Back to the Backyard Birds

Water. It’s the only sound I’ve heard in my backyard for two months.

Enough is enough.

Off to Wild Birds Unlimited I went yesterday, Christmas caroling all the way, giddy as a schoolgirl in love. Bought a few new feeders and lots of food. Maybe I’ll order meal worms and cook some Zick Dough this week.

Soaked and cleaned the old feeders that were piled on the garage floor for so long, collecting dust and dried leaves the wind blew in.

So happy to do it!

For those who don’t know me, I’ll explain. There was harmony here among the backyard birds for a long time until last spring when things went awry. Perhaps urban sprawl and its associated construction is the cause for movement and change, but there arrived flocks of non-native European Starlings and their children who squealed and screamed from sunrise to sunset for weeks. And pigeons. I had to consider my wallet and my sanity, as well as the sanity of the families who live near me. I stopped feeding for a month and considered allowing my police officer friend to take me to the firing range to become a BB gun expert.

The number of non-native House Sparrows grew over the summer months and to say they eventually had the upper hand is an understatement. Sadly, by the end of summer, the House Finches moved on as did all other native songbirds. HOSP coated the yard, along with pigeons and their poop, and I had just enough. After work one day, I threw my hands in the air, dumped the food from the feeders and removed them, feeling a combination of relief, sadness, and frustration. If there is research done on dysfunctional birds, call me.

Last week during subfreezing nights, I threw some seed in the feeding area and was delighted to see

two Northern Cardinals. I had twelve pairs last winter.

Juncos, White-Throated Sparrows, and Song Sparrows stopped by...

Aren’t Song Sparrows breathtakingly CUTE?

I’ve missed them all – Cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, finches, Chickadees, Mourning Doves, and Titmice. I’d love to see the Coopers again.

The feeders are clean and full! Funny, while working on this project I forgot how about my miserable cold. I had pep in my step and smiled often.

After I filled all nine feeders, the resident Mockingbirds nearly stroked out. I laughed out loud watching their territorial frenzy, scrapping with all other birds who bravely dared to snag a seed, nut, or grape.

But, I will say this. I fought the HOSP and the HOSP won.

There are still a few trashing my neighbors’ attics. That’s OK. There’s a gizmo I can order on-line, you see.

This week will be interesting, I think :o)