two days after the post, a new male came to the feeders, I'm not sure, it may be the one earlier I though was a female, but later in the day He was perched on top of the post the holds the feeders, and he turn slightly showing red coming from the back of the left side of his neck an area about 1/8" wide by a 1/2" to 3/4", I'm assuming he a juvenile, but he has taken control, all the other males are still around but he runs them off just like he does the females, today he made friends with a female, it worries me, is it not a little late for mating. The bird feeders are all setup close to he end of the trailer, no bird is farther than 3 foot from the window, so far the birds have had no problem with the closeness, other than the newest hummer will get cranky every now and then, and tries to chase the cardinals that come to the feeders, he never succeeds but it doesn't stop him from trying. I changed the feeders around yesterday trying to get ants in tack, and I had a few surprises as the other birds would go to a hummer feeder then look puzzled, what was cute was my favorite of the bird, birds was a titmouse that landed on the hummer feeder and scooted all the way around the feeder looking for the food, then started picking the container that holds the sugar mixture, he found his food foot above his head. I did try an get some video but because of the speed and the lack of shutter speed, all i got was a lot of green and a blur of a bird here and there. It is so amazing how unbelievably our eyes are! I'm not sure an automated camera can keep up with the wide area of movement that the hummers cover even in close areas.

Get a sling shot. I've never hit a crow with mine but it keeps them out of the yard. About twice a year a crow will settle in the yard and I'll shoot in its general direction. That seems to be all it takes now. During the first couple of years I had to shoot more often but they're intelligent birds and they learn to avoid the yard. I'm fond of crows but I live near a rookery and if I didn't push back they would occupy the trees in my back yard. Also they're hard on baby birds.

First, let me introduce myself. I have been lurking here for a couple of days and couldn't resist signing up because I am learning a lot from this place and enjoy reading the comments and discussions. I enjoy birds and gardening so this place is wonderful to find. I am happy to see a thread like this was started. I am having huge problems with the English Sparrows taking over my two feeders and preventing the other birds from enjoying some of my sunflowers. I have a tube feeder and a gazeebo style feeder and I am filling it constantly. The sparrows waste most of the seed in the gazeebo style feeder and I scoop it up and put it in my coconut shell feeder which a squirrel has taken over. I tried not putting seed in them for a week in hopes the sparrows would find another place to dine, but I always break down when I see a chicadee or a cardinal there trying to get seed when there isn't any. I am going to stop putting seed there again but am getting worried because I want to feed the birds this winter when they need it most, but don't want the sparrows to prevent the other birds from eating. I don't mind the sparrows eating my food, but I don't like how rude they are. :o(, This evening the sparrows tried to gang up on a cardinal, but the cardinal wouldn't budge and I believe the cardinal hissed at them. :'0. I need to come up with some kind of solution before winter and before I go broke.

I came up with a method that seems to work, and everyone is happy and full. I feed them both. I started feeding the Robins up closer to the house. If they come near where the bluebirds are, they get yelled at and scared away. If they stay up close to the house, they get extra. They learn fast. What they don't know is that the best worms go to the blues. *G* They don't need as many since they only have the one mouth to feed. Speaking of which....I hoping the weather will be cooperative tomorrow and I can get at least one picture of the little one. I haven't checked on it in several days, but Mom & Dad both have been staying close by lately and they both go in and out of the box a lot. Last year all my clutches fledged at 2 weeks. That would be Saturday. But I think this one will be slowed down by the cold. Tomorrow will give me a better idea. Thanks for all the ideas you sent me. I really appreciate the help you always offer. tara