i had one pair of house finches bring their babys 4 of them last week but they have went somewhere. Had one downey yesterday and a Lewis's woodpecker the day before. only kinds in big numbers are the bullocks orioles and the western tanagers and lots of red wing blackbirds and some grosbeaks. one lone juniper titmouse comes occasionally. and the hummingbirds are rare this year. should have lots of little orioles and tanagers soon as they are nesting now

I cannot comment on the appearance of Nuthatches in the Chicago area, but here in Youngstown, Ohio there certainly is an abundance of them. I just went out to fill my bird feeders and I observed 5 Nuthatches on the suet feeder, two on my hopper type seed feeder, two on the ground under the seed feeder and at least 3 more higher up in the Maple tree. The Nuthatches, Chicadees and Titmouse have become so accustomed to me that I can generally stand about 6ft from the hopper feeder, camera in hand, and they continue to come and go to the feeder. When he weather is milder I often set up my camera on a tripod about 10 to 20 feet from the feeder, attach a remote shutter release, then I sit motionless in a lawn chair and watch the activity, all the while tripping the shutter with the remote cord concealed in my pocket. Frequently I am buzzed by the Chicadees as they come for a closer look at what i am doing, and on one occasion I actually had a Chickadee land on the camera and sit their looking at me from about 3 feet away. On the other hand, I have yet to see the first finch appear this year.

Aren't they beautiful.... A few days ago after just arriving home and getting out of the car...I kept hearing a soft chirp in the trees that grow in the circle of our driveway. I walked under them and looked up...There were some female cardinals...then I noticed more of them...I walked closer and there were about 20 more or less...that took off flying. I've never seen that before. I think they were having a ladies meeting. patti

I like your cardinal, Red. As Geri said, he's a beauty! We have lots of cardinals that come to the feeders here in Florida and they look gorgeous perched in the bamboo against the green background. I loved to see them in snow, too. That'll be a very pretty Christmas quilt. SharonG/FL