“To fuel his life, winter leaves him only seeds. As the cold sharpens, he needs more seeds to fuel his furnace to its 105-degree Fahrenheit survival heat—just when other seed eaters also need more and snow is apt to cover the uneaten seeds… Too little fat, and he will fall. But too much fat, and he will also fall. Fat slows him, fat slurs his dart and weave. And the hawk, watching the open fields of weed and grain, watching the backyard feeders, dives quick and clean.”
-“Northern Cardinal,” All Creation Waits by Gayle Boss
Nothing like some dog-eat-dog, or in this case bird-eat-bird early morning reflection.