frmbritt - it's best if you start a new post/thread. You'll get more responses. Feeding birds can become a challenge when certain birds dominate your feeders. I struggle with this too (I get a lot of blackbirds). To prevent doves you need feeders they can't use. I could suggest a tube feeder with perches. The fat doves can't land on the perches. They also have tube feeders and suet feeders with cages around them. This prevents bigger birds from entering and allows smaller birds access (like a bluebird). The not so fun part is buying new/more feeders. I'm going thru this now.... Just when I thought I was good on feeders, now I'm buying caged feeders, and they aren't cheap.

i don't get the regular blue jays here.have scrub jays most of the year and pinyon jays and steller jays in the worst of winter. both the steller jays and scrub jays are usually in small family groups and slip in and grab a mouthfull and carry it away and do that off and on all day. the pinyon jays are always in big flocks anything from a dozen to two dozen and take over everything and eat a lot and disappear for days or weeks.

I know you are interested in other areas, but here in my backyard in LA. I now have about 5 or 6 of those beautiful but feisty blue jays. I love putting peanuts (in the shell) in my platform feeder and watch them swoop in one after the other like planes landing at JFK. They are very nervous and sneaky.

Wonderful! You sure are quick with your camera. And so lucky - it seems your birds trust you. :) I especially like the ones where the bluejay and the titmouse have a seed in the beak. And the song sparrow - there is something about a bird with his mouth open that moves me. ~JoAnn