Hi Zach. I haven't "seen" you in awhile. In my experience, for the most part, once a season gets going, the birds have their food places set, and usually don't try different places. But don't give up. I'm wondering if you could put a flat type of container out there on the ground, and keep it filled with water? Sometimes the shimmering water can attract them....and then they'll find the feed. I'd put something like a large plant saucer with a couple rocks in it for the water. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Zach, I think you're right about the birds "feeling" exposed without trees or bushes

nearby to scamper to if a large bird predator shows up.

All my feeders are either near or under large trees and as I watch them from

my kitchen window they scoot from the feeder to the trees or bushes constantly.

The feeders that aren't under big oak trees have a clump of tall bushes nearby

to hide in.

You need a good mouser cat to help with the mouse problem. Last week, my

midget cat brought up 6 rodents that she caught. Either young rats or mice,

not sure which. I figure the rodents are around anyway, not that the bird

feeders attracted them, just that you see them easier when there's a feeder close by.

Hey guys! Thanks for the responses (and sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you). Interesting observation about birds not adjusting their feeding habits. I would think it just the opposite, Catherine. In order to survive, especially in winter, I would assume birds would have to move around to new feeding grounds as old ones became depleted. I'm not doubting you, just that it is interesting that you are noticing the opposite. I'm afraid a shimmering bowl of water would very quickly just become a hard block of ice! Much to my dismay, Colorado's idea of spring is usually more like winter than actual winter.

I wonder if the more typical grassland species that should start showing up in a few weeks would be more comfortable with less cover. After all, lark buntings and many other prairie species live, breed, raise their young, and of course forage and feed in areas that are up to 20% bare ground with only short grasses for cover. Perhaps is the just the winter species, many of which spend their summers in boreal forests to the north, that are less apt to venture into the "great wide open." We do actually have a barn cat that I hired to catch mice. I think she has helped, or maybe that's how I try to justify feeding a cat that I never actually see. I'm sure there are mice around as well, but I'm not going to roll out the red carpet for them by giving them an abundant and steady supply of food.

Hi Zach. You're probably right about the wide-open-spaces. I have tons of cover close by. Even so, sometimes I see a hawk eyeing them. The birds can also run under my deck and even the car. I try to only feed the birds around here when the weather is super cold, or it's the end of winter and most of the available wild stuff is depleted. I have to admit, though, it's sure nice to see them often when I feed them. So much is changing with climate change........what kind of birds are where, and what they eat, etc.

I do keep water close by....but it's close to the house, where I can plug in a birdbath heater. We also have a creek running through the property, so there's usually always water there for animals and birds. Good luck with your spring and I hope more of those grassland birds show up for you to enjoy!

Zach, can you update us on your question? I am terribly interested in anything you write but this particular problem (missing birds) is very close to what I experienced this Winter due to (I surmise) loss of some huge trees and huge limbs. I kept feeding all Winter though, mostly keeping the squirrels on the ground due to my 18" domes and baffles.

This kind of mimics what catherinet said: I have noticed that my birds seem to prefer the feeders closest to my house and trees/bushes, than they do in the middle of my backyard, which is further from trees and house.

I hope you can respond.