Bird Feeders

My wife purchased me a bird feeder for Christmas. I was pretty excited to get it as I was hoping to be able to see some locals closer up.

We celebrated Christmas in the bay area, and returned to Gualala — without the feeder. This was a conscious decision as our home in Gualala doesn’t have a good area for a feeder.

We returned to the bay this week for a few days, so I managed to set the feeder up early one evening. My expectations were in check as I’d read repeatedly that it can take 10+ days before birds will visit the feeder.

The next morning, I excitedly saw my first bird on the feeder – a Lesser Goldfinch. I was tickled pink. I logged into work and did the morning slog of meetings, and came back out later in the morning for a cup of coffee — and there were now a dozen birds on or near the feeder.

The Goldfinches ( House and Lesser ), Chestnut backed Chickadees and White-Breasted Nuthatches were on the feeder while the Dark-eyed Junco’s, Mourning Doves and Sparrows were doing clean up on the ground.

The Robin’s were on the fruit bushes, a flock of Cedar Waxwings joined them – a hawk watched on a neighbors tree.

I’m convinced all the bird came to see the new feeder – whether they were eating or just watching.

The past couple days haven’t slowed down much and I fear I won’t be able to keep the feeder stocked when we’re back in Gualala.

It’s a good problem to have and not it makes me want to re-think getting a feeder for Gualala.

Maybe a nice suet feeder for the woodpeckers… yes…