Canon Powershot SX260 HS / 500mm | ISO 100, +1/3 EV | 1/400 @ f/6.8
The redpolls return each year in early March. They are one of the first birds to come home as winter dozes and spring sneaks in. The plants you see here drop countless black seeds onto the snow as the weather warms and I am sure the redpolls can spot them from a mile away. I have read they have an interesting “electric” chirp. I’m not exactly sure what that means, and ours are always too busy eating to bother singing for me. I like our little redpolls.
Gwichyaa Zhee 
A few of them have returned to my feeder too. Among the first migrators. Very nice birds.
Have you heard them chirp?
Yeey, spring is close!!!
🙂
I have learned that our friend who runs the airport does bees. I’ll have to ask him more about it
Great! 🙂
They look like sparrows.
Yes. Some kind of finch, I believe.
What sweethearts! I don’t think I’ve ever seen them….
They’re called “Daaluu” in Gwich’in, they’re eating lambsquarter seeds. The plant is an edible weed which can be mixed into salads, it has a taste between arugula and spinach.
Thank you, Ed! I am grateful for the input, and I didn’t know that was lambsquarters. I will try some this year.
There is wild sage around here that is great for your spaghetti recipe too, if you can’t find any in your walks I’ll direct you to some local supply.
I want to go walking with you – I’m an eager learner!
They are very attracted to sunflower seeds, if you leave some out you’ll have Daaluu singing around your house all day.
I’m going to buy some and try that. They don’t stay here during winter, do they? I haven’t seen them in the really cold months.
They are migratory. The bigger white finches that you might’ve seen flying around, snow buntings, are called Gwi’geh Zhuu in Gwich’in and are edible. I guess they’re like a very miniature cornish game hen.
I haven’t seen this one.
LOVE this image Dave! How did you get so close without scaring them?!
Oh, I wasn’t nearly so close as it looks. I shot it at 500mm equivalent, then cropped cropped cropped way down. But it turned out pretty good. Thanks!