What a difference between now and last June. Earlier in the summer, birds were going nuts, chasing away real and imagined enemies, feeding and guarding the chicks and fighting for position at the feeders. Now, it’s quiet and peaceful and many birds have moved on.
I heard a robin yesterday, but didn’t see him. They have largely migrated, but they’ll be back with the first extended fall rains. The catbirds, too, have skipped town. My bluebirds stayed away for over a month, but I saw them yesterday – the adult male and his three offspring. We are down to two pairs of cardinals, but later in the fall more will come to our bird baths and feeders. We generally have 8 or 10 in our yard during the winter months. My sole brown thrasher has not left yet, but will probably go wherever thrashers go in a few weeks.
I have one pair of goldfinches and tons of house finches and sparrows.
An assortment of woodpeckers, titmice and wrens make regular visits to the suet bars as doves and sparrows peck around on the ground for loose seeds, and the hummers are still buzzing around.
About the only personal contact I have now with my backyard birds is with the blue jays. There are four in all, two adults and two juveniles. Whenever they see me in the back yard, they screech and squawk, and if I don’t go the shed and toss out some peanuts, they let me know about it. They love peanuts, and I enjoy watching them stuff 4 or 5 in their beaks and fly to the nearest tree limb to wolf them down.
Soon, food will be scarce and my backyard bird activity will increase. A little fresh water and a wide assortment of food is all it takes to draw these interesting creatures to most any back yard.