Those Uncomfortable Groundhog Weeks
By AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16679)
Boston, Massachusetts
February 21, 2017 7:06am CST
I heard a strange noise coming from somewhere outside my kitchen window this morning. At first, I noticed only that there was noise where noise didn't usually exist. It took my foggy brain a moment to realize that it was a bird. Chirping? Not exactly. It was loud and not musical at all. It was a rallying cry. "C'mon birds, birds, birds. Time to work, work, work".
The groundhog may have claimed six more weeks of winter, and winter may have obliged by sending three snowstorms in rapid fire succession, but some of these transitional weeks bring confused weather of sunny days in the 40s and clear nights in the 20s. Somehow, the snow melts, but the ice never disappears.
Which is what makes me worry about those birds. The first thing to do upon returning is to make the nest. What is there that they can make nest out of? Twigs? The world is covered in snow and ice with nothing even reasonably comfortable available for nest bedding.And birds can't decide to put it off a bit. A bird can't say - "You guys head north, I'm going to stay in Florida another week and soak up some sun. Catch up with you later". It's all programming. They have to make nests even if there's nothing to make them out of.
So, when I stay in bed after the alarm has sounded, it's not because I am lazy. I am simply celebrating my free will, my ability to ignore my duty and decide that it's February and it's bleak and things look much better with my eyes closed.
The groundhog has gone back to sleep and so will I. If only those birds would be quiet.
14 people like this
16 responses
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
21 Feb 17
Ahh, so that's the real reason why you noticed those birds. We have birds that have their next right under the roof and it's been there for several years. If any come here I give my permission for that next to be occupied just so there's no fighting.
Our ice melted and completely dried up finally over the warmer weekend.
3 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
22 Feb 17
@Rollo1 Ours evaporated with the second day of temp into the forties, but the ice that was on the lawns disappeared back in January after the thaw that took place then. It was everywhere for quite a while then before it left. We got more sometime in Feb, but that is now gone too and it was mostly on the sidewalks that weren't even. I'm sure more will be coming next month if even for just a little while.
@kaka135 (14931)
• Malaysia
21 Feb 17
That's really nice of you. I have seen some tutorials or articles about sharing some yarns for the birds, I didn't really understand why though I think it's nice as the birds here can always get enough supplies since I am staying in tropical country. Now I understand this. 
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
21 Feb 17
Nature figures it all out eventually.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50610)
• United States
22 May 17
We have an over abundance of birds this year.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50610)
• United States
22 May 17
@Rollo1 while we were in West Virginia we could hear the Doves
@JESSY3236 (20046)
• United States
21 Feb 17
It has been unusually warm here. I heard a noise too, but I don't know what it was. I don't think it was birds.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160908)
• United States
23 May 17
I deliberately put laundry lint, and yarn scraps out. Oh and hair trimmings when I shear off hubby's curls. I like having a job, but miss being able to go back to bed when the weather is mediocre.
@GardenGerty (160908)
• United States
17 Apr 17
It is two months later and they are noisier than ever. All sizes of birds. One got into my house last month while hubby was home and I was not. I think it was a wren. It did NOT want to be in a house, it had mistakenly gotten in. We had to persuade it that the door could be opened and it could go back out.
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
21 Feb 17
@inertia4 There were winters that were warm and winters with blanketing blizzards. The variety is what I remember when I was a child. And I am very old. I remember they said we were heading towards a new ice age. They also said half of the US was going to die of starvation by 1970. Scientists change their minds a lot based on new information they gather. This is the only time in history when scientists weren't allowed to express differing opinions from one another.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
18 Mar 17
The groundhog got it right in our area. Or did he?
Anyway, with March 20 being the official day of the new season, we will see!
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Feb 17
Maybe you could toss some yarn and stuff out for them? lol
@just4him (317249)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 May 17
It's spring now and the temps are still acting like winter is still upon us. No snow anymore, but if it gets cold enough, anything is possible. I might love winter, but right now I'm wishing for somewhat warmer temps so I can turn off my heat until the middle of fall.
