-32C plus windchill was a deterrent to any outdoor activities this week. Instead, I stocked up the bird feeders and watched the action from my kitchen window.

The birds were busy. Redpolls, nuthatches, blue jays, chickadees and a variety of woodpeckers took turns at the feeders. 

There was a 'pecking' order. One aggressive redpoll was selective as to who was going to be at the feeder at the same time. It would sit in the middle of the seed and watch the other birds approach. If it happened to be one that he didn't want there, he would fly up and attack.

The nuthatches and woodpeckers were the only birds that could approach and not be scared off by the redpoll. The chickadees took their chances; some were able to land and eat while others were scared away.

The bluejays swooped in and often went for the cat food instead of the bird seed. Their squawking echoed through the yard; scaring off all the other birds.

The temperature is finally rising so there will definitely be some outdoor time this afternoon. I hope you will have the opportunity for some outdoor time as well. I'll be back next Friday. Happy trails!