You nailed it Mrs. G. Those catbirds are pretty, but they are really tough on fruit patches. They have been the leading cause of the need for netting on my blueberries and the few cherries that I get. Catbirds are kinder with my raspberries. They, and the brown thrashers, seem to only eat the raspberries that don't get picked and fall to the ground. They like my fruit patch some much, they usually nest nearby in the thicker brush. I just planted strawberries this year. I guess that means that I will need more netting. Also new this year are gooseberry and currants. Do they eat those as well?

Mary, I really like that because it is sturdier than the platform feeders that use screening, which often gets nasty and holes from much use. You could clean that in the dishwasher after a good hand wash. I have some small animal cage lids around. What did you use and how did you hook the chain to the lid? Regarding copyright - put a copyright note with your name and date on every photo. That should cause some pause. If I read their policy correctly they are not claiming the right to own your photos, but the right to use your copyrighted materials. From an owner's standpoint that most likely makes no difference, since many of us might want a company to seek permission before use. They won't have to, but at least if you put a copyright mark on your photo you will get credit as it being your photo if they do decide to use it. I am seriously contemplating leaving GW completely because I don't want my emails to get on mailing lists and I don't like the fact that when I log on with my name and password it redirects my information to an unsecure site. iV is also associated with way too many affiliate sites for my liking. Sometimes there comes a point where I am not comfortable using a site that could prove to be a huge annoyance later, when I weigh it against how much I use the site now, which is very little. Also, on the bird forum I found an opt-out link for the site where you can supposedly instruct iV to not sell or give away your email addresses, but we all know how that goes. Sometimes just the act of opting out of something puts your email on the expensive (more valuable) list, as it is a comfirmation that there really is a person behind the email. Most internet security instructions say to igmore opt-outs, but since this opt-out is directly affilated and put out by iV maybe it is safer, but then again maybe not. They ARE mass marketers and information about our usage on the site is their main business. They will track us: what we read, how many times we visit, what we post, and what we buy. Data mining. I get rid of data miner files every week, do I want more on purpose? It all might mean nothing as well. To each his own. Take care, CT

rsangel64 - I have a bunch of squirrels around that want the seed too but at this point they are doing me a favor by eating the stuff off the ground that these finch slobs fling everywhere. If the squirrels get up on the feeder, then they will be dealt with. Soooo... maybe scatter something the squirrels can eat off the ground which will perhaps keep em off the feeders. Cindy, I too have a family of cardinals which come several times a day, pretty much at the same times too. They seem to be pretty good about sharing THEIR feeder with the finches and bluejays. The mockingbirds eat apples I put out there for em. The doves dont seem to bother anyone, they just hang out the longest. I never used to have birds out back, but thanks to all the folks showing off their backyard feathered friends I was determined to see if I could attract em too. Sooo far sooooo good. Marion, try the big K or Tarjet. I looked online at petS and their cost was double! Seeing as you are into sewing, make one and just buy seeds. That would be the BEST thing. I bet yours would be WAYYYYYYY fancy and the birds would love em.

There is only one way to prevent squirrels from raiding bird feeders and that is don't have bird feeders. My neighbors (now moved away and missed) used to have several bird feeders that attracted a lot of birds. I have a bird bath that I try to keep full where the well fed birds would come over to for a drink and frolic in the water. One day my neighbor came over and his eyes popped when he saw all the birds in the bird bath which easily outnumbered those at their feeding stations. I said, 'Yup, they eat of your house and then come over here for a drink and to play' Since they moved and the new neighbors rarely fill their feeders the bird watching here has suffered (not in dry spells), but, on the good side, squirrel watching has declined significantly as well. Jon