The only birds that I've ever really been mildly concerned about were those that managed to mess up my windows. I never have figured out how they can leave a mess on the fly! I have a couple of slick plastic butterflies stuck to a picture window now and that seems to stop them from doing a header into a window pane. I guess that slamming into a sheet of glass scares the poop out of birds.
I've learned not to park under utility wires or seek a shady spot along the street. I prefer a heated car to one that has white polka dots. If you know anything about mulberry trees, avoid them at all costs! Birds love mulberries, but mulberries must not agree with them.
I've done my duty with the obligatory bird feeder in the side yard. Many squirrels and chipmunks have been sustained over the winters by my offerings. Spraying the post with "stickum" keeps those rodents away but the cottonwood tree fluff adheres nicely and neighbors think you have a white fur-covered feeder post.
Bearing this in mind, I took the bird feeding plunge once again! The nurturing side of my soul told me to do this! I began with a hummingbird feeder. I have 2 hummers. I've named them Him and Her, although without a name tag, I can't tell them apart.
The two Baltimore Oriole feeders were fiascoes. The half orange rotted and the rain washed away the grape jelly on one. I dumped the oriole sweet junk from the other into the hummer feeder, changed the color to red, and my crowd of hummingbirds (2) didn't know the difference. So much for believing what boxes say!
Gold finches are my delight! Purple finches, too. But those suckers had better learn to chase the sparrows away. I bought a special feeder for the finches and a separate one for the sparrows, etc. Despite the signs posted, the crazy sparrows insist on eating me out of house and home!
I may buy a canary or a parakeet and have a captive, well-behaved bird. Anybody want to buy some bird feeders?
