Monday, February 13, 2006, 9:30 am: The snowstorm passed by us. It blew much more to the south pummeling New York City, Boston and everywhere in-between. It looks like the storm may be presently heading for Nova Scotia.

Because the temperature has moderated somewhat, the wild birds at our feeder are out in large numbers today. Competition is keen for sunflower seed and thistle. I can clearly see where the term “pecking order” is derived. At the top is the Downy Woodpecker who tolerates the Evening and Pine Grosbeaks and Chickadees, Pine Siskins , but not the Blue Jays. The jays peck at each other, and all other birds except the woodpeckers. What a hierarchy of food competition! They know when it is feeding time: The Chickadees swarm around me, landing only inches from my hands and feet. They even eat from the top of the feeder when I am filling it up. The Pine Grosbeaks also stay close at hand, but in fewer numbers. They ignore me, which from the perspective of a bird watcher, is great. The snow is deep enough now that the feeder is about waist high on me.

Yesterday while driving on the Trans-Canada Highway, we saw six deer grazing by the side of the road. A nice picture, but too unsafe to stop and photograph them. We will have plenty of them down our road later in the year. Except for our road, the local roads are clear and free of ice and snow.

Current conditions from our
Vantage-Pro weather station:

Temperature: 16 degrees (F.)

Barometer: 29.49 and rising slowly

Humidity: 59%

Winds: NW at 2 mph and variable

Precipitation: None

Visibility: > 2 miles

Clouds: Scattered high clouds

Since midnight:

Low temp: 6 degrees (F.) at 7:09 am

High wind: 13 mph at 9:13 am