The bird feeders are busier than ever now that the cold weather has moved in. I was hoping the platform feeder I put on the ground would help to attract some new denizens and it seems to be working. The bluejays that hang out in the neighbor's pine trees are coming to the new feeder almost every day and I've seen a few more chickadees. The cardinals don't seem to come often, but if you're lucky you'll see them making quick feeding trips in the morning and evening.
I sat down and made a list of all the birds I've had here since we moved in 10 months ago, and I'm impressed with what we've seen. Here it is:
- Robin
- Bluebird
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Common Grackle
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Cardinal
- Chickadee
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Cooper's Hawk
- Bluejay
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- House Sparrow
- House Finch
- American Goldfinch
- Downy Woodpecker
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Slate-colored Junco
- Mourning Dove
Eighteen species ain't too bad. There may have been a couple more that I've forgotten. And that's not counting the little Horned Grebe that landed in the driveway by mistake last winter and then couldn't leave (they can only take off from water, not from dry land).
When you add in all the garter snakes, moles, voles, mice and rabbits, we have quite the little menagerie going here. Needless to say, I'm pleased. It would be cool to have deer as well, but there aren't any woods near enough for them or for squirrels. At least I don't have to fight to keep the squirrels off my bird feeders. They're no worry at all because there aren't any of them around.
