They will come, dont you worry! I often wonder how all the birds find out theres a feeder. But once you get 1 visitor, you will have many, very often!

It sure doesn't feel like spring since I woke up to snow falling!! I'm skipping Yoga today and we'll hang the bird bath and I'll watch out the window for any takers to my feeders (besides the squirrels lol).

At the farm we had such pesky squirrels that my Dad made special care not to have any trees near the new house - I'd say pretty far away.

Poor you about the snow - hear its coming our way. Big drop in temperature since Wednesday! -8C windchill right now. Rats! The animals will enjoy it no matter where you put it.

The snow has been depressing today, which is why I decided to stay in and stay warm and get some work done around the house.

I don't have enough words to say how happy I am that you are feeding the wild birds.
Please remember, squirrels are hungry toooo, I understand your frustrations as we have close to 19 squirrels that come here daily looking for something to eat.
Suet is very good for the birds, I use a caged suet feeder here, the squirrels maybe able to get some, but not all of it.
A person once said, "you know your getting old if you sit on the deck watching the animals".
Don't believe this for one minute, it doesn't take age to prove the love we carry for all of Mothers creations, I feel kinda sorry for those that can't seem to find the time to enjoy all the little wonders, they are all here for our enjoyment.
Thank you kindly again, and I pray you enjoy all the beauty you are about to enjoy.
Peace
Arty

Here's an update as to what's going on in my front yard:

We have the cutest little finches that feed from my small bird feeder. At least one of the finches is a beautiful gray and black, I'll have to look up some pics.

We have a pair of cardinals that ground feed on the seeds, as well as at least one dove. There are various robins too.

I have not seen anyone eat from the Suet feeder! I've moved it to another tree last week and a squirrel still tries to get to it but with where it's hanging he has difficulties.

We put up a hummingbird feeder but I think it's too close to the house maybe (or maybe the temps aren't warm enough yet, I don't know) - but I've only seen bees eat from it I did plant a hosta the other day that blooms lavender and is supposed to attract hummingbirds.

We have bought the corn on the cobs and cracked corn and we sprinkle that out for the squirrels so they are getting something as well.

Sarah, the gray and black bird sounds like maybe a Junco to me. Does it have a whitish belly? Not the greatest photo, but something like this:



For what its worth, I'll tell you what works best for feeding here. Forget about the pre-made suet cakes. We've had them hang for weeks without any takers. Go to the meet counter or butcher shop and get some real beef suet. Don't let them give you the stringy yucky stuff, this is nice, solid suet.

As far as seed goes, we've had the best luck with black-oil sunflower seed. Just about all the different birds will eat it. The so called "wild bird" seed mixtures? Again, usually no takers. Might be different with Cardinals etc., but for Chickadees, Dovers, Finches, Grosbeaks, Nuthatches, even woodpeckers occasionally, you can't beat black-oil.

YMMV there in Michigan, but that's what works here in Maine. Oh yeah, the squirrels love it too!

Thanks for the tips Nate - I will try those! I don't think my gray and black bird is a Junco, I'll try to look it up (hopefully I can get a pic soon). That is the cutest little squirrel!!

I'm looking for those cute photos from you Sarah - THanks Nate for the adorable photos!
That squirrel photo could get an award. I like the bird too - so elegant & small.

When I was out sprinkling the lawn with seed and cracked corn the other day I could get fairly close to the finches feeding so hopefully I can get a decent pic of them.

What I've been trying to video lately is the turkey vultures who circle the tops of the huge evergreens that are across the street from my house. In the evening sometimes 5 or 6 will circle and they land in the treetops and the tops sway and it's beautiful. But the past couple of nights that I've gone out to the street with my camera they're not there. Sometimes they're circling but far back in the distance. But we're having a cold front now so maybe that's why.