As so many others reported, the first arrival was the Anna's Hummer, three
of them showed up between 7:15 and 7:20. The Flicker was next, soon followed
by the local herd of pine siskin, sparrows and finches. I got two of those
'cling and feed from underneath Starling proof' type suet feeders for
Christmas. No takers until today. I had propped it on its side like
suggested to get the birds used to the new contraption but none were
interested, not even the flicker. Maybe it just hasn't been cold enough or
these birds don't like the store bought suet cakes. I tucked a few little
dead clematis branches into the suet and the pine siskin where all flocking
on but nobody was eating. They were using it for their wait station to get a
place on the feeders. Is it the weather, the prepared suet cakes or does my
particular birds just not eat this stuff? Perhaps I just need to get some
good ol' beef fat and render my own down to suet cakes. I used to do that
all the time in my other place and the birds gobbled it up.

I hung up a second humming bird feeder about 9:30 today on the other
balcony, by 11am the hummer had found it and was feeding. I can now sit at
my computer, look out either dinning room or living room windows and see the
Anna's. Pretty neat! The other day I watched two of these little birds clean
all the newly hatched spiders off a web that had appeared between my wind
chimes and fuchsia bush.

The chickadees seemed to have disappeared since before Christmas but saw one
finally appear back today about noon. Around 3pm I counted 5 zinging in to
snatch their sunflower seeds from the hanging net bag. It is nice to have
them back. Hop-A-Long, my little one legged chickadee that had been around
for three years has been MIA since about Thanksgiving.

I have one pine siskin that is sporting a Horned Owl hair-do. Just too
funny, the Punk Siskin. It has little feathers just above his eyes that
stand straight up. I wonder if his parents were embarrassed to take him to
the grandparents for Christmas dinner.

I have three flickers that are coming in several times everyday and go
through flapping contortions to get sunflower chips from the feeder.

I am now in the process of researching and making lists for more bird
friendly plantings. About a third of what have will be replaced so that it
will not only look pretty but attract more of my avian friends. If anyone
has favorite bird attractors I'm open for suggestions. I think a new
birdbath with fountain may be in the plans too.

My brother was able to get some pictures of some of the hummingbirds on
Christmas eve. Since I face west the late afternoon lighting was difficult
but he was able to catch some in the flash of his camera and they came out
pretty well. If you would like to see them just drop me a line and I'll
send them on to you.

All in all it was a good 1st day of the New Year.

Patricia Hansen
2 Balconies,3rd Floor
Tacoma, Wa. USA
pmhansen at drizzle.com


"Use what talent you possess:
the woods would be
very silent if no birds sang
except those that sang best."
- Henry Van Dyke