Brave little fighters, go on with your battle–
Here is a friend who will welcome you all!
Fly to my window–I’ll feed every comer–
Hail to the comrades that constancy show
Loving and loyal, in winter and summer–
With us, alike, in the heat and the snow!

— From “Winter Birds” by Andrew Downing

I’ve always wanted to have bird feeders at my house, but winter after winter went by and I never got around to doing anything about it. But, this year I was determined to have them, and I really wanted Zane to be involved in making the feeders because that’s right up his alley — wood, tools, birds? — sign him up! Papa (my dad) graciously cut out all of the pieces for us and helped Zane to put them together. Now we have bird feeders! We already had some hooks outside several of the windows in the house so we put our feeders there — it’s so neat to be able to see the birds up close. It’s been thrilling for everyone (especially the cat). I’ve taken some “portraits” of a few of our feathered visitors; I love that they all seem to have their own personalities and, my goodness, they are adorable! Thank you, Papa, for making our bird-loving dreams come true! xoxo

[Most of these were taken with my 50mm lens, but the close-up was done with my 70-200mm, which is really the right lens for the job.] If I’ve identified them correctly — thank you, Roger Tory Peterson — then I believe these birds are, in order of appearance: Common Redpoll, Acanthis flammea; Pine Siskin, Spinus pinus; Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus atricristatus; Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura.