Not a real "birder" but earlier this year hung a couple of feeders in my back yard.
Last edited Fri Apr 22, 2022, 07:24 PM - Edit history (1)
Growing up we lived in an area in suburbia that was actually quite wooded. We always had bird feeders in our back yard and on our dining room window. My Mom was delighted at the various birds that would come and go all year long.
I didn't continue the tradition after I left home roughly 50 years ago. This Christmas my brother gave me a wreath made out of bird seed to hang in my backyard. I don't have a lot of birds in my back yard, which is minimally wooded with about 6 skinny Live Oaks. Annually I have several huge flocks of Robins heading North in late winter, making a racket and pooping on everything. There are a few Mourning Doves, but that's about it. So I didn't expect much. But up the wreath went.
It didn't last long as the squirrels and whatever creatures invade my yard in the overnight made short order of it. But there were a fair amount of birds pecking at the seeds that fell on the ground.
That inspired me to hang a couple of feeders. I am thrilled to report that along with the squirrels (sometimes 6 at a time) I have 2 pair of cardinals, at least 2 pairs of Mourning Doves, a pair of Downey Woodpeckers, several Blue Jays and the ones I am most excited about, a pair of Painted Buntings.
When I first saw them, I was in awe. The colors on them are beautiful. They do look like someone painted them bright red, orange, green, blue and yellow. I don't know how rare they are, but this was the first time I ever saw them.
I wanted to get a picture of the Buntings, but whenever they're on the feeders and I get go out on my lanai to try to take one, they fly away.
So I know for real birders, this really isn't a big deal, but for me it was and is, so just thought I'd share.
Painted Bunting, internet picture, not one I took.
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