Scully, yep - we are a bit warmer here, but it's the overnight hard freezes that crack birdbath basins. On cold winter days, if I notice an ice skim forming, I'll add warm water too, but if I'm gone for the day the risk of freezeover escalates. The heater works 24/7. We've had a warm fall too, but if the Old Farmers Almanac is right, once it gets here, we're in for it this winter. Btw - Everytime I open this thread I get a mental picture of Woodstock ice skating on the birdbath - brings a smile to my face ....... thanks! Another little aside is that in the heat of summer, I take a pitcher full of ice cubes out to the birdbath - the flapping about definitely increases when I cool it down! :o) Love my birds!

This is my first spring watching birds, so I am learning a lot about their behaviours and migratory patterns and such but I have such a long way to go! I am so impressed with some of you and how you know which birds leave when and when to expect their arrival! The best I can do is consult my field guide. But I have noticed the flocks of goldfinches I only started getting maybe two months ago have disappeared. I mean, I am not seeing a single one. Disappointing, because I was noticing they were getting brighter and prettier! The other thing I have sadly discovered is the American Kestrel that was living by my neighbors house seems to have left. It had gotten to the point that I would see him almost everyday in a tree in the house three lots away from mine. I attempted several times to get a picture but I scared it off. And now, its gone. :( But I am soo excited about spring. I live outside Savannah where we have had the coldest winter I can remember! We had our first measurable snow since '96 (so much fun!), but the last time it really, really snowed was '89. So all the birds I was enjoying the last few months are definitely on the decline as the weather warms and they have a bigger food supply, but at least we can enjoy beautiful weather and the birds can too!

I used to feed stale bread to the outside birds.My neighbors dad,who lived at the house part time after retiring to Pa,,,told me it was no good for the birds. So for the last 5 years I have bought wild bird seed,..A year or so ago my neighbor told me I needed to stop feeding them as they pooped on his 50 thousand dollar truck.I told him to F off...Months later I got a warning from town saying I can only feed them with a bird feeder,...I got one,,,,Then he told me not to feed them more than once a day.At 63,with a bad hip,I fed them if I happened to see it empty whenever that was.I got a ticket from town saying the food that falls to the ground as they eat,is illegal.,,,How can people be so mean?

Using one of those very low-tech "seedbells" from a hardware store or supermarket, I managed to lure cardinals, turtle doves , chickadees (I think)and, of course, sparrows to my windowsill. I hung the bell from one of those wrought iron arms/brackets (I screwed it into the wall) one uses for hanging baskets. I now have a terrace, but my cat is allowed outside and I'm worried that he would launch himself off into space after abird, so I'm not feeding them. I also think it takes a little time for them to figure out the feeder.Give it a couple of weeks, and then perhaps you will have regulars.