Oh, I'm so jealous of your grosbeaks and redpolls, Pudge! I think my neighbor is feeding too well, because the grosbeaks are always hanging around there and I'm lucky if they pop by for a brief visit. I did get some Evening Grosbeaks in for a good feed this spring and again this fall. That was a thrill to spot them, as I hadn't seen them before. I haven't seen a redpoll for about 3 years now. I find them so cute. The last time I saw a flock of them was early in the spring/late winter. Do they stay around all winter? Someone told me once that they cycle...and I don't remember why...was it their migration pattern maybe? I'd be interested to know if someone had any thoughts on that. I also had my first White Breasted Nuthatch yesterday! Another cutie and fun to watch...very vocal. He was still here this evening. RE: salt and birds...I'm thinking they probably require certain amounts naturally and find it somewhere, but with bird feeder fast-food that contains salt, they might eat alot of it because its easy to get and therefore get too much salt. Sound familiar? ie. potato chips! Gil, I wonder if the nuthatches would like your suet bars? Toots

Dennis had a cardinal in love with the image in the mirror of his work truck last year. So, when ever he was driving in the area he decided to leave bowls of sunflower seeds on his hood. One day it was raining, and he left the seed on his truck seat, it was a light drizzle so he left the back slider window open. When he went back to the truck, there was the bird on the front seat eating seeds. Dennis stepped away from the door, and the bird hopped up to the back window and flew to a nearby shrub. He spilled some seeds on the ground for his new pal before leaving. He also left loose seed in the bed of his truck. That bird hung with him and looked for his truck every day for months after that. He said it was like having a quiet little assistant on the job!! He never bothered the mirrors again. Try leaving some seed, they think the image is a possible mate or threat.

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.

I'm in agreement with Donna in that you should remove the dead baby. It could draw ants, etc., to the nestbox. Increasing your offering of mealworms is also an excellent idea, since Dad is having to feed by himself. The mealworms will allow him to spend less time hunting for food and more time feeding and protecting those babies. His hesitance at the mealworm feeder may offer a clue as to what happened to Mama, though. Is your feeder close to the nestbox? It's possible that Mama was attacked while at the feeder. Try to make sure that there is some cover for the birds so that they will have a better chance of survival in the event of an aerial attack by hawks, etc. Raptors are very smart and can become accostomed to the timing of your feedings, too, then use this to time their attacks. Donna's questions regarding the set-up of your nestbox are also pivotal. Your blues are vulnerable to attacks from all kinds of climbing predators (snakes, raccoons, etc.) if the box is not mounted on a slick metal pole equipped with a predator baffle. I use the stovepipe baffle on all 35+ nestboxes that I monitor and it works beautifully. Keep us posted on Dad's progress. Kathy