I’ve gone and installed two bird feeders in the yard, and let’s just say the neighborhood has noticed. They’re hopping with activity from sunup to sundown. So far, the squirrels have kept their distance — a small miracle I’m choosing not to jinx by saying too much about it.
Watching the show is pure entertainment. Some birds are model diners: they hop up, pick a seed, and polish it off like they have table manners. Others treat the tray like a spit-roast competition, flinging half their haul onto the ground below. I’m not sure if they’re picky, messy, or just trying to feed the ground crew, but it’s endlessly amusing.
The first photo captures one regular — a sharp little white-breasted nuthatch who seems to know exactly what he’s doing. He (or she) works the feeder with focused determination while the rest of the crew cycles through. Filling the feeders isn’t nearly as complicated as I expected, though it does require the step ladder. A small price for the daily comedy.
I’m enjoying every minute of the yard’s new social scene. Who needs cable when you’ve got feathered drama right outside the window? Stay tuned — the birds are just getting started.