Toledo Weather - Wed, Feb 2014

I got up at 7:09 a.m, looked out the window at top of the steps, and saw a junco near our neighbor's garage door. In our backyard, at least a dozen juncos tried in vain to find food.

I knew the juncos would be in major panic mode because of the nighttime snowfall, and when that happens, they arrive earlier than normal, but I did not expect them to already be in the yard prior to 7:10 a.m. I needed to be outside at least 15 minutes earlier.

I dressed quickly and bolted outside. I first measured the snowfall. At 7:10 a.m., I measured 3.25 inches of new snow that fell since just before Midnight. That gave a total of 4.25 inches of snow from this system, since the snow began around 7:00 p.m. last evening.

The snow intensity at 7:10 a.m. was at least heavy. It really poured.

I shoveled snow as fast as I could, clearing paths and feeding areas for the ground birds. I scattered millet, whole kernel corn for the squirrels, and a little cracked corn. Yesterday afternoon, I topped off the two small thistle socks and the snowman cage, which contains sunflower oilers.

I was back inside at 7:24 a.m.

At 7:30 a.m., I counted at least 50 SCJU in our backyard at all the shoveled feeding areas. Also present were a few juncos and at least two cardinals.