FEEDING THE BIRDS AND FEEDING MEMORIES

 For  WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY (thank you Stuart).

 

The only thing I really missed about our house after we sold it to travel full time was the bird feeders on our deck.   

(People were missed, but never -- with this one exception -- things.)

Of course among the many benefits of our decade or so of traveling was the chance to see all kinds of birds we never could have seen in our old backyard, so it was worth giving up the feeders.

 

 

But now we aren't on the road quite as much as we used to be.  

  And so this summer, we retrieved two of our old favorite feeders from our 'storage facility' (at Cyndi and Jeff's barn).    Bill hung them right outside our RV's picture window.    The first visitors were this pair of grosbeaks:

 

I was so excited.  But then the next visitors were a huge flock of migrating starlings.

 

Kind of pretty sitting in the greenery, but not so great attacking the feeders.  The greedy things pulled the perches out of the holes so that they could get at the sunflower seeds faster.  I was so mad.    We decided to give the feeders another chance, hoping the unwanted visitors would move on.  The "attractive" application of duct tape worked to keep the perches in place.... 

 

The starlings still visit occasionally, though not in such great numbers as the first time.  In between their visits, we've had waves of redwing blackbirds and a few goldfinch and chickadees  -- and  sparrows and a flicker picking up what's lost underneath the feeders.   

At our house in Springfield, we used to see all kinds of different species of birds at one time on the feeders and at the bird baths.  

Here at the Lake, they seem to visit just one kind at a time.  

 It might be because there is a greater variety of natural food sources -- and certainly there is more water.  

So although there hasn't been as much activity as we'd hoped, it has been fun to see what each day brings to our observation window!

 

 

Comments

[Neil]

Just shows if you give them food they will come no matter were you are. Nice post.

[Al]

I often think about putting a birdfeeder on our deck but never get around to it. Nice shots!

[Annie]

For me, birds feeding is the great joy of winter time ! Last one a lot of birds was all around the feeders and it was a pleasure to saw all of them. Soon they will come back and the robin is already flying near our house...

[Lady Fi]

A lovely series of bird shots!

[Mary Howell Cromer]

I love the whole travel thought, but to have to not have my bird feeders...glad you came up with a good plan~

[Jean]

Sallie, Nice feeder captures! Feeders would be my one item to miss also.:)

[Sandy Carlson (USA)]

Your images remind me of the joy of seeing my first yellow finches at my dad's feeder. What a treat.

[Nan]

If I counted correctly, you've visited 41 states. Or at least I assume the categories mean you visited. I'm in one of the other 9. :<)

[Nan]

Oh my gosh, red wings at a feeder! There's no sound other than the robin that so clearly signals spring to me.

[Pat]

How nice that you were able to put out the feeders again, but your traveling life sounds like fun.

[Larry Jordan]

It must feel good to have the feeders out once more, even with the Starling terror. You've already gotten several pleasant visitors and great photos of them as well!

[Stewart M]

I have a feeder in my garden - but the birds are ignoring it! Nice set of pictures.

Thanks for linking to WBW

Stewart M - Australia

[Andrew]

A wonderful post... I often dream of a life like yours and after reading this it I want it even more.
Hugs Drew xx

[Gattina]

Lovely bird pictures ! I couldn't put up a feeder in our garden because of my 4 cats ! that wouldn't be nice, lol !

[CameraCruise]

It's great to see your feeders and all the birds visiting.
Love the grosbeaks.
Soon we'll start feeding the birds here as it's getting colder.
Have a great day, Sallie.
Mette

[Debbie]

it's a wonderful way to pass the time!! such pretty photo's, i would miss my feeders if we ever parted!!

[Carletta]

I've missed my little birds. I usually don't feed in the summer because there is lots of natural food. I'm looking forward to putting up the feeders again as it begins to get cooler. I have noticed a variety hanging around so I think they remember. :)
Love your visitors. The starling shot is lovely!

[Clair Z.]

Love the duct tape. What would we do without it?

We get just a few bird varieties here in the pecan orchard. Nothing like the many types we had in New Hampshire at the edge of the woods. We love watching them, though!

[Dina J]

You got a lot of great visitors to the feeder. I only get doves and blue jays. It;s neat to see them all there.

[EG CameraGirl , Canada]

I bet it feels nice to have the feeders out again!

[Carole M.]

isn't it just, the simple things in life, if we learn how to appreciate them, mean so much to us. You're back to your bird feeders now, and such a delight. Thanks for sharing

[Gail]

It's true what they say about duct tape! Good for you finding a fix. Those starlings can sure be big pests. I love photographing them in bright sunlight, though. These are great images and such a wonderful variety, even if they came one at a time. :)

[Boom & Gary]

Great sequence!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

[Adam Jones]

Lovely stuff.

[Pia]

Interesting story about your birds and feeding! It's always nice to have some bird to look at! Nice photos too!
Greetings Pia

[Findlay Wilde]

A food selection of birds. What is an rv that you attached the feeders to? From Findlay

[Eileen]

Sallie, you have some great feeder birds. I love the Grosbeaks. I think we all have to put up with the grackles and blackbirds. I have lots of squirrels too, but I would miss my feeders. Great post.

[TexWisGirl]

we get mobbed here in the winter by blackbirds and grackles. they will stay throughout and eat us out of house and home before going north again in the spring. but i can't stop putting out feeders as i enjoy the other birds too much, so we spend a small fortune.

yes, i've resorted to tape, wire, glue, etc. to save the feeders from destruction. :)

[Rainfield (雨田）]

A live view through a window.

I would like to have one too.

[Gaelyn]

Even though I watch birds every day at the canyon I miss my winter feeders. Nice shots of your varied visitors.

[Carver]

I enjoyed your shots of the hungry birds. I used to have trouble with large birds like starlings banging up against feeders to knock them to the ground to get at seeds. I used to have dozens of feeders but now that I've let my garden go wild there is so much natural food that I only feed the birds when it snows and I brush off the snow on my deck wall and cover it with seeds to make it easy for all the different birds. To answer your questions, The buds are square on the lantana but when they open they are like the shot with the soft round edges.

[Red Nomad OZ]

With so many birds coming and going it's a wonder you have time for anything else!!!

[ZielonaMila]

Birds are very photogenic. I am greeting

[HAZEL]

A crowd of Inland Gulls" and pigeons seem to have frightened off our garden birds. I am lucky to see one robin every now and then.City life is so different!