Thanks for the replies. I was sure I saw it on here but I am beginning to think it must have been a link added and I just can't find where it was posted. I might have to try making another drawing from memory and tell him to just help me make it and hope for the best! LOL Tami

Hi, mboston. You have some pretty good birds, all right. Okay, so are you thinking the bird in the top picture is not a brown thrasher? I really can't see him well enough to tell, but the reason I'm curious is because most thrushes are not common yard birds at all. So if it is a one of the thrushes, it would really be a nice surprise. It could be a migrating veery, and that would be fun. They are brown, quite plain, but smaller and more compact than thrashers. All of our thrushes seem to be mostly passing through during migration. Wish I had one to show up here! Yes, that's a mourning dove, which is usually the more common one, by far. Nuthatches tend to run up and down the tree trunks, hanging on like little woodpeckers. They have a short tail and look somewhat stubbier than titmice, plus they don't have the crest. And they're not real common in most backyards. I would be ECSTATIC to have one show up here. I've only ever seen them two or three times. Titmice have the little pointed crest, and are so cute and sweet. A common but always adorable little bird. This is almost as good a time of year for many birds as the spring is. We should start seeing migrating goldfinches again soon, and who knows what! Congratulations on all your wildlife, on your fun photos, and on just knowing how special they all are!! Marcia

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

The hawk in Menifee, CA can only be a Cooper's Hawk but it is an oddly-colored one. Something going on with the feathers, such as a heavy molt or missing feathers for some other reason. If you have other photos please post.