Winter Storm Fern

LEBANON, OH -- We were warned that Winter Storm Fern was coming a whole week before it arrived. In retrospect, I think this was probably the best job of long-range weather forecasting that I can remember. The timing, enormity, track, snowfall amounts and bone-chilling temperatures were all unwaveringly predicted with utmost accuracy. The evening before the storm was scheduled to hit, I loaded the bird feeders with suet and sunflower seed knowing that I, likely, wouldn’t want to do it later in sub-zero wind chill temperatures and blowing snow.

The next morning I got out of bed and looked out the window at 7:30 to see a blanket of 8-inches of snow ... with more still coming down. 

The usual neighborhood dog-walkers were nowhere to be seen. Driveway and sidewalk snow removal wasn’t a priority for anyone. Our street hadn’t been plowed and wouldn’t be for hours – or maybe even a day. But, the birds were up early eagerly devouring the contents of the feeders I filled the prior evening. 

With their natural food sources buried in deep snow, the birds never left my feeding station all day. At times there were two dozen birds at the feeders simultaneously. 

At least 15 species made an appearance. And, they didn’t have any competition from the squirrels, which decided to stay holed up in that nasty weather.

It’s truly amazing that the birds can endure the conditions that convinced me to stay inside all day... long photographing them through the window while sipping on a cup of hot chocolate, which is how I choose to cope with the likes of Winter Storm Fern.

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