Hi Maureen, How are you. We havent talked for quite a while. I have a suet feeder with a suet cake in it. Its got a copper colored top and has 3 little glass beads that hang off the bottom. I hung it up for a month and it was completely ignored! Lol! I guess I will just stick to regular birdfeeders. If you are still looking for one just let me know. its great talking to you again! Darla

Well my Resident has moved in...but we right now have had some chilly mornings..wonder if he'll stay... ? I have noticed from other areas that have posted about hummers they have more than one that can feed at a feeder...sure wish they'd get along here...guess it's like people..not too many get along in the neighborhood...LOL. Christy sorry to hear you haven't seen any yet... Hummer Steve..I'll make sure I spread the word to those daring critters...You've got good juice :) If we have more cold mornings our hummers might pack it up Have a good evening everyone God Bless ! BarbZeee

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

We have been noticing this year our feeders are not emptying as fast as previous years. I did see a lot of birds when it was snowing. A group of about 10-15 juncos, a half dozen mourning doves, the usual cardinals, chickadees, tufted titmice and a few finches along with an occasional woodpecker. The last couple of days it has been quiet out there. I asked my husband to check to see if the feeders were empty in the back. I could see there is still sunflower seed in one feeder and one was empty. He said the back feeders weren't empty but he filled them all, so we will see. I just ordered a heated pet bowl to use as a bird bath for them and I'm excited to see if they take to it. I have seen black crows in the yard this year for the first time in 30 years. I have no idea why. We do see an occasional hawk but none of late. There have been a group of 4-6 crows roosting in a neighbor's silver maple trees on some days. They would fly off and circle and land again in the trees repeatedly. Then one day I looked out the window and three of them had landed in our yard on the ground for a bit. That's a first. I keep hearing them in the neighborhood every once in awhile. I wonder what has suddenly attracted them to our neighborhood. I also wonder if they have any effect on small bird populations?