Time for the winter wardrobe

Those of us who live north of the 41st parallel, know that summer is over. Although the temperatures for the past week have been horrid torrid here on the south shore of Lake Erie, when the birds begin to migrate south, we know that winter is on the way, probably bringing with it a load of snow, ice, and frigid temperatures. Some birds, like the blue jay, finches, cardinals, and woodpeckers, don't migrate. They hang around northeast Ohio all year, and honestly, I can't help muttering to myself, "Crazy birds. Go south! I would if I could." But they don't go; they just get out their winter coats and hunker down for the duration. 

That's what this scruffy-looking bluejay is preparing to do. He may look sickly or like he's having a really bad hair day, but he's not. He's just going through the process called molting (or moulting). Don't feel too sorry for him; he will look better as soon as his winter feathers grow in. Meanwhile, he can be thankful he can't see himself in a mirror.

Please check out my backblip of yesterday's close (and scary) encounter.