On a recent trip to visit Allen's grandmother, Grandgirl, I noticed a bird feeder attached to her window. It was a clear acrylic one that attached to the window with suction cups. While we were visiting, several birds flew into the feeder and some of them hung around long enough for Natalie to catch a glimpse of them. She seemed pretty interested in them, so I though to myself that I should get a bird feeder for our house. I found the same bird feeder on Amazon for only $7, ordered it, and picked up a bag of bird food. We attached it to one of our kitchen windows shortly before we left town for a week and the birds didn't really seem to notice it. I saw a male Cardinal once or twice, but that was it. When we got back from our cruise it was empty! I immediately filled it up and the birds have been going crazy over it ever since. Natalie enjoys watching them, but I think I'm the one who is obsessed!! I have identified the four species that regularly visit the feeder: Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal, and White-Breasted Nuthatch. The other day I saw a different bird (Downy Woodpecker) in the feeder and almost fell out of my chair because I was so excited! Of course it quickly flew away before I could grab the camera and I haven't seen him since.
It has been interesting to see the different personalities of these birds. The Chickadees are very acrobatic and like to hang on the wind chimes behind the feeder. And although they are smaller than the other birds, they have more of a tendency to guard the feeder. The Nuthatch seems to be the dumber of the birds. It will land outside of the feeder and try to peck at the seeds through the plastic. It also has the annoying habit of using its beak to fling seeds everywhere in an effort to dig down to the sunflower seeds. The Cardinal is the most elusive of the four species. I typically only see him every few days. I don't really have anything interesting to add about the Titmouse except that I can't say its name with a straight face.
I highly recommend getting something like this if you have small children. It's a great way to bring nature *almost* indoors!
I have been meaning to ask you where you hung yours. I got the kids out the day after Halloween and we got all ready to hang it up after reading the bird book and DOH! We have screens on all our windows! :(
We only have screens on half of each window and they can slide up and down. We put the feeder on the window closest to our kitchen table. The screen is on the bottom half of the window and the feeder is mounted on the top half. I go out to the deck and stand on a chair to fill it. Can you take the screen off of a window that you don't typically open? I guess it may also have to be one that you can access from the outside to fill too. I sure hope you can make it work somehow! :(
I have been meaning to ask you where you hung yours. I got the kids out the day after Halloween and we got all ready to hang it up after reading the bird book and DOH! We have screens on all our windows! :(
ReplyDeleteWe only have screens on half of each window and they can slide up and down. We put the feeder on the window closest to our kitchen table. The screen is on the bottom half of the window and the feeder is mounted on the top half. I go out to the deck and stand on a chair to fill it. Can you take the screen off of a window that you don't typically open? I guess it may also have to be one that you can access from the outside to fill too. I sure hope you can make it work somehow! :(
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