For the Birds

We had an unusually cold winter this year.  For a few weeks it was below freezing constantly.  We have had a few warm days since that cold spell but the last few days it has been really windy and chilly.  I can't wait for some warmer weather when I can get my garden going and spend time outside.

This winter we decided to put up a bird feeder.  When I was young, we had one in our backyard that my dad built.  I loved identifying all the different birds and seeing the same ones come back time and time again. I have wanted one here for a long time and a couple weeks ago Brent thought we needed one too.

My childhood cat, Patches, waiting in the birdfeeder

I have really enjoyed having birds around.  Our dog, Kati, who happens to be a bird dog, happens to think its pretty great to have all the tweeties in the yard.  She has long since ignored the chickens but is enticed by the little ones.  Part of what makes having a bird feeder around is the fact that many of the birds found in Idaho, were not found in Tennessee.  I have my handy little bird identification books around so I can look them up.

Some of the things we discovered is how many hawks are around here.  We see hawks flying around all the time but usually not in our backyard.  Last summer a Robin built its nest in our tree and hatched five little babies.  The kids were excited.  Then one day one of the kids went to check on the babies and the nest was totally empty.  Someone said it might have been a Magpie, but we don't usually see those either. After we put up the feeders, there were a lot of hawks hanging around.  So we thought maybe it was a hawk that plucked those featherless babies from the safety of their nest.

Kati is not enthused with the chickens

We have watched some hawks nose dive the little house sparrows and goldfinches.  We have even found some feathers on the ground.  One day there was a young Cooper's hawk on our fence eating what appeared to be a little bird.  This just proved that they are around in full force.  I know next time I have baby chickens I will be really careful to keep them safe.  It would be horrible to have one plucked from the pen by a hawk.

Some of the other birds we have seen are various finches, a downy woodpecker, several Northern flickers, and many doves, starlings, and robins.  I am hoping spring will bring back some of the migrating birds and we will see some different species.  I also want to put up a hummingbird feeder.  I am really glad we decided to put up the feeders this year and hopefully we will enjoy them for many seasons to come.