Great read Sandy. Unfortunately the bugs (and us) don't always win though. Nothing like chasing say a Papilio headlong through a tropical rain forest (a fairly dangerous thing to do) only to have it picked off by a Bubul just as you get in net range. Or maybe trying to cut off a Phoebis rocketing down wind and having it scooped up just before you swing by a Jay. Or how about the time a house cat beat me to a White Monarch in HI and munched it right down? Heck, I've even had Robins beat me out. The leps may win sometimes, but the odds are not in their favor.

What a nice surprise! Make pictures for us :)

I like to get some lard melt it and empty old dried fruit, cereals, cornmeal, peanutbutter, some flower and even some frozen chunks of fruit like mango pieces. I put the frozen fruit in last to help it all cool. Then I pour it into wax-paper lined sheet pans and chill to make suet blocks. This year I splurged and got a feeder for finches. Haven't seen a one on it. It's got about 18 opening with little perches the fan out like little cuphooks. I also got a block of dried corn and seeds on a chain with a spring. Thought it would be great fun to watch the squirrels bounce. The finches went for that, the squirrels here are too fat to work that hard and the snooty finch feeder is obviously yard art! gotta love the little guys. Had a small flock of robins here this evening. One see an occasional mockingbird. yes, there are nandina and holly berries. Guess mine are waiting for tomato time too. c

Birdsong: I can certainly understand why you feel the way you do. In fact, I agree with your views 100%. I am saddened that we are all in the position of losing our tempers because this issue is so near and dear to our hearts, and we always feel that we are losing the battle (especially when facing the approaching season of Chemlawn ads). I think I pointed out to Dil in one post why we all feel as strongly as we do: . . . I have often seen posts on this board seeking information on how to lure and feed deer, raccoons, etc. only to later see the same people here seeking a solution when the natural reaction has created a nuisance. . . . so you can see why people develop strong opinions about this issue. However, after spending a couple of years reading, I believe that we all have a unique opportunity here. This kind of board gives us the opportunity to debate these ideas online for many people to read. I like to think that there are other people out there, like Dil (and probably each one of us at one time or another), who are similarly fertile ground. I think that when we do lose our tempers and get sharper than we want to, our argument loses power. I'm as guilty as anyone of losing my temper in this thread, but the amazing thing about Dil is that he hung in there. I personally think that takes a pretty big person . . . not to mention that Dil has promised to try to explain his new understanding to his neighbors. He won't win them all over, but he may convince a few. What more can we ask for? Afterall, what we are asking for is a paradigm shift. Our culture values making money and personal enjoyment above and beyond all else. So, we are asking for deeply-rooted cultural ideals to change. That won't happen overnight. Maybe I'm being way too optimistic, but I think if people did understand the common sense of it, some of them wouldn't do the things they do. The only way to hope to change people's opinions is to debate them respectfully. So, while I understand where your anger comes from, I hope you will rethink your approach. You obviously understand the issue clearly and have some valuable insight to add.