Monday, December 27, 2010

sialia sialis happiness

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The Eastern Bluebirds came today. They found the bittersweet berries.

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We did not get the heavy snows that our friends to the south experienced, but we did get some and it brought with it the winter wind. The wind was howling last night, and continued on into the day. The bluebirds come to eat the berries as the wind subsides.

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Bluebirds eat mostly insects and small invertebrates, but during the cold winter months berries are a good supplemental food source when the insects are hard to find.

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Bluebirds are a welcome sight in winter. I was happy to watch them eat the berries.

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The mythology of the bluebird of happiness has deep roots that go back thousands of years. Indigenous cultures across the globe hold similar myths and beliefs about the bluebird. It is a widely accepted symbol of cheerfulness, happiness, prosperity, hearth and home, good health, new births, the renewal of springtime, etc. Virtually any positive sentiments may be attached to the bluebird.

May these bluebirds bring you cheerfulness, prosperity, good health, new births, renewal and happiness in the new year!

13 comments:

Valerie said...

I didn't know that they stayed in the winter. What lovely photo's. Thanks for sharing, cyndy.

Sharon said...

What a beautiful bird!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

They certainly make marvelous models in the snow and cold. Just the color raises one's spirits.

Dawn said...

So pretty! We don't have these birds here. Thanks for sharing!

Jody said...

Very impressive blue on those birds. I have never seen anything like that around here.
I have been feeding my bluejay friends since the fall and they come to my porch everyday and call for me to come out and give them food. I made a bacon grease/peanut butter ball with sunflower seeds for the sweet little chickadees :-)

Cathy said...

Wonderful! Love the colors! I don't think I ever saw bluebirds in the winter at the farm tho we had bittersweet growing on the fenceline outside the living room window.

annmarie said...

such an amazing, electric blue on that beautiful little bird! thank you so much for sharing these photos.

Anonymous said...

Great pictures! I love these birds - and I didn't even know the nice beliefs associated with them.

elizabeth said...

Wonderful pictures! I'd heard of the bluebird of happiness, but not the other attributes. Happy New Year to you Cyndy - hope the bluebirds are a sign of what the coming year holds!!!

judy said...

You get the best pictures! I've never seen bluebirds in the winter.

Drove back across PA last night and was surprised at how little snow there was.

Jennifer said...

Lovely pictures! I'm glad you didn't get all of that snow!

Tammy said...

Gorgeous pics Cyndy!

Vladka said...

Hallo Cyndy. Thank´s for your visit. I want to tell you, you have got an excelent blog. I love your photos of nature and I like reading about your quite different life than mine. I also interested in spinning wool and natural dyeing. So I´m seeking information on the Web. I´m glade I found you. And there is the answer to your question - we have got valaska sheep. This is Czech traditional breed with long hair.

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