Thank you all! >>>What are the waxwings chowing down on? These guys where sitting next to our mailbox on a Russian Olive, I was surprised, first time I have seen this,...... taking pictures from the car. I still have a bird to identify from that day. Up on a high voltage tower, there was a snowy owl sitting, when I wanted to take a picture, a bird came, what appeared to me a Raven, then the owl took off! But this black bird is still a mystery to me! Is it something else? It didn't croak like a raven, it kind of squealed, kind like those small swamp black bird. What do you think it is. Sorry, the pics are not too clear, it was a very far distance. Konrad Turning it's head, you can see a little white under the feather.

I feed the birds all year sort of. They start with cleaning off the sunflowers that they plant the previous fall and continue to clean off the grasses, berries, and corn that I sometimes grow just for them. Of course I have water out all the time for them and a heated dish in the winter. I feed the big birds cat food with bread or cereal in it. They get any left overs when I cook a turkey or ham. I make my own concoction of peanut butter, prunes, hulled sunflower seeds, rolled oats, millet, black oil sunflower and a few other things they like to pick at. I buy millet, black oil sunflower and striped sunflower by the sack and keep it in large bins in the hall along with peanuts,hulled sunflower seeds, oats and rabbit pellets. Once in a while I will give them a treat of meal worms from the petstore or cut up fruit. And sometimes I will get a seed bell or spray millet just to watch them. I also ground up dry catfood last year and put it in the feeder. The little birds get much needed fat and protein to keep warm that way. I have the usual black and white feather dusters, the blue jays, lots of chickadees (black capped and boreal), nuthatches (red and white breasted), woodpeckers, northern flickers, juncos, finches, sparrows, the odd grosbeaks, waxwings, and redpolls and I even had a kestral last spring. Not many crows unless it is a really warm winter. My computer is in the corner of the front bedroom where there are the old corner windows. I feed the birds from about 5 feeders and baskets hanging from the big white spruce about 2 feet from the corner of the house here. I feed the rabbits under the tree and the dish feeders on the fence from big heavy ceramic dishes. It is such a routine for me to feed the birds after I feed the dogs on winter mornings. My neighbours are used to the crazy lady in her fleece pjs out feeding the birds every morning and the dogs go out and wait by the fence for the maggies to drop food for them. Quite the scene to watch! The maggies are very comical and they literally talk to me. I can't stand to see anything go hungry or be cold and the little birds seem to like to feast under the protective branches of this 50 foot spruce. My neighbour across the street says she likes to sit with her coffee in the morning and watch the bunnies and birds eating. And that reminds me: Must find a bale of hay for the bunnies. Last year I fed a cat all winter but coudln't catch her. She left me mice most mornings under the kennel....... I hope we have a mild winter or at least get some snow. It is bitterly cold without a little insulation. Ginny

What a gorgeous picture! That one is worth framing. I've seen male cardinals feed females plenty of times. I read that it's called "Mate Feeding". Found this on the web: History of Mate Feeding "Mate feeding" is actually a common occurrence in bird species. Raptors, such as the European Kestrel, as well as songbirds practice this ritual. In cardinals, it is seen both before mating and while the female is incubating her clutch of eggs. No one knows for sure why this ritual takes place, but there are several schools of thought. Mate Feeding As Ritual When mate feeding occurs prior to egg-laying, it's possible that the extra nutrition helps the female when it's time to lay her eggs. Another theory is that it may increase the likelihood that the female will mate with the male--a form of courtship. Females may also judge the parenting ability of the prospective mate by how well he provides for her. Mate Feeding After Egg-Laying When mate feeding happens during the incubation period, it may also serve to help with pair-bonding. This can be important to keep the pair together during the short breeding season. Additionally, it may allow the female to remain on the eggs longer than if she had to constantly forage for food.

Thanks Claire for the link! >>There's just a little feeling of Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' Yeah,..there was another invasion in Kentucky city, Hopkinsville,... blackbirds and European starlings,...I take the waxwings any day. Here is a link that might be useful: Bird invasion brings real-life horror to Kentucky city