Monday, October 26, 2009

Feeding the Birds

Unfortunately, it's happening again. The kitties and woofies are going to the Rainbow Bridge faster than I can keep up with them, even if I do a tribute post every day. I am not going to do that, as I can't handle it emotionally any more and it makes my blog look like an obituary page. I will do the tributes in between the fun posts, even if it means that the tributes appear long after the event.

I thought I would tell you about my adventures in bird feeding. It all started many years ago when my family discovered that the ravens who hang around liked to eat chicken skin and just about any other food that we wanted to discard. The ravens are a riot to watch and we were soon getting fat from the grocery store, just to feed them. There weren't any ravens around this morning and I didn't have anything for them, so there isn't a photo of the ravens.


This is the suet feeder in the crabapple tree next door. For many years, we had birds spending the winter based in this tree, eating the crabapples. Then about two-three years ago we had a late frost and all the crabapple blossoms were killed. I didn't want the birds to starve, so I put up this feeder and put out a big block of birdseed. Every critter in the neighborhood enjoyed that block of birdseed, including the raccoons and deer. The ravens really like the suet, too, though I also get smaller birds eating it. I have kept it full every since, but decided against another big block of birdseed.


This is the finch feeder, which contains thistle seed. This spring a pair of house finches built a nest in our carport and I wanted to make sure that the babies had enough to eat near their nest, so I put this feeder up. They were emptying it every day at first, but now it last two-three days.


When my Mom began to get very frail, there was very little that she could do and she got bored. I put up this general small bird feeder to give her something to watch. I also thought that the tweeting of the small birds might amuse her. It worked, to some extent. Up until winter arrived, this feeder was also being emptied every day, but now it generally lasts two days. I started putting just the cheap seed in it, but the hulls were making quite a mess on the ground, so now I use the no waste bird seed. It attracts a variety of small birds, including finches, sparrows and juncos. I have also seen a dove or two on the ground, eating up what the smaller birds drop.


This was my attempt to take a picture of the feeders with birds actually using them. It didn't turn out very well, but you might just be able to make out some birds if you click on the picture to make it bigger. That's my adventures in feeding the birds. It's a reasonably inexpensive hobby and I am really enjoying it. I love hearing all the tweeting just after I fill up the feeders.

21 comments:

Goldie, Shade and Banshee said...

Looks like a wonderful place you have set up for our feathered friends!!

Christine and FAZ said...

Birds give so much pleasure to me but I have to be very careful where I put the feeder so it is well out of Faz's reach. Christine

The Creek Cats said...

We know the birdies definitely appreciate your hobby!

Elin said...

I loves birdies, they makes me happy by watching them!

SASS....Sammy Andy Shelly Sierra said...

Wonderful post, thank you....xxxxxx

Gemini and Ichiro said...

Birds a fun to watch...

The Meezers or Billy said...

that looks like a great place to watch the fev-vers!!!!

Brian's Home Blog said...

I love to watch the birdies too and my Dad cleans and freshens their bird bath everyday so they can have nice clean water.

The Devil Dog said...

I like to chase birds, does that count as a hobby?

Roxy

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

Watching the birds can be quite relaxing. We understand how all the loss this past weekend gets us down.. Take your time and take care of yourself !

The Monkeys said...

We would love to come by your place to watch the birdies!

Mr. Hendrix said...

What a cool set up you have for the birdies. We love to feed them and watch them. Especially in the winter. It is nice to see the color and movement. My great grandma loved the feeder we had put out for her. She always loved the "yellow birds" most (the goldfinches)

We think you are so nice to make tributes to the kitties over the Bridge. But you need a break from all that sadness. Write happy often!

L. Alida said...

I love to watch the birds too. The kitties make such funny sounds when they birdwatch.
Ravens and crows are so cool, especially this time of year. Sometimes I hear crows cawing and it's such an eerie sound.
Owls are one of my favorite birds, but in the city we don't have any. We do get a lot of cardinals and Mourning Doves.
It's nice of you to feed them. Nature can be a balm for the spirit.
I hope this week brings you pleasant moments of simple joys.
Hugs,
Lorianna

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Mom likes to watch them

And so does Butterskhotch (unfortunatly fur the birdies, she's khwite 'talented') -

Auntie Di goes all gaga ovfur her hummingbirds and woodpekhkers!

We make sure we keep fresh water fur our birdies and feed them too!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Max said...

We used to have a bird feeder. It was like dinner theater! Only we couldn't get to the dinner :(

Big City, Small Minds said...

Awww! The birdies must love you! Over here, we've got a blue jay that partakes from the food Mom leaves outside for the feral kitties -- and he drives us crazy when he's eating and WE CAN'T GET TO HIM!!!!!

Glad you're feeling better ... we're still sending purrs and good thoughts your way, 'cause we know those kinds of tough times can last awhile. :)

Blessings,
Morris & His Krewe

GLOGIRLY said...

Even in the city (Glogirly and I live in downtown Minneapolis) we get lots of birds. There are two feeders right outside the back deck...lots of trees too. So there's always some kind of bird, even in the winter, hanging out and munching on treats. I love chattering at the birds. The morning doves though are my favorite. They'll walk right by the sliding glass window. I sooooo want to go out and play!

mew,
Katie
(Glogirly's cat)

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

My mom loves to feed the birds too and we watch the birdies from our window seat at our feeder. It is great to see all the varieties come by, isn't it?
--JB

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

My mom loves to feed the birds too and we watch the birdies from our window seat at our feeder. It is great to see all the varieties come by, isn't it?
--JB

Gattina said...

Impossible to put a bird feeder in our garden with five cats !

caspersmom said...

I enjoyed your story of feeding the birds. I really like the mountains you see in your neighborhood. I guess that would be your front yard looking out at them. Where we used to live we had a bird bath and I used to enjoy watching the birds take their baths and getting drinks of water. Even the turkeys jumped up on it getting their drink. I think they were a little to big to take a bath though. They looked funny up there. Our neighbor had the bird feeders. Actually we had a whole lot of critters getting drinks out of the bird bath, Raccoons, deer, foxes.