For the birds

**Darlene** · 05-10-2010, 04:00 PM

Sure has been busy at my black oil sunflower & suet feeders lately. The hummingbirds finally arrived this weekend, they were late but I had their feeders with their food all ready for them. We have a flocks of blue jays and red wing blackbirds that visit daily along with cardinals, woodpeckers, titmice, finches,chickadees, sparrows and a new visitor that seems to be sticking around are a pair of rose breasted grosbeaks. Love them! Oh the dreaded cowbird and grackles are being nasty piggys. I shoo them away when I see 'em.
What's flying around in your yard & what are you feeding them?

**ilovechocolate** · 05-10-2010, 05:46 PM

We have several cardinal pairs, robins, blue jays, mourning doves, and a few birds I'm not familiar with.

I always have a couple of apples that go soft before we can eat them, so I cut them up and put them around the yard.

Haven't bought any birdseed, sunflower seeds, etc., cause the budget is so tight right now.

**frugalwarrior2** · 05-10-2010, 05:54 PM

Ducks are constantly landing in the newly opened pools. We have cardinals,house finches,tufted titmouses,black capped chickadees,sparrows,robins,doves,cat birds/grackles,hawks overhead,yellow finches,blue jays,wrens,juncos,nuthatches,and nasty crows. Occasionally, we have a piliated woodpecker and a redheaded woodpecker. I have seen a hummingbird on 2 occasions. That is a special thrill.

**KatieInLa2** · 05-10-2010, 08:58 PM

I have a nest of baby wrens on my back porch and the bluebirds have already raised one batch of babies and now are sitting on eggs again. I have been putting out meal worms for them this spring. They LOVE them! The cardinals built their nest in my red rose bush by the pond. The bluejays have their nest out by the bird bath(I saw them eat a snake last summer.)

I have been feeding the birds for a couple of years and I have more birds this year than ever. They include: chickadees, titmouse, doves, bluejays, indigo buntings, doves, finches, robins, mockingbirds, woodpeckers, goldfinches and hummingbirds and sometimes a hawk.

**nancycg56** · 05-10-2010, 09:12 PM

We have the most fun in watching the squirrels try to figure out how to get around the squirrel baffle ~ they try every day

**frugalfranny** · 05-11-2010, 01:40 AM

Oh some of you sound like you have some wonderful birds....would love to see a bluebird here......no such luck.

I would like to find a way to get rid of the grackles....except I tell myself that they are good bug eaters.......nasty birds and they raid the other nests.

I put out some of my dryer lint and hair from the dog's haircut and enjoyed seeing them try to get airborne with these huge pieces.

Haven't even seen a yellow finch yet....but have the red ones around..........and love watching the robins take a bath. I only have two bird baths out so far........running behind.

**Darlene** · 05-11-2010, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by KatieInLa2

I have a nest of baby wrens on my back porch and the bluebirds have already raised one batch of babies and now are sitting on eggs again. I have been putting out meal worms for them this spring. They LOVE them! The cardinals built their nest in my red rose bush by the pond. The bluejays have their nest out by the bird bath(I saw them eat a snake last summer.)

I have been feeding the birds for a couple of years and I have more birds this year than ever. They include: chickadees, titmouse, doves, bluejays, indigo buntings, doves, finches, robins, mockingbirds, woodpeckers, goldfinches and hummingbirds and sometimes a hawk.

Oh I wish I were there, love the story about the meal worms and bluebirds and oh how I'd love to see those Indigo Buntings. I've seen them pass through in the spring a couple of times but haven't seen them here in years. You definately have to be looking at the right time or you miss them. The color of their feathers is awesome!

I love mockingbirds and catbirds too but don't see them very often here.

**KatieInLa2** · 05-13-2010, 11:59 AM

When I woke up this morning my bluebirds were perched close to the meal worm bowl waiting to eat. I have trained them to come and eat when I whistle and put out the worms. I checked their nest this morning and there were five blue eggs. They should hatch soon.
The baby wrens have flown from their nest so has the cardinals.