Regular feeders are: Common sparrows, House Finches, Cardinals, Carolina Chicadees, Tufted Titmouses, Redhead and Spireated Woodpeckers, Blackbirds, Cowbirds. Less frequent are the Wrens and Jays and Thrushes. These prefer insects and only eat a bit of grain. I have never seen a Mocking Bird feeding in my feeders but frequently they are picking up the many insects around them. Goldfinches are transients. They visit a few weeks in the Spring and again in the Fall to fatten up before moving on. Many doves visit beneath the feeders--a good thing because they keep the area clean. Then, there are the squirrels. You have to face the fact they much prefer sunflower seeds to hard dried corn. You might try a squirrel feeder with fresh peanuts and sunflower seeds but I will bet some of them will be after your feeders. Make it difficult for them to get to them and they may just go for their own food--don't bet on it!!

When you all talk about suet, do you mean the packaged gooey stuff that goes in the square green wired baskets, or the bell-shaped thingy with seeds all over it? Or something enrirely different?? Terrene, what is a log? Can you post a picture of what you all are talking about? Oh, and I did see the woodpecker yesterday evening, but not at my feeder. He (actually she) was flying from one tree to another. It was funny watching her. On the tree she stopped at, she landed on the trunk and hopped backwards (down the trunk) and then after a little pecking, hopped back upwards.

David, I understand anyone's dilemma of choosing their method for controlling hosp. My decision for how I would deal with hosp was actually made easier by the hosp themselves. I will never forget the image of 6 BB babies, dead, on the ground under their nestbox in my front yard (the event that plunged me into this wonderful world of bluebirding). Add to that the many horror stories and graphic pics that I have since heard/seen while visiting sites such as this, and the observations of their increase in population and moving into what previously was "hosp-free territory". I don't think that my method of disposal will ever be non-traumatic or easy for me. It is extremely difficult...every single time. But, when I find that I am questioning myself as to "is this the right thing to do", I just remember the image of my 6 BB babies. I believe that, unfortunately, controlling hosp is an ugly side to what I feel is my responsibility to these birds. (I, too, liked the idea of donating for a good cause. Could not find any takers in my area.) Good luck in your search for options and in making your decision.

This is a fun post. I will say that in my busy working military life, I could get up, shower, shave underarms (daily), legs (3x weekly)makeup (eye shadow, mascara, foundation, powder, lipstick), hair (washed and blow dried, very short), dressed and out the door in 25 minutes. Now, years later, I use far less products and it seems to take far longer. When I was stationed in Spain I could get waxed, from top to toes, for about $7 so I never had to shave of pluck or anything. That made getting ready for work a real breeze. Now, in a typical morning I use: face wash - I use an Oil of Olay-type face cloth. hand wash - Dial Complete on all the sinks, two baths, mudroom, and kitchen. bar soap - I use a liquid soap; DH still uses the bars. :( shampoo - Daily conditioner - Perhaps once a week. hair serum - Never heard of it. hair mouse - No, but I keep a can of hairspray for the 3-4 times I year I might use it. toothpaste - At least five times a day. floss - Yes, but should more often. mouthwash - Listerine; twice a day for gum protection. shaving gel - Ha! The few times I shave I use shampoo. deodorant - Kept in both bathrooms and the bedroom. Wherever I dress I'm ready! body lotion - Rarely, but more so in winter. foot powder/or lotion - Gold Bond all over. face cream - No; but Mom says I should. foundation - Very rarely; 2-3 times a year. blush - I'm taking treatments for Rosacea so I'm good on the natural blush! LOL powder - Very rarely; 2-3 times a year. eyeshadow - Very rarely; 2-3 times a year. eyeliner - No; never liked the look. mascara - Can no longer wear. lipstick - Every day. I love lipstick with colour, but not the pale, dead looking non-color most gals are wearing now. I wear earrings daily, too. I love lipstick and earrings. And that's the daily stuff, add to that the occasional: hair coloring - I stopped coloring three months ago. I'm liking the "salt and pepper," heavy on the salt look! tooth whitening strips - No. nail polish/ base coat/top coat - I cut my nails as short as possible and push the cuticles back once a week. When I worked I kept them short and polished with a pale pink color. I did it my self. I do get medium length dark red gel nails for the Christmas season. nail polish remover - No need cuticle cream - No, but about every four months I'll get a manicure that does not include polish or false nails. They just soak, trim, work off the cuticles and do a hot wax dip. hand lotion - I keep bottles on each sink