Thanks missingtheobvious, I did check out those old threads already about the "superior" solar lights. Those threads were helpful in that I did learn that the more light-emitting diodes (LED's) in a solar light fixture, the brighter it is, which makes sense. Also found out that the products that have rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries seem to work best. I did look into the solar lights at the two companies that were recommended on those threads, Frontgate and Grandin Road. They actually specify the wattage and number of LED's in their products on their websites. So far, most products from other companies that I've looked at on the net don't list the number of LED's in each fixture. Some web shopping still has room for improvement I think. Unfortunately, most of the products that I liked the look of from Frontgate and Grandin Road are a little out of our price range, as our budget for this project is less than $100. Something to save up for maybe for a future purchase. For now, I'm planning to take a look at an H.D. product in the store that I think may have at least two LED's in one fixture. The lights come in a set of two, and the set comes with four nickel-cadmium batteries, so it's possible that each lighting fixture has two LED's. Hard to tell just from the web, without looking at the box in the store. The product got good reviews on the website, and most of the reviewers were pleasantly surprised with how bright they are. Will post a photo if we end up purchasing the H.D. product and are happy with the brightness. Thanks again.

Here I am Cliff! *waving wildly* Sorry I missed your post yesterday. My 5-year old granddaughter has been visiting us, and I've been run near-about ragged! Haha. Kind of hard to know for sure from just the olive green description, but a warbler or possibly a bunting seems likely. Female painted buntings are light olive green, but don't usually have any bright yellow on them. But the reason I'm wondering if they might be buntings is because warblers don't usually come to feeders. However, having said that, some of them WILL stop by feeders when other food is scarce. It's just that they aren't normally feeder birds, where buntings and goldfinches are. This time of year, goldfinches WOULD, indeed, be in their winter plumage, which is quite drab gray, mostly, but even in that plumage, they have noticeable black and white markings. Here is a picture of a goldfinch in winter plumage for you. If you could get a picture, it would be super! I know I haven't been much help, but it's hard without seeing the bird, or without something really definitive in the description. Hope you are enjoying your visitors, anyway! Marcia

Anyone who believes the birds winter survival is conditioned upon their bird feeders is fooling no one but themselves. We who enjoy watching birds erect feeders, bird baths, nesting boxes, roosting boxes, dusting stations and other items that improve the local habitat in our yards in an effort to attract birds, but lacking such assistance from us the birds will still manage quite well. If the truth were told our bird feeders have about the same impact on the birds continued survival as a local fast food restaurant has on your families survival. Think about it, we can either pop into KFC, Mickey D's or the local pizza joint or we can go to the grocery, then go home and cook for ourselves, but in the end, your families survival would not be threatened if the fast food joints all closed today. The same is true of the birds. They know where the natural weeds and seed producing plants are, and they could commute around in the same manner as we go grocery shopping, or they can simply stop by your feeders and grab the fast food. In fact, after watching the birds closely for 8 to 10 hours a day all winter I have come to realize that birds seem to have the ability to sense when a severe winter storm is coming and they disappear about a day before, no doubt moving to another area where food and weather will be more suitable. Now, understanding that the bird feeders are solely to attract the birds for our viewing enjoyment it then stands that we must put them closer to the house in winter so we can view them out the windows from the comfort of our homes, but once the weather breaks and we begin to have more outdoor activity it makes perfect sense to move the feeders to a position a bit further away from the house where we can view them from our decks and porches, while still allowing enough distance that the birds can feel comfortable to stop by without being spooked by our presence. The question then becomes, how far away must we move them? From my observation there is no hard and fast rule here. The key seems to be where to put them so the birds will feel comfortable? From my experience that depends a lot on our lifestyle. Since I retired when the weather is descent I spend countless hours quietly sitting in a lawn chair, camera in hand, or perhaps mounted on a tripod and the birds are so accustomed to my presence that I have actually had Chickadees land on me or perch proudly on top of my camera while I'm sitting there. One of my favorite places to sit is on the back steps, where I have a hummingbird feeder on a shepherds hook a mere 3 feet away. On the other hand, at my sisters house they have children playing in the yard so they have to place their feeders further away so the birds are not threatened by the activity of the children. Now here is a bit of information that I am sure many will find controversial. Three years ago we erected a large Bat House at the back corner of the yard, and every evening we saw a couple dozen bats fly out. Since then we have built five more bat houses which we have placed around the farm. Now I am sure that some are put off by the thought of bats, but I can assure you that since we started erecting bat houses we have seen a remarkable decrease in mosquitoes in the yard.

Sounds like you definately had a hawk visit, and by the way you described it I would guess a Coopers or a Sharpshinned hawk. You will learn the more you watch birds that there are different levels of threats. In my yard/area a cat is barely a concern. I think this is because there are so many different feeding areas here and so many pairs of bird eyes watching them. Basically my birds reaction to a cat is to move higher up in the tree if they are in the same area as the cat. Everyone else goes on feeding as usual I've also noticed that the birds have different reactions to different hawks. Harriors get no reaction. They fly the fields in search of mice and rabbits and the birds never react when they are in the area. A redtailed hawk will get them a bit more nervous if they actually come into the yard and perch in a tree. They stay in the area, stop eating, head for a tree or stay in the one they happen to be in, they are aware of the hawk but not very worried about being lunch. Kestrels (also known as sparrow hawks) are in the area often too. Most often the birds have no concern about them either. They seem to Know if the kestrel is hunting them or just after mice or grasshoppers. Coopers and Sharpies are deadly though. Mega repect from my birds. Like you described in your situation, everything goes silent and birds instantly dive for the deep cover. A yard full of birds can "disappear" in the blink of an eye. One thing that I have learned is to NOT go outside if I am aware that a cooper or sharpshinned hawk is there. I've had birds flush from trees because they saw me and the hawk will take advantage and pick that opportunity to attack.