We were delighted to get our first snowfall of winter this week in the Roanoke Valley. Less than two inches fell but enough to make the trees sparkle. Unfortunately, the snow was topped with a coating of ice. Schools are closed, and travel is discouraged, but the roads were pretreated, and the plows are out doing their job to make the streets drivable. Through the night, the wind howled, and we could hear shards of ice falling from the trees. We were fortunate not to lose power as many residents did.

This snowy weather highlights the variety of birds that visit our bird feeder and birdbath every year. Their vibrant colors liven up the bleak days of winter.

Mr. Cardinal is the star in my picture at the top of this blog. There is no doubt he stands out against the snowy branches. Mr. and Mrs. C stay with us throughout the year, but we are pleased to see more of them when the trees are bare. In this photo, the cardinal has made friends with a dark-eyed junco, also known as a snowbird. The snowbirds show up in Virginia once the leaves have fallen and the cold weather arrives after spending the summer in the Arctic. These little birds thrive in frigid weather.

An array of birds live with us year-round and seem to enjoy the change of seasons: nuthatches who can walk in any direction and eat upside down at the feeder; red-bellied woodpeckers who we hear drumming in the trees to find food or hollow out a nest for their family; house finches who flaunt their red chests and heads and usually appear at the feeder with their mate; and a vast variety of sparrows, all of which are attracted to humans and often live near them because of the constant food supply;

mockingbirds who come to the birdbath for a drink when taking a break from their constant singing; Carolina wrens, like sparrows, who enjoy the company of humans and live nearby for a reliable food source—see my blog post about Winky the Wren, who lives in a hanging pot at our house; and blue jays who steal the peanuts we put out for the squirrels.

If we’re lucky, a robin will show up on an icy day to brighten the tree limbs with his red breast. Some robins will stay in Virginia through the winter if they can find food. Some migrate in flocks of hundreds to thousands to find fruits on trees and bushes. Just the other day we saw hundreds of robins in our backyard flitting from one tall pine tree to another. Perhaps they will spend the winter with us!