Birdbath

I read in Carolina Gardener magazine that wild birds do not need to be fed.  Even in winter, there is enough food available for wild birds.  But gardeners and birders should supply water, even if it is only a birdbath, because clean water is in short supply.

Welcome news.

For more than a decade, I set out four feeders with black oil sunflower seeds for the birds. 

But birds never got any.  We have more than our share of squirrels and they can empty a feeder in an hour.  Lisa says our squirrels are big and fat.

Squirrels twist the guards off the squirrel proof feeders.  They gnaw the feeder holes on tube feeders.  Once they chewed the perch off the weight sensitive feeder (made of steel), so it would not close while they sat on their fat furry bottoms and ate with two paws.

This youngster waits under a feeder for crumbs.

I bought a sleek black tube feeder to hold niger seed for the goldfinches.  A few goldfinches came but most ignored the feeder.  The sleek black tube was designed for humans who shop at the wild bird store. 

But every year in late summer and autumn, goldfinches dart through the tangle of black eyed Susans and purple coneflowers in the wild part of my garden. These are already going to seed. 

This year, I set out peanut suet in small feeders, but hungry squirrels tore them down.  I switched to hot pepper suet, and they left the food for the birds.  Bluebirds have been frequent visitors to the suet feeders this winter.

After I read that water is the most precious resource for birds, I felt good about my three bird baths.  Last year, I installed a bird fountain.  I put my radiation mask flower pot on the fountain to give it some character.

A hawk visited our birdbath last week. 

These two squirrels were suddenly very still.  For 10 minutes they did not move a whisker.  I have seen hawks flying in our neighborhood, furry tails dangling from their talons.

I hope the hawks took the big fat ones first.