No, this pond is not in my garden I just thought it looked so pretty with the pump sending out a plume of spray to keep an area open. This wicked cold weather, 2 F this morning, is not good for much of anything living.
I am always amazed how birds can withstand such temperatures. Of course they have other things to worry about other than Arctic conditions. The neighborhood cats are drawn to the feeders as well.
I know this innocent looking creature isn't any more comfortable than the birds. He should be at home by the hearth. I can just hear him thinking. Where are those birds?
Are they over there?
No they went thataway.
Then just a few minutes later I look out and what do I see???
This beautiful white ball of fur hunkering down behind the log planter waiting for the birds to forget it is there so it can have a half frozen snack.
Who Meee, eat poor little defenseless birdies???? Surely you jest.
Are you sure those are neighbor cats? Some abandoned cats do live outside all winter. And, what about the watermelon drop? I'm so anxious for photos!!!! Freezing cold here, too, but we still have some snow cover.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa...that white cat would be such a perfect match for Luna. Does she like cats? Nella most certainly does not....cat do not venture here.
ReplyDeleteI have kept my fountain pumping...just in case there is wildlife in the pond.....and it does look pretty....
We have a snow storm at the moment.....with ice from the previous day underneath. It is so unusual for this area. I wish it would go back to where it came from.
I love the white cat's face! Most of ours stay indoors (the two oldest go out daily for a little while) and talk to the birds through the windows. Bird television is highly entertaining for them (and for us watching them).
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed how the birds survive as well.
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss your watermelon drop?? I had to go back to catch up on your New Year's Eve celebration--did you take photos??
ReplyDeleteI'm a cat lover, Lisa, but I do hate to see them catching birds. Our cats, even the supposedly outdoor ones, are enjoying the comfort of the garage and/or the house this winter and seem to have little interest in chasing birds around. Sophie, on the other hand, looks for the birds in their favorite low roosts as soon as she leaves the house. Fortunately, she hasn't learned to fly:) Toby, like Jodi's cats, loves watching bird television from the front window all day long.
It's darned cold here, too...
I had this thought also today about the birds ability to withstand such frigid harsh winters.
ReplyDeleteToday in my zone 5 it was 11 degrees out and the birds where feeding at the feeders and hopping around on the ground as if it were springtime.. simply amazing"
Poor birdies! But I suppose that's the way of nature. It if frigid here too and already I am tired of it. Stay warm. :)
ReplyDeleteI have a neighborhood cat who has started doing the exact same thing at several different locations around my feeders. I know it's in their DNA to hunt them, but if he does not quickly bore of his hunt, I shall be calling his owners in the cul-de-sac!
ReplyDeleteThe cats are like spirits in that garden!
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa! *Yes!* Of course you gave me those three wonderful fleece flowers, none of which I think I killed yet (but we'll see in spring). I *knew* I was forgetting someone important, so thanks for letting me know! I've added you to the list! And I really do love those plants. The brain just isn't what it used to be!
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely cats and in perfect, contrasting colors. I hope their owners bring them in.
ReplyDeleteMiserably cold here too. It looks like a long winter.
Marnie
I can't believe that cats could live outdoors in such cold weather. Poor things! Do stay warm.
ReplyDeletestray cats lurking beneath my backyard birdfeeders would definitely be an unwelcome sight here -- no matter what the season!
ReplyDeleteI don't like cats eating birds. What I do like is cats eating baby rabbits. People should keep their cats indoors in the winter & let them out in the spring when the baby bunny just start hopping around.
ReplyDeleteI saw a cat, just today, running across the street with a small rodent in its mouth! At least it wasn't a bird.
ReplyDeleteTotal innocence. Our own neighborhood cats have been hanging around more than usual, right around our bird feeders too. Kitty is too comfy in the house to go chase them away. If I throw him out on the deck, he just stands by the door until I let him back in. Wuss.
ReplyDeleteFrances
What a delightful post with beautiful pictures! Happy new year!
ReplyDelete:)
We also have seen a few cats near the feeders. It is so very cold here too. Hope you are staying warm. I have lots of catching up to do! Hope your New Year's celebration was fun....
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to 2010.
Sherry
Lisa- thanks for your nice comments-- turns out I didn't post for a while because I was painting. :) But I really appreciate you taking the time to visit and comment.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
We have a lot of feral cats in our country neighborhood, and we have to chase them from the feeders. They're only doing what nature tells them to do, but I wish my neighbors would spay and neuter their cats.
ReplyDeleteI love both cats and birds BTW.~~Dee
Cold here in the Ozarks too -- and forecast to get even colder.
ReplyDeleteWe live rural enough that stray cats are not a problem. Every once in a great while, we see a cat at the edge of our property, but those are as feral as any wild animal, and too wary to approach our house and bird feeders.
I never had any of my cats catch a healthy bird but they did love to watch the feeders. No cats now.
ReplyDeleteThe snow captures what I otherwise miss--cat prints around the front porch, though ours never leave the house. I do my best to shoo them away if I see a stray wandering through the yard.
ReplyDeleteOutdoor cats are a no-no if you are trying to create a sanctuary for wildlife.
Cats really don't want to eat those birds... but they wiggle and squiggle and just look like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteCats are always looking for an opportunity to catch an unsuspecting bird, aren't they? I'm amazed that our barn cats rarely bother our feeder birds. I guess they have enough critters to keep them busy up around the barn....and besides that, they're well fed.
ReplyDeleteThose are a couple of pretty cats and great pics.
We had at least 5 cardinals plus a redbellied woodpecker added to our usual birdy visitors this morning. There's never a dull moment :)
Gorgeous captures of the black & white cats! Beautiful faces ♥
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of press now about the damage cats do to the bird populations (did I mention this to you before??). I loved your pics, though.
ReplyDeleteMy cat prefers the couch to the garden these days.too white, too cold and too windy out there.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should refrain from commenting on this one, Lisa... although I like cats you should have seen how mad I was the other day when I saw the remains of a mockingbird & a neighbor's cat in my vegetable garden!
ReplyDeleteAnnie at the Transplantable Rose
I'll never forget seeing a neighbor's cat catch one of the birds at my feeder at the house we lived before moving here.
ReplyDeleteI hope your birds are careful not to get caught.