Beverlybaynes
Mod Squad
I took my feeders down in the late summer, finally relinquishing the front of my house and the house next door to the roaming cats that my then-neighbor insisted upon feeding from her front stoop. Two cats in particular viewed my feeders has a very handy dessert buffet. And I could not stand the thought of one of them taking one of my beautiful cardinals.
The neighbor finally moved a couple of months ago (and did NOT take the cats [which she had even taken to the vet and had spayed -- for which I will give her credit] with her), so I've debated putting the feeders back up for several weeks. About 4 weeks ago, I was even on my way to the shed in back where I store bird food, ready to re-hang, when I saw the cats still nearby.
My brother-in-law, not realizing that I'd taken my feeders down, gave me a 25lb back of black oil sunflower seed for Christmas, so that was the impetus to get me busy again.
So, yesterday, I cleaned out the feeders and got them rehung.
Lo and behold! Less than 24 hours later, I HAVE BIRDS!!! Juncos and house finches were picking around the tube feeders this morning when I looked out!
I went out to clear the snow off (we got about 1 1/2 inches overnight, after rain) the tray feeder, and to clear the walk. In the process, I knocked quite a bit of seed onto the top of the snow, but the juncos will get those, and probably the resident pack of squirrels.
The suet (four blocks worth) hasn't been touched yet, although I know there are Downys and Red-bellies around. I figure the activity of the juncos and finches will alert the other birds -- cardinals and peckers -- to the fact that there's food about in short order.
And to top it all off, I have heard the local Carolina Wren bubbling away! Hadn't heard that one in a couple of months!
We're under a winter storm warning :C for heavy snow and significant ice (oh yippee [yeah, right!]), and there's sleet occasionally blowing against the north window of the craft/junque room where I'm sitting. So it's time to make another cuppa and get a couple of those brownies (with Andes Mints melted over the top --- yummmmmm!!) and settle in to watch! :eat:
o
The neighbor finally moved a couple of months ago (and did NOT take the cats [which she had even taken to the vet and had spayed -- for which I will give her credit] with her), so I've debated putting the feeders back up for several weeks. About 4 weeks ago, I was even on my way to the shed in back where I store bird food, ready to re-hang, when I saw the cats still nearby.
My brother-in-law, not realizing that I'd taken my feeders down, gave me a 25lb back of black oil sunflower seed for Christmas, so that was the impetus to get me busy again.
So, yesterday, I cleaned out the feeders and got them rehung.
Lo and behold! Less than 24 hours later, I HAVE BIRDS!!! Juncos and house finches were picking around the tube feeders this morning when I looked out!
I went out to clear the snow off (we got about 1 1/2 inches overnight, after rain) the tray feeder, and to clear the walk. In the process, I knocked quite a bit of seed onto the top of the snow, but the juncos will get those, and probably the resident pack of squirrels.
The suet (four blocks worth) hasn't been touched yet, although I know there are Downys and Red-bellies around. I figure the activity of the juncos and finches will alert the other birds -- cardinals and peckers -- to the fact that there's food about in short order.
And to top it all off, I have heard the local Carolina Wren bubbling away! Hadn't heard that one in a couple of months!
We're under a winter storm warning :C for heavy snow and significant ice (oh yippee [yeah, right!]), and there's sleet occasionally blowing against the north window of the craft/junque room where I'm sitting. So it's time to make another cuppa and get a couple of those brownies (with Andes Mints melted over the top --- yummmmmm!!) and settle in to watch! :eat:
o