Fall Feeding

Written by Candace Stuart of Wild Bird Center
October 05, 2009

My favorite time of year for feeding.  Birds are done guading territories and mates and are flocking together to find food. ..and sharing their "finds" by calling to their friends and neigbors.

Chickadees, nuthatches, and downy woodpeckers may be more noticeable at feeders because they've weaned the kids and now can have a wider range of activity.

Nuts place in a nut feeder are a real treat. I use peanut splits (or in really cold weather-cashews).I look out my window in the morning to see a chickadee climbing around and around the feeder to find just the right nut to pull out. He flies to the tree branch, holds the nut and pecks off pieces to eat.  Right behind him the downy woodpecker repeats the process, until the flicker arrives and takes over.

The Blue Jays have me trained. Before I brush my teeth or turn on lights, I have to put peanuts in the shell in the two platform feeders (hanging trays) because they are already calling for their treats. Later, I hear them again, and knowing they have nuts, find that the neighborhood cat is in the yard and the jays are warning all the birds of danger.

Max entertainment in the morning...but I need to get up a little earlier so I have time to watch and not be late for work.

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