We feed birds year round so have quite a few visit our garden throughout the year some of the birds that come to mind are... Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker and this year for the first time Hairy Woodpecker. Bushtits come in flocks to the suet feeder. Chickadees Both Rufus and Annas Humingbirds Several kinds of Sparrows Towhees Robins Juncos California Quail, although they have been in the neighborhood forever they now come into our yard several times a day, sit on our roof early evening looking in a window, drives Percy are house kitty nuts. Goldfinches only come into the garden if we put a feeder out by our back fence. Some years we have Pine Siskins others we don't. House Finches which nest in the Boston Ivy on our chimney. Most Januarys we have Varied Thrush visit for awhile. Flickers We used to have both the Violet Green and Tree Swallows nest in our garden these and the Barn Swallows we don't see any more. I'm sure I've forgotten some of the birds we've seen or have at the feeders but can't think of them at the moment.

Hi all, I am pretty new to bird feeding and do not participate in the Project Feeder watch, but I think it sounds interesting. Last spring I put up a small ceramic tube feeder and fill it with Black oil sunflower seeds. It attracts chickadees, titmice and nuthatches, and an occasional House finch. The squirrels have managed to jump on the pole it is suspended from, but they give up trying to get the seed because the holes and perches are too small for them to get the seed out and the ceramic is impenetrable. A month ago, I decided I wanted to add a suet feeder so I built a suet log feeder. I chose a red pine log about 20" long and 4" diameter that already had some natural perches. I drilled 1 1/4" holes all about the log, and have glued a total of six perches under some of the holes. The log is pole-mounted on about six feet of leftover copper heating pipe. I drilled a 15/16" hole up the middle of the log, and simply slide it over the pole. Very easy to remove. I made a simple suet mixture using suet from the grocery store, peanut butter, rolled oats, whole wheat flour, and some leftover nuts. Total cost of feeder: 0$. Total cost of suet mixture: $5 (only used 1/3 of it so far too) The birds LOVE the new feeder. So far, I have regular visits from Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches, and even Juncos and Bluejays jump up and eat some suet. No woodpeckers yet though (that I've seen). NO squirrels have managed to get up the pole to the suet (as yet). Here are a couple photos of the new feeder, with little friends.

Hi Azura, I have the book Birds of Denver and the Front Range that was given to me by my brother who owns a Wild Bird Supply store in Illinois, but I find I use my original book far more often. Sometimes I use the Denver book, but its more for a cross reference to compare pictures. My "main" book is A Guide to Field Identification Birds of North America by Golden Press, New York and I like the pictures and the way its set up better. That book was also given to me by my brother when I first started bird watching (now called birdingbut I still prefer bird watching!) There are other Colorado birding books available, but I dont know anything about them. Heres a list of the Most Frequently Seen Birds of the Denver Area which can be really helpful when youre first starting to identify them and trying to eliminate all the ones in the "complete" bird book that arent even a possibility. The ones youll see most often around here are House Sparrows (not really sparrows!), House Finches, Black-capped Chickadees, Pigeons & Doves, Blackbirds, Blue Jays, several different Juncos when theyre migrating thru in spring and fall (and sometimes in winter), and, especially if you put suet out, Flickers, Hairy Woodpeckers, and Downy Woodpeckers. Oh, and Robins, of courseI have them all winter. If you put out some feeders youll see a lot more birds than if you just watch for them, but I recommend staying away from millet or "all purpose" bird seed as it just attracts dozens and dozens of House Sparrows that will keep many other birds away. I recommend safflower seed, thistle seed, black oil sunflower seed and suet. That will get you at least all of the birds I mentioned above (except the House Sparrows), and many more, but just not as many of each. I love to watch the chickadees, but still havent attracted much of a following at this house, which is only a couple miles away from my last house where I had lots of them. But little by little theyre showing up. If you put the feeders near deciduous trees, thatll help even more. Heres a link to the best online bird identification site Ive found. Click on "all birds." AND, if youve never heard of it before, heres a link to Bird Cam where you can watch Eagles, Falcons, Kestrels, Ospreys, and Owls laying their eggs and raising their young. Its fascinating to check in on them every now and then. Check out the Eagle Cam. They should be laying their eggs pretty soon. Just in case all you see when you go there is an empty nest, remember that these are live cams, and the Eagles come and go! Enjoy our feathered relatives, Skybird (without the feathers!)

bamakrautie, about the bird houses, what kind are they? Are they decrative or do you plan on trying to attract birds to nest in them? If you plan on having birds nest in them please please get information on how and where to place them. If they are decrative plug the holes, you can take a thin peice of wood and paint it black to place behind the hole that will not ruin the look. Most people don't know the responsibilities that go with providing homes for cavity nesting birds (I didn't)there is much to learn to avoid a horrible outcome. It is however the most rewarding and exciting thing I have done in a long time. Some cavity nesting birds are Blue Birds, Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches, and Woodpeckers. Here is a site that will give you a lot of good information www.sialis.org Hope this helps! Lisa