It has been some week. Last Sunday morning, 4/26/26, Mike saw a rose-breasted grosbeak outside our window--the first one we've seen in three years. That was enough of a treat. But by the end of the day we had seen ten more males and a female. Now, by the end of the week, seven days later, we have seen 75 males and 11 females. One time we had five males on the feeder at one time. Never had anything like that happen in all these years of birdwatching. It has been a wonderful and enjoyable week!
Started early this year! Mike got the "bug" to put the feeders up last week, when he noticed we had sunflower seeds left over from last spring. So I came home one day, and both seed and suet feeders (two of each) were hanging outside the kitchen window. It took the birds about a week to find them, but now, as he says, "It's like an airport out there." The weather has been very rainy, and some of the birds still have nestlings, so I suspect that this extra food source is appreciated even though there are plenty of insects and natural things out there for birdie consumption.
This year's list, to be added on throughout the season:
From page 108. Putting this here for future use:
"When I first took an interest in birds, I asked on a Facebook bird group page what kind of food I should put in a feeder for sparrows. The curt answer from one expert was this: All sparrows are ground feeders and do not eat from feeders. He suggested I get a guidebook on birds so I could learn the basics (meaning, don't ask questions that are common knowledge). I was new to watching birds, so I felt like an idiot. I often do when some pooh-bah issues a blunt answer in subjects I know little about. Fortunately, most people who love birds are kind toward beginner birders. In fact, every birder and nature journal I've personally met is exceedingly kind and patient with every beginner. They love to instill a love of birds."
