Feeder Birds Drama

They won’t let me near them anymore. I don’t know why. There seems to be a quiet conspiracy against me from a message that was contained in the feeder birds’ e-mail inbox, and I wasn't included on the distribution list.

Why are they anti-social?

They are served an assortment of meals and I tend to them every day. Feeding a hundred birds is a labor of love for crying out loud! Maybe I expect too much in return? Heck. I’m not asking for much. Just a few photos, is all.

Maybe it’s me. Maybe it’s my fault for pushing it and wanting daylight after dinner. I think this is true.

I used to be able to walk out onto the deck with my camera and zoom in on their action and they didn’t care much. Not anymore. As soon as I step into the sunroom, they flee. All of them. Carol, don’t be disillusioned by this rant – feeder birds are very cool!

They've turned their backs on me.

My personal flock of Carolina Chickadees tease me.

See the irritation on her face? HA! I know she's only curious...

So, I have resorted to standing in my garden tub to get photos through the window while the evening shadows darken the view.

I didn’t know that Red-Bellied Woodpeckers were ground feeders, too. I recognize their greeting call before they dive-bomb the suet feeder – so swiftly – with a precision landing every time.

Often, the Downy lands low and climbs to the feeder of its choice. They seem to be more persistent than the Red-Bellieds.

Zick Dough has created pandemonium when I serve it! Doves and Finches leave it alone while all others thrive on it. And, I’m still waiting for Eastern Bluebirds! They've been here before so I expect them to return.

It’s a wonderful treat to see nice birds with manners enjoying the Zick Dough and worms.

Another dark side of this drama is the arrival of European Starlings, who have open fields of non-frozen ground to graze, but instead

they arrive with their annoying squeals and cat-calls, fighting with each other - spiraling, pecking, and screaming,

and bullying the Nuthatches, Titmice, Chickadees, Cardinals, and Wrens away from the Zick Dough until I can’t freaking stand it anymore!

I see them from my kitchen window, drop what I’m doing, and charge through the door. They eat with such intensity that the Zick Dough flies from the dish and cup – both soon to be empty, before dark.

The Mockingbirds can’t stand it, either.

And it gets worse, folks. More drama.

I can’t even stand to show the face of this bird. For three weeks, I’ve been stewing about a newcomer.

The House Sparrows have arrived. Two pairs. They like it here and they are not shy. Two pairs turn into twenty. Ironically, I’ve targeted two great places for nesting boxes to erect next month. I'm so disappointed.

I don’t know what to do about this. Perhaps I should just continue to feed the birds, turn around, and walk back inside the house without looking back. Another option is to shut down the feeders for a few months in the spring. Developing skills with a sling shot or BB gun came to my mind, but instead, I think I’ll let nature go alone without me and fight its own battles while

I dream of better months ahead.