I had one visit my yard once! I'm a birder, and I see these almost any time I go birding around water. Many birds wander a bit this time of year, even if they don't migrate; they are dispersing from their breeding grounds, and/or establishing new territories for the winter. If you have no water close by, your little visitor will probably move on soon. Enjoy him while he lasts!

Tony, I'm with you. I have never had any luck with suet of any type or recipe in Florida. I DO think you are more likely to succeed with it in cooler weather because the birds need a much higher energy type food then. And also because many types of suet cakes and mixtures spoil quickly in the heat. But even in winter, my woodpeckers prefer to eat sunflower seeds directly from the tray feeder, and they ALL ignore the suet. I do buy the big SEED cakes (BirdOla, etc) that just look like lots of seeds, peanuts and fruit somehow molded into a large square. You probably know what I mean...there's no suet that you can see, just the seeds & fruit bits. I put that in a wire holder designed just for it, and the goldfinches will eat from that, until it gets too small for their short beaks to reach it through the wire. They still drop shells and a little bit of seed under the feeder, but they can't fling it all over while looking for something they like, so it's much less messy. My goldfinches finally showed up about 3 weeks ago, and I've had as many as 30 in the yard at once. There are at least 4 that are almost completely yellow and black now. Just gorgeous. I haven't seen any buntings or grosbeaks this year, though. And the chipping sparrows left right when the goldfinches showed up. But I'm happy...I have my cardinals back, my white-winged doves are here, and my goldfinches. My seed-eating catbird and my seed-eating Myrtle warbler both left, after stuffing themselves for several weeks. (They obviously didn't get the memo telling them they prefer insects and fruit.) I'm really happy now that the squirrels can't seem to reach the feeders any more. (Still knocking wood, though.) Try one of the big seed cakes and see if you like it! Marcia

Build it and they shall come! And they will. Because of my envy of Claire's Cape Cod sanctuary, I started a couple of years ago with one suet feeder hung on a shepherds hook from Ocean State Job Lot. A few Downy woodpeckers showed up within a few days. Then I grew a little more envious as more Cape Cod Sanctuary pictures were posted, so I got a decent feeder from Agway, an Audubon squirrel protector, another hook, another suet cage and bought myself a case of suet cakes for Christmas. They came. Overall, Ritchie, I'd say it took a month or more for the songbirds to become comfortable and use my offerings as their daily diner. The following year I installed a fairly large heated birdbath on the deck railing. Providing water is critical (imagine dinner with no drink). Food, water, shelter are the basics for life, so I started planting more shrubs and small trees - for me, actually - the birds just grace them. But little songbird feet like little branches on which to cling and nearby evergreens provide quick shelter for them when the hawk casts its eagle eye (is that even legal?). Anyway, hang in there, here is what happened for me and it will certainly happen for you. This is my setup last January. It works and didn't cost that much. Squirrel baffle was $19 at Ace Hardware - but you really need it. Carolina Wrens moved in on the suet and the seed - never had them here before Water - critical (another Christmas present from Jane) Have to add that it is BECAUSE of gardening that I am so interested in birds. I do plant specific berry and fruit-bearing shrubs/trees expressly for the birds and am trying to make my yard as 'native' as possible - which is also easier to care for as one, a-hem, gets a little older. Please post and let us know when your bird diner is full - have faith! Kindly, Jane Here is a link that might be useful: General Rules for Attracting Birds

i have had eurasian doves here year around winter or summer. the other doves migrate in winter but the eurasian doves do not leave. I live at 6800 foot elevation near the mountains in southwest Colorado.. around farm feilds especially wheat or oats ect. i see large flocks when the seed is ripe. Here they are mostly ground feeders and eat almost any kind of seeds and nuts and even some table scraps. some of the local birders say they do move down into the canyons and sagebrush flats during the worst of winter but i have some that show up daily regardless of weather.