Feeding Time

Although there are many birds about they don't seem to need feed from our feeders. I purchased food for wild birds but after a visit or two they never  returned. Yesterday I dumped the food and cleaned the feeders in the hope that we will be treated to some of our feathered friends. Last year we had cardinals who made a habit of tapping our tinted windows every morning at daybreak. I have seen these birds around but they changed their habits and come only for food.

The bird seed I bought this time is black sunflower seed and if that doesn't attract them nothing will. Every year or two we have an infusion of robins. They come in huge flocks and stay for only a few days and they all disappear. None of them stay for the winter. The Canada Goose which is such a nuisance in the north rarely comes this far south so it was a news item that one was sighted here last week.

Our bald eagles are under attack again with construction firms wishing to change the rules set out to aid the eagles raise their young. At the present time the operation of construction equipment and building is prohibited within 1100 feet of a nest. They want to change it to 660 feet but biologists say that is too close. Council votes on this on Tuesday and there will be a big turnout . Local residents love their Eagles. Our pair of eagles are on the nest again and we hope for another couple of eaglets to be born soon. We visit the sight nearly every day. So far this pair have added to the eagle population by 15. The female had an accident nine years ago and had a broken wing. It was repaired and she flies fine. We hope the vote goes the right way.

Various individuals take care of certain populations of birds but the best one is a man who lives near Sarasota and nurtures Sand Hill Cranes. Every day a large population of these birds visit at feeding time. He buys chicken necks and backs from a local butcher and feeds them at the same time every day. I don't think the neighbours are very happy with these huge birds hanging around the neighbourhood but he continues the feeding anyway.

Our favourite bird at the present time is a yellow bellied sapsucker who feeds on our white bird of paradise trees.They have a ritual whereby they peck holes in the soft portion of the trees and when these holes fill with sap he eats to his hearts content. We all enjoy feeding time and so do the birds.