Viewing post #528957 by plantladylin

I'm almost 66 years old and I've been feeding my backyard birds for 38 years. Unfortunately the raccoons and other night critters are fed well too if the feeders still contain seeds and I forget to bring them in at the end of the day. Even though there's plenty of natural food available (seeds, berries and insects) for the birds year round here in Florida I still can't help myself when it comes to feeding our feathered friends. I know they don't become dependent on the feeders because there are times during the year where they don't visit the feeders as often ... preferring the berries etc. that are naturally available in the landscape. I use inexpensive store bought feeders or whatever will hold seed. I even use empty hanging baskets with the saucer placed in the very top of the basket to hold seed. I put out a mixture of sunflower seeds, raisins, nuts, fruit and suet. I love all birds and I've taken many photo's over the years of our regular year-round residents but I think my favorite are these winter visitors that we don't get to see for very long down here in Florida. I always love when these winter visitors stop at the backyard feeders:

American Robin ....................................... Cedar Waxwings


Eastern Phoebe ................................... Gray Catbird


Although I haven't done it in a long while I have been known to decorate small shrubs and trees with edible treats for the birds by stringing unbuttered/unsalted popcorn and draping it across a shrub or tree, and adding thin slices of apples and oranges to the ends of the branches. I also take bagel halves, smear them with creamy or chunky peanut butter (not the type that contains honey) and then sprinkle them with raisins and birdseed and hang it on an "S" hook from a tree limb.


We have a few different types of Hawks here year round and it's sad to see them take one of the songbirds (easy pickins when so many little birds visit backyard feeders) but it's all part of nature and they do have to eat too.



We have Bald Eagles here year round and although they don't visit the backyard feeders they are still awesome and majestic birds!