Birdies!
One day, a couple of weeks ago, I was sitting at the dining room table and I saw a fluttering motion out of the corner of my eye. When I turned my head to look, I saw a black-capped chickadee. I noticed that it seemed to be looking into the windows as if to say “I’m out here, just like I was last winter. Where’s the food? I just know there used to be food here. I mean, sure all the houses look a lot alike and all, but this one has the 3 conifers out here that I like to rest in.”
Which got me wondering if our house layout here in Minnesota would be more conducive to a bird feeder than the one in MA. I started envisioning something that would hang off of the deck somehow so that it would be near enough for me to actually see the birds and to easily keep it filled without having to trek through the yard and the snow.
Now about this time of year, my parents ask for my Christmas wish-list. This would be the same wish-list that gets passed along to my seestor and my in-laws. And from years past, I’ve learned to not make any impulse purchases in Sept/Oct/Nov but to ‘save’ those things for my wish-list. And guess what item is perfect for the wish-list? You got it, a bird feeder!
I mentioned this to HB’s parents while they were here visiting for Thanksgiving, and HB’s dad looked at the deck and discussed the logistics/placement of a feeder with me. And when they all came back from their shopping adventure at the Mall of America yesterday they gave me my Christmas present early!
This is my view of it from the dining room table.
Yay!
It is made entirely of cedar. And the screws look like they are treated or something so that they won’t rust.
Isn’t it neat how the shepard’s hook clamps onto the railing? I was hoping for something that wouldn’t require permanent holes or anything in the wood of the deck, so this is perfect!
It was pretty late yesterday when we got it set up, and I wondered how long it would take the birds to find it. Everyone said “Not long.” I sure hoped not.
This morning when I started to wake up, I thought “Oooo! I wonder if there are any birds out there yet?! I’d better get up and see.”
Well, there weren’t any as I was boiling water or brewing my tea. None when I was cutting the bread or making my first piece of toast. But when I got to the second piece, I got my first bird visitors!
And guess what! One of them was the black-capped chickadee.
I took these pics through the sliding glass window, ’cause it is cold, yo. And well, I didn’t want to scare them off and stand there with the door open forever while I was waiting for them to come back just so that I could get a pic without the glass.
chickadee and finch (I think)
Guess I’m going to need to put a bird book on that wish list, huh?
I expect that I’ll be taking lots of bird pics this year.
I can’t wait!
Victoria Winters says:
Cute! What a great view during breakfast!
I’ve been wanting a birdfeed too – so that I can enjoy it while I’m at the dining table and so Cambie can enjoy it from the window sill.
jenski says:
The REAL question is: How long will it take the squirrels to find the birdfeeder??
P.S. I’m jealous of your snow!
Squirl says:
I’m looking forward to more bird pictures!
Yes, I’m pretty sure that’s an American Goldfinch in the feeder. You’ll find the chickadees are very bold.
I hate to have to say this, sound traitorous, but you’ll have to watch out for the squirrels. With that being on the deck it’ll be easy for them to wipe out all the food. I don’t think they’ll destroy a cedar feeder, but they will help themselves to the grub.
Some people put up separate corn feeders and such for the squirrels, but they’re little opportunists and will cost you a bit in feed. At least it’s that way here in West Michigan. Maybe your squirrels won’t be as aggressive
You’re going to have great fun watching those birds, though. Keep us updated with many pictures.
Danielle says:
Victoria, good to see you around again! I will be curious to see how much the Girlie watches the birds. This morning she seemed to waffle between being very intent with ears alert and tail flapping and being blase about it.
Quick story: When she was about 2 or 3 years old we got a fish aquarium, thinking that it would be interesting to her (and us). But she completely ignored it. The entire time she just didn’t care one wit. I grew to like ol’ Max & Irma and Snuffly (the bottom feeder/cleaner guy), but she never did.
Jenski – you can have our snow ANYtime! Believe me.
And for Jenski and Squirl, yes, I had considered the whole squirrel issue and can just see one pigging out and laying across the bed of the feeder in a food coma.
But, well, my Dad always said that squirrels have to eat too, right? Although, they might cost me an arm and a leg trying to keep the food stocked.
When I was growing up In one of our homes in IN, we had a squirrel feeder that would hold whole ears of corn in the front yard and the bird feeder was in the back yard. I think it was to try to keep the squirrels away from the feeder. We’ll see if I end up going that route before the end of winter.
But you know, I have never seen a single squirrel around. When I mentioned this to HB’s parents, his dad observed that it could be because we really don’t have any mature trees in the neighborhood. The trees are all just babies right now, except for those conifers…. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for now.
And of course, take pictures the moment I see one.
Squirl says:
Tee hee. Waiting for the squirrel pictures.
Amber says:
I love the pictures of the birdies. I’m not much of a bird person, but I like watching the little tiny ones frolick about in the snow.
As for squirrels, I think it must be because you are in a newer developement with younger trees. I see many squirrels around here.
And squirrel pictures.
Oh, and when we came back from Texass, we were flying in dense clouds the whole way, and when we came out from the clouds we were very low to the ground. There was snow on the ground everywhere, and I thought it was the most beautiful sight. Or am I crazy?
So maybe that is why the squirrels aren’t about: They don’t like the snow, either.
Oh yes, I agree with Squirl about it being a goldfinch.
Ern says:
I third the American Goldfinch ID. Thanks for sharing the pictures! I love your feeder…looking forward to many more birdie posts.
LadyBug says:
Oooh, how fun! And the pics look great; I wouldn’t have known you shot them through the glass, if you hadn’t mentioned it.
What does Girlie-Girl think of the birdies?
Danielle says:
Okay, so definitely an American Goldfinch.
Thus far, I have not seen many more birds. I was intending to attract cardinals and bluejays, and mentioned as much to HB and his parents. Consequently, the food is mostly sunflower seeds and does not have as many of the little seeds that the little birds eat.
At least, I am assuming that is the problem. Right now, it is snowing outside and the roads look slick, so I don’t think I’ll be making a run to Target for birdseed.
So, in a long-winded answer to your question, Ladybug, except for Sunday morning, there haven’t been enough birds to really grab her attention.
Danielle says:
Okay, strike that about the sunflower seeds not being the type they like. I just did some google searches and found that chickadees and finches, as well as the larger birds, can crack open sunflower seeds. And they like sunflower seeds for the high fat content.
So, I bet they’ll be back when the snow and rain blow through.
Danielle says:
They are back!
Finches, and a bunch of other birds. Guess i just had to wait for the snow to calm down.
Girlie-Girl slept through all of the excitement, silly thing.
Amber says:
How very neat! I bet all the birdies must be fun to watch.
Tsk. Tsk. GG. You are missing all the birdy action.