A Bright Spot on a Dreary Day

Winters in the snow belt can get pretty long, so the liveliness and sheer energy of birds perks up sagging human spirits. This Northern Cardinal's brilliant feathers provided a wonderful counterpoint to still another gray and snowy day. When I took this photograph, I lived in upstate New York, where lake effect snows were frequent (as in 140" of snow each winter!). Now I spend my winters in the drippy Northwest not far from Puget Sound. Here we have Bald Eagles, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Varied Thrushes, and lots of other winter residents; but alas, nothing as bright as this male Cardinal.

Lee Rentz