Hi, Marilyn! Glad you are enjoying your cardinals. Keep a close eye out, though...this time of year, you could have a wider selection of visitors to entertain you. Susannah, I can't help you on the cat situation (not that you actually asked for help). I don't allow my cats outside. Never have. The average life expectancy of an outdoor cat in this country is 2 years, compared to 15+ for indoor cats. So mine are housecats. Birds react to movement more rapidly than they do to noise, so there are varying opinions among experts on the effectiveness of belling cats. However, if it seems to be working for you, that's great. I never argue with success. But I would be much more concerned with what harmful thing my cats might get into if they were allowed outside. I can't bring myself to take that chance. Full sun is a bad idea for hummingbird feeders for two reasons...one, they tend to heat up and leak (drip, drip, drip) in the sun. And two, the sugar water ferments faster and has to be replaced more often. If you have a plant in full sun that casts some shade, that is doable. Generally, the suggested way to proceed with a new hummer feeder is to place it among or close to blooming plants that attract hummers. They will discover it there when they are feeding at the plants (like salvias, coral honeysuckle, petunias, etc). Then, you start moving it a bit at a time, closer and closer to the house or window where you would like to have it for optimum viewing. The hummers will follow it. All feeders need to be close enough to cover (shrubs, trees, etc) for birds to have a safe place to head when trouble shows up, but far enough away from cover that predators can't lie in wait for them. So, that part's a balancing act. Often, there is a lot of trial and error involved in getting your feeders set just the way you want them, but it's SO worth it. I'm happy to see so many people that want to entice birds into their gardens. Good luck!! Marcia

Whoa! Thanks for sharing all those wonderful photos! I would give myself points if I so much as glimpsed many of those species, much less photographing them. Now we can visit your own website (via the link in your My Page) to see all your latest captures and I wish you the best with your continuing photography ventures

It looks good for Summer Tanager to me. Sibley's guide does show some WI records, and you're close enough to the range shown in Natl Geographic for the bird not to be completely unexpected. Pretty cool bird, congrats. -O-

It visited probably the last few days of May. From my book, the Red Crossbill's bill is too light colored. The White-winged has a dark bill, but my bird (funny to call it MY bird!) had no white at all or any bars. Pictures of a Hepatic Tanager most resemble my bird, but its range is way too far away! My bird lit on a shepherd's pole right outside my front window. On the pole are an orange and a hummingbird feeder. My yard is open but surrounded by an ash tree, black walnuts, a cedar, and further out, thick woods. I appreciate all the suggestions!