H.J. Ruiz – Avian101

—Snow Day in Nortwest Georgia — Click on image to see enlargement —

© HJ Ruiz – Avian 101

After the snow storm fiasco, the schools still remain closed for the third day! All Moms are ready to explode, having the children at home creating havoc. You must know what I mean if you have small children.

Georgia has not been the only State affected by this snow storm, the whole deep south is suffering the same weather conditions. These are States where rarely snow in big quantities and if it does, lasts only a short time and thaws out. The problem this time was a bad combination of weather factors. The cold wave from the north dropped way down to the south and moved east where it met the humid Gulfstream air and created a tremendous amount of snow and then, the temperature dropped even lower sustaining the freezing conditions not allowing snow to melt.

Most of the affected States don’t have the equipment necessary to clear snow or ice because they hardly use it. That might have to change to avoid the sad debacle that we are witnessing.

Next are some more pictures of birds for you. Enjoy!

Northern Cardinal (M)

Carolina Chickadee

White-throated Sparrow

Mourning Dove & Song Sparrow

Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101

What a disaster can be to get over 3 inches of snow in Georgia!

Most likely that you’ve read it or seen it on the news. Tuesday and Wednesday school were closed in many Counties and they will remain closed Thursday yet. I went out food shopping at noon and roads were absolutely lousy because since we got the snow on Tuesday, the temperature dropped and still remains in the high 20s, being below freezing point and snows has not melted. Most Counties do not have plows or spreaders for snow cleaning like the northern States have unfortunately.

The roads seen was incredible, cars all over the sides into ditches, other crashed to trees, other cars, mail boxes, trailers , etc. At the food market, half of their items were gone and shelves were half empty, deliveries of all kinds were were suspended because trailers were stuck on highways and other roads.

Several schools that had not taken snow day closing on time were unable to bus the student to their homes and had to stay overnight. My niece that was working left work at 5pm and got home at 3 am , she usually does that trip in 45 minutes!

Tyler’s first snow!

We heard from many friends in the same situation, it was a real disaster, local television broadcasted only about weather conditions and multiple accidents. I’m writing this post on Wednesday and the sky clouds opened up and we have sunshine but is only 29° F!

My son Tyler was so happy to go out and play with the snow, his first snow! (See photo)

I shot some pictures of birds for a short while earlier. Some of them are on this post featured gallery. Enjoy!

White-throated Sparrow

Northern Cardinal (F)

Field Sparrows

Song Sparrow

Tufted Titmouse

Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101

What do you know! We got some snow on Tuesday! No kidding, 3 inches. There were school closings for our County, people went scrambling to the food markets to buy supplies like crazy last night, they showed it on TV.

It was kind of ironic that I had troves of birds coming to my feeders eating like crazy too. I was happy that I could help these birds get their daily meals. It was nice to see different kinds of birds sharing their meals. When the snow started to cover the deck I simply could not resist the temptation to shoot some pictures even when it was dark and a bit windy. Later, conditions were less than friendly.

However, I had to go out refill feeders a second time because  birds were all over the deck digging for seeds. I guess they were still hungry!

Song Sparrow

Northern Cardinal (M)

Carolina Wren

Tufted Titmouse

White-throated Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz