i think hippies pic.. is the closest to what my eye sees on this hosta ... the glaucous coating is sublime ... ============ Ken- Perhaps it is time to open a 2nd account at another photo manager place, like Flicker. ==>>> yes .. it might be suggested a brighter man would have thought of such in the dead of winter.. when he had spare time to fool with a new system ... maybe it will rain someday.. and i will remember to do such ... ==== katy said: Been lurking here for awhile and finally got a bit jealous looking at all those amazing Hallson's orders. ==>> BINGO.. gotcha... lol .. consider yourself enabled ... welcome to GW ... ken

We had a pair last spring in our hanging petunias. This year they are back but it was too early for the plants so its just a hanger with leaf mulch in it. Last year we continued to water the plant and the birds were fine with that. Only once did I accidently nudge one and she flew off to do the broken wing dance - but she was back shortly. We have a nice digital record of it. This year I'm also keeping a written account. What fun!

Then THAT'S the answer!! I actually saw a sharp-shinned hawk a few weeks ago (first time I'd even seen one in our woods -- I was very pleased to be able to identify it). I didn't see this altercation until the two birds were "wrestling" in the snow and I'd have sworn it was one of the mourning doves atop the jay, but your theory makes much more sense. Whatever it was definitely carried the jaw off -- poor jay (and I don't love jays) dangling by its wing and squawking frantically. They both dropped into the snow (for a better grip?) a short ways from my garden, then took off again and only by chance (or an extreme fight by the jay or maybe, my frantic yelling??) did the jay get released. The jay flew back to our pine tree and seems fine. Is that possible? To get hauled off into the hair, hanging by one wing, and still live to tell about it? Amazing! Just curious, how large a prey will a sharp-shinned hawk take on? What about a small cat? Do I need to worry now that I know there's a sharp-shinned in the area? (My cat goes out midday, never out for long ... maybe I'll keep him in?!) Thanks so much for the information -- I am positive you are right. Now I feel guilty for blaming the doves... :(

Hi, I had to get solid acrylic so it was about half way down and screw it on mine feeder. So Big Ones couldn't get on and they stuck to their own feeders. We call them.collard doves and I feel they need food too. But they eat the lot. Hahaha. Try the acrylic.