What a Difference New Birdseed Makes

The pictures of the birds are borrowed from the internet. I have my own pictures, but didn't take the time to look them all up. I really don't know who to give credit to.The birds are not in any particular order.

As the song goes..."What a difference a day makes," only the words are changed to "What a difference new birdseed makes." We had arrived at the bottom of the barrel, so to speak. The only thing left in the birdseed was millet, both red and white and some other seeds, with very few sunflower seeds mixed in. Our beautiful birds are very fickle. They visit when they are happy with what they are fed or they just go next door or down the road a few  houses and eat there. They don't realize how much entertainment they provide for bird watchers like me.

As we approached the end of the road on the cheap bag of seed that I tried and never will again...the bird population dwindled. Not the Sparrows, however, but the ones I look forward to each day. I have to say that I do love the little Sparrow, but a bird feeder full of Sparrows as opposed to one with a variety is not as interesting. I guess I'm as fickle as the birds :)

 We needed some new seed and Joe was going to Farm and Fleet. I asked him to pick up 50lbs of sunflower seed. I heard him grumble a bit about spending so much on the birds, but I knew that he enjoyed watching them as much as I do. Men like to grumble I've found.

 The seed arrived just a couple of days ago. I mixed it with what was left of the original bags and filled the feeders. I wondered how long before the word was chirped out...that we had refilled the feeders.I heard the stately Blue Jay calling out from the woods. Was he telling the birds about the new seed?

It didn't take long...maybe a half an hour, before our first interesting bird came and ate with the Sparrows.It was the delightful pair of Chickadees. Hopping around and swinging in the bird feeder.The tiny acrobats of the bird world. "Yea! New food for us today"....they chirped...flitting from feeder to tree.

 Next came the Titmouse. Such a gentle bird. Very quiet and very hungry. She sat there a long time before her mate joined her. I do love these little birds. Perhaps my favorite of all. The Junco made an appearance and started cleaning up under the feeder.The little vacuum cleaner of the bird world. "Messy birds...they drop more than they eat", I think I heard him chirp. I do love someone who cleans up...and this little bird is a welcome addition ...especially on the back deck. They leave nary a seed out there, so I don't have to sweep often.

Then the king of the North American  bird world...The brilliant Cardinal. He made an appearance...sitting on the feeder...all alone as he wishes. His wife was in the tree...looking longingly at the new seed. He was feeling generous this morning and allowed her to join him....only for a few seeds. He knows he's special...quite a showoff..

I sit here at my computer, behind  glass, watching most everyday. I see the comings and goings of birds and sometimes other creatures at my feeder, like the possum last winter. The feeder is only there during the winter months and is right up close to the house. It takes a while for birds to get used to it, but once they are.. it is a constant trail of birds each day. Being close to the house...they might be afraid at first, but then they realize that this little spot is sheltered from not only the weather, but from many predators who don't like the close location.It's a little inconvenient for me...as I have to go out into the garage and fill the bucket and then go across the lawn to fill and then back again, but it is so worth it in the pleasure we get from watching. So, my neighbors are used to this crazy bird watcher, when I traipse through the yard in my robe and sometimes boots to fill the bird feeders.

Balisha