The Quack Shack

[Canadian Wind]

The cold is starting to hit now over here. We were actually above freezing for a bit today, but we're being hit with a flash freeze with temps going down to -16 Celsius (plus wind chill).

I managed to bribe the ducks into their coops!!! It was so funny, I got out some food, shook the bucket, and a line of ducks came out from under my trailer, like clowns from a small car! My grandson followed behind to make sure all of them came to the yard, and we had to chase a few of them, but they are settled.

Going to bring in a few of my more fragile bunnies (lionheads) too, since they can't handle this much cold. They are tiny things.

Also got extra propane for supplemental heat, in case the power goes out.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Retract the landing gear, that is funny.

It's so miserable outside I actually put food and water inside, and will probably wish I never did but poor things need some help.

Despite having heating cables in the waterers, the float valves froze.…
So now i have to use a bucket to fill up the duck's water.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Heavy traffic at the bird feeder today:

Does anybody know the names of the birds? - I know the red one is a cardinal, but the one, barely hanging on the ede, is that a woodpecker?

 

[Canadian Wind]

Female cardinal

edit: Wait, I didn't go far enough in the video! It DOES kind of look like a woodpecker!

 

[Canadian Wind]

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Female cardinal

edit: Wait, I didn't go far enough in the video! It DOES kind of look like a woodpecker!

The red bird is a male(?) cardinal and the ones with the red-cap on their heads are the females? - I really don't know anything about the native birds here.
Well i know how a bluejay looks, but i don't know if these blue beauties are the males or the females…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Update on the Mallards and the pond: No Mallards anywhere today, i assume they have found a warm spot and sleep through the bad weather. Walked up to the pond today and created just 30 seconds of video, that was all the time i was able to hold the phone with my bare hands before the pain became too severe!

 

[Canadian Wind]

The red bird is a male(?) cardinal and the ones with the red-cap on their heads are the females? - I really don't know anything about the native birds here.
Well i know how a bluejay looks, but i don't know if these blue beauties are the males or the females…

Yes, male cardinals are all red, the females are brownish. But, like I said in the edit, the one hanging from the side, with the red cap, DOES look like a woodpecker. Not sure what kind, and I thought they were insectivores, but it looks like one to me!

You also had a bold chickadee in there.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Yes, male cardinals are all red, the females are brownish. But, like I said in the edit, the one hanging from the side, with the red cap, DOES look like a woodpecker. Not sure what kind, and I thought they were insectivores, but it looks like one to me!

You also had a bold chickadee in there.

Ah! Those teny tiny birbs are Chicadees! - Learned something new today, thanks!!!

That woodpecker looks exactly like the "woody woodpecker" in those comics that the shoe store gave to little scared boyz to calm'em down while the sales-guy was fitting the new shoes.
I know, here WW is drawn different, but back in Germany in the 70's it was drawn exactly like the bird i saw today. Had to be a woodpecker! And i know there are plenty of them around, in the warm season you can her them peckin on wood - when the ducks shut up that is…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I know i will deeply regret that tomorrow morning, but it is so cold here (-14°/7F) that the ducks even refuse to come into the duck-run to have supper. So i caved in and served their meal in the duck-house's mud-room. I just do hope that nobody flips over the planter and all the mud-room will become a skating range…
The stuff in the black rubber bowl is wheat-fodder, somehow during this cold weather not very popular, they are craving for the calories in the soup.