Can anyone tell me about micro-waving black oil sunflower seeds to keep them from sprouting, and if doing this will be harmful to the birds. I use the sunflower seed hearts and thistle seed in my large feeders but have a 'net ball' and small tray of the black oil seeds I keep filled for the chickadees. I have these little chickadees eating out of my hand at times now, what a thrill for me! I feed my birds from a third floor balcony and also have lots of containers full of 'bird plants' and I'd just as soon not be into continual weeding if at all possible.

This was my first year to get hummingbirds up on the third floor. I was told they don't feed this high but my three years of persistence has finally paid off. I have fuchsias, salvia and a few other hummer plants in containers. Before the flowers start to bloom I put up some bright red and yellow ribbons and silk flowers and that seemed to have finally lured them in. ( Perhaps 'attract' would be more P.C.) There has been one Annas that has continued to visit at least 2-3 times a day even though the flowers have ceased to be blooming. If anyone has any suggestions for winter hummer plants that could be grown in containers I would also appreciate the information.

I'm confined to a wheelchair and have very limited mobility so all my birding is done on my two balconies. I have 5 feeders, lots of plants and two birdbaths that keep me very busy and well entertained. I have also hung a large apple tree branch on the ceiling of one balcony and the birds are thick there when it's stormy and wet, gives them shelter from the rain and wind I think. I'll be putting up suet feeders very soon.

I'm afraid I don't have the impressive lists of sightings that most of you do but my little sanctuaries are full of birds from dawn to dark. I so enjoy this group, I get in lots of vicarious travel and birdwatching.

Patricia Hansen
Tacoma, Washington
mailto: pmhansen at drizzle.com