Nuthatch Eruption

As many avid nature lovers and bird watchers alike had probably gathered already, this year was a big year for the winter finches and seed eating birds, as well as nuthatches. I was lucky enough to spend this fall working at a bird observatory in Prince Edward County Ontario. This photo was captured at the height of migration and Red-breasted Nuthatches, such as this female, were dripping from the red and white cedars surrounding the National Wildlife Area. It was overwhelming to be surrounded by so many birds, all very focused on the task of migration that they had little time to think of the human standing a mere 5 feet away. I enjoyed many evenings watching these birds hang upside down from branches grabbing every last morsel of food needed for their winter movement.