The New Year Birds are very busy in my yard this week

First picture is of the red bellied woodpecker. He is spending more and more time in my yard this week. I am guessing it's because the temperature has gotten so low that finding bugs is more challenging than last week. He didn't want the suet today, but preferred the bird seed in the platform feeder. Yesterday the starlings kept him away from the station but they seemed to have tamed some from yesterday. I have noticed that the starlings are at their most obnoxious when it is snowing.

Second picture is of the lone song sparrow who comes to my yard everyday. I love this little bird because he stands up for himself. The creepy little house sparrows have a tendency to bully the other birds and the song sparrow won't stand for it. He pecks right back at them and they are smart enough to back off. He is so spunky that I make it a point to stop whatever I am doing to watch him and his antics.

Finally a question. Is this a pine siskin? I am so sorry for the lousy picture but lighting has been a big issue for me the past couple of days due to how the sun is in my yard. All three of these pictures where taken around the same time in the day but you can see how much better the one of the red bellied is due to the sun around that tree. The area in my yard where my feeding stations are do not get direct sun on it as much as my trees do.

Lastly the junco is still around and hopping. I did some google research and am sad to report that he does have a broken wing. I am going to go to Dicks Sporting Goods tomorrow to get a net and see if I can get him that way. I will call Tufts tomorrow, but I have a feeling they are going to tell me to just let nature take it's course with him (that's what they told a neighbor of mine who had an injured robin). There is another man a couple of towns over from me that does wild life rehab as well so I may try him too. I find it sad that there are not a lot of wild life rehabilitors out there. If I didn't have all of my cats I would consider doing it. Big applause to all of you out there who do it!