Entertaining Guests

This weekend we started feeding the local hummingbirds again. We see them earlier, but I think there must be more in bloom for them to eat. I noticed them sitting in the tree and singing last week and thought it would be a good idea to clean and fill the little bottles we have for them. Then I noticed the other birds around. Even though we are in a neighborhood, we have quite a few different kinds of birds in our area; Crows, Scrub Jays, Mockingbirds, Swallows in the spring, sparrows, finches, etc. So we decided to make a trip to our local Wild Birds Unlimited store for some advice and a feeder. We ended up getting a medium size feeder, some seed and a birdbath that all fit on a 4 x 4 beam. Our feeder looks like this....

Then we bought the Deluxe seed mix which consists mostly of millet and sunflower seeds.

Here's our little hanging birdbath with fresh clean water going in.

I'm lucky to have a "handy" man to help me put things up. He got out the tools.

Yes that IS a kid's shovel! See, handy, that's what I'm talking about!

Dug a hole, put in the pole with the bird feeder on it, leveled it (Yes!) and filled in the hole firmly so it wouldn't blow over.

Then he screwed on the pole that holds the birdbath.

And here is the beautiful result.

Now we wait. This is the hard part. On the list of Bird Feeding Tips by RollerFeed, waiting is #5.

Disguised as the word.....PATIENCE.

Patience: Very important: One of the most important factors is patience. Depending on your environment (wooded area/no trees/new development etc.) and other factors mentioned above and below, birds will start using a new feeder ranging in time from a few days, a few weeks, to a few months or more. If the feeder is a replacement from an older feeder they used to visit, it will still take time for them to use the new feeder on a regular basis. Wild birds are creatures of habit and a new item in the yard takes time to investigate and become familiar with.

"Here birdy, birdy, birdy..... where are you??? I have some nice seed for you and a bath/spa waiting with your name on it. Birdy??"

Can someone please direct some birds my way...... I'm just not patient and I can't WAIT months, it's not in my nature!

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