Birds do not depend on human feeding. They will find food in the berries and seeds of natural plants. It is nice to put food out after a heavy snow, but my understanding is that human feeding is not necessary. It is also blamed for the spread of some disease like finch-eye conjunctivities and salmonella. Natural foods spread birds around which helps to minimize disease. Plants also provide cover for birds and nesting sites. Cover gives birds a safe place to hide from predators. Often predatorial birds will notice a concentration of songbirds and will post themselves near feeders. My understanding is that the more important thing to provide is water.

Well, with the help of the snow, my pricey suet holder has been accepted by the birds. I just took the plunge and ordered a second one - of, course without consulting my wife. Next purchase may be to purchase a second seed feeder for the front of the house. I am looking forward to hopefully the return of my Barred Owl family... they've raised young for most of the last five years. I still have not found/seen their nest in the woods behind my home. There is a creek and a park to provide some ambiance for them. lol Last year my wife and I were out of town (INDY or CT visiting granddaughters) when a young barred owl was found in the road on my street. With the help of a rehabilitator and other neighbors they located the nest and got a tree climber to successfully return the young guy to its nest. I read about it in the paper and really don't know who the neighbors were nor where the nest is/was. I'm just a beginner in the birdwatching arena, but have developed a dislike for three crows/ravens named CURLY, LARRY, and MOE and also two (fat) squirrels named BAD and UGLY. I would not cause them any harm, but I don't want to feed them. ;-) Here is a link that might be useful: Again

Robins are birds that I enjoy viewing, but not as they try to build nests under our porch lights which are on both sides of an area right by our front entrance door. For three days my husband has removed the straw, twigs, etc in order to prevent a completed robin's nest. They put the straw, twigs, etc. up, he takes them down immediately. Today after reading these posts, I sprayed the area with ant and roach spray that I use when the ants try to visit too close to our outside walkway. Two robins just came with straw in their mouths, but they flew away. I hope this is a long-term solution. This is the first time that we have had this problem in the nineteen years that we have lived here. I am already tired of the mess on our porch and the potential health hazard presented if the robins succeed in building a permanent nest. We have plenty of trees that the birds usually choose for their nests and are still quite welcome to do so. However, why our porch this year is a puzzle. Thanks to all who have posted for their solutions. To the haters, because one does not want a bird's nest in an area that he/she frequently uses in his/her home, does not label the person as an animal hater. Why should my quality of life be compromised daily upon trying to enter my home for the sake of a bird's nest? The answer is that it shouldn't and will not. We will win this fight and reclaim our safety and keep our good health.

Yes, I feed the birds...including those that eat on the ground, like pigeons and doves, and possums, squirrels, raccoons, and a wild pig. :)) I buy black oil sunflower seeds, but most of my other food is donated, and I feed the donated food to my dogs and cats, so it isn't much for me to buy the sunflower seeds, when I consider what it would cost to feed 2 dogs and 20+ cats. I had 25 of the Hurricane Ike orphan squirrels here but the rehabbers donated 10 lb. of pecan halves and 10 lb. of walnut halves...premium, food grade stuff...for them. I also have horses, and their feed has gone down a dollar over the past 6 weeks. Still not back to the original price, but I was surprised that anything came down. If you think feeding birds is expensive, I have 4 horses and it costs me $420 a month to feed them during the winter. It is $180 for their feed, and $240 a month for hay, but fortunately, I only have to buy hay a couple more months...have enough pasture for warm weather. But, even tho I could get by feeding them cheaper, they are old and I feel like they need a good quality grain and hay...so that's what they get. If I didn't receive the donated food, which I get thousands of pounds of per month....there is no way I could feed all the animals here, but we have some good sponsors who donate to us every week, including 4 animal shelters, Houston Food Bank, and the wildlife center. A Walmart gives us all of their ripped bags. I got a lot of thistle seed a few months ago from the Food Bank, and have been waiting for the gold finches, which are just now showing up here.