Woodpecker is large, but due to his lack of coordination on this perch, he seems to be content just to eat, with or without dining guests. The Juncos seem to say, “Come one, come all,” and hang around as if no care in the world. The Chickadees are my favorite. They work together, share and take turns. They seem fearless, unwavering when I walk outside. Perhaps it is due their confidence in their flying abilities.

In analyzing the innate personalities of these different breeds congregating at my feeder, it hasn’t slipped by me that these birds mirror the diverse personalities of humans. Mother Nature created all varying types of personalities for a reason: all types are needed to strike a balance in the natural world. I could go into a spiel about humans and why we need all types to make the world go round, but instead, I’m signing off, hoping you too see and enjoy a moment to take in the special beauty found in the wonder of a New Hampshire snowy day.