For the Birds…
A couple of days ago this little guy flew into my sliding glass window.
 (Don’t worry. He eventually flew away, so he wasn’t hurt.)
 I’ve only recently really started looking at the birds that flock to my feeders, so I’m sad to say I didn’t know that this was a male hairy woodpecker. (I had to email Brenda and Jen and show it to them.) Right now I know that I’ve got chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, wrens, blue jays and cardnials coming to my feeders, but there are several more I can’t identify just yet.  The chicadees are my favorites. They’re just happy little birds.  What about you? Do you put out feed for our feathered friends? Do you enjoy watching them?Â
October 18th, 2007 at 6:45 am
There was a vine with tiny red flowers growing in my back flower bed when we moved into this new house in May. It is right outside of my sunroom window and attracts hummingbirds. I’d only ever seen them flying away before. This summer I’ve gotten to watch them eat from the vine in the backyard.
So even though it spreads worse than weeds, I’ll probably keep it around…
October 18th, 2007 at 6:46 am
I
watching the birds at the feeder. The woodpeckers are my favorites! Lots of times I’m thinking about the scene I’m writing and zoning out staring at the feeder. I’m pretty sure it looks as if I’m not working to anyone who might happen to be in the house. 
October 18th, 2007 at 7:51 am
I need to get feeders. We had them in Hawaii and enjoyed the variety of birds there. We had something called Java Sparrows, which look like they are wearing little tuxedos. They were fun to watch. We’d also get the occasional wild parakeet. And lots of cardinals, sparrows, finches, etc.
When spring comes again, I’m getting hummingbird feeders. I haven’t had hummingbirds in 9 years because they don’t have them in Europe or Hawaii. With moving in and getting settled, bird feeders just weren’t high on the list this year.
Maybe I can get the hubby to put some up soon. The birds will want seed in the winter too. 
October 18th, 2007 at 8:31 am
No feathered friends for me. But I have a neighbor who has a little condo neighborhood association he built for the birds in his yard.
, seriously. He’s an older gentleman and it gives him something to do and he’s good at it too.
October 18th, 2007 at 9:26 am
We have a bird feeder…couldn’t tell you the last time I put seed in it. I did put up hummingbird feeders this year–even got a couple to come visit, but if you forget to change the sugar water, they don’t come.
As for ID-ing birds–I can name robins, cardinals, blue jays, pelicans, geese, and swans. Everything else is just a “birdie.” Like I said before, though, I can identify “Free Bird” in five notes or less…
October 18th, 2007 at 9:28 am
Nope, no bird feeders at my place. We have enough animals and birds running around as it is
What I really wish is that our roosters would learn when sunrise is because I’m getting tired of hearing them crow all day and night. 
October 18th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I love birds! I love watching them at our feeders. We have quite a few hanging out in the woods. We also put out hummingbird feeders every year and our brood returns to us. This year we didn’t have many hummingbirds until August when they seemed to be swarming around the feeder. For a while, we had to replace sugar water in the feeder everyday. While I was recovering from surgery, I dared to fix the feeders while balancing on a chair. Am I whacked or what?
We’ve had woodpeckers, blue jays, blue birds, cardinals, Carolina Wrens, Finch, Sparrows, Orioles, and other beauties I can’t name. When we first moved in, a woodpecker (we called him Woody) loved to peck on our siding. He was a strange one who went from our house to our neighbors pecking on siding. We’d have to go outside and shew him off. He must have returned for 5 years. We haven’t seen him in about 4 years and think he got fried at an electrical box down the road because we’ve seen quite a few woodpeckers die there. Ah, we miss Woody but not his pecking.
October 18th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Danniele, I had hummers this year and just love them. They’re so sweet.
Jen, if I had your office I would sit and stare out into the yard all day.
Lynn, do hang a few feeders for the winter! They’re so fun to watch.
Ginger, how cool about your neighbor!
Kimberly, you are too funny. Free Bird in five notes or less…
Ooo, Kira we had chickens when I was growing up and yes, the roosters crowing at all hours of the night wasn’t fun.
Oh, Kathy! Poor Woody!
October 18th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
We don’t bird watch much, but the kids did hang a nut-covered pinecone out last winter for them. Not sure how long that lasted… I think we mostly get bluejays, woodpeckers (at least I think they are–I can hear them but don’t often see them), robins, and large black birds–crows? ravens?