After many years of snowbirding, we're now settling back to our Illinois home. While we miss the activity of our Florida community, we're more content with a slower lifestyle. Not liking the drive, and realizing that the parties and many activities that we used to be involved in are more than we need... it's more comfortable to live at a slower pace, picking and choosing what we want to do.
But... with that, and now late January, cabin fever is beginning to set in. Can't go to our camp here in IL, and beginning to miss the outdoors.... and thus the question
My neighbor, diagonally behind my house has a bird bath in the summer. Now he uses the base as a "feeder" putting a handful of bird seed on top. All day long he has visitors... mostly tree sparrows but often some transients who got lost.
I am jealous.
Sooo... I set out a small wire stand behind my house, in front of our dining room picture window, with a plate on top, filled with seed. Nothing... The same birds fly across this "feeder" and completely ignore it.
Next... reading that ground feeding may help, scattered seed around... nada... not one bird... but at night, some rabbits. Have also broken up dry bread and crackers and placed them on paper plates.
We don"t have any trees behind the house, but some blue spruce in front of the house that house hundreds of sparrows, and another one about 75 feet away in next door neighbor's yard, which is also busy most of the day.
All spring , summer and fall, I have feeders at my camp. They attract, by count, 28 species of birds. I am not a "birder", but pretty close. This problem of being shunned is causing some angst. Am at the point of putting our artificial Christmas tree up to provide shelter but don't think that will work.
Any suggestions
?
But... with that, and now late January, cabin fever is beginning to set in. Can't go to our camp here in IL, and beginning to miss the outdoors.... and thus the question
My neighbor, diagonally behind my house has a bird bath in the summer. Now he uses the base as a "feeder" putting a handful of bird seed on top. All day long he has visitors... mostly tree sparrows but often some transients who got lost.
I am jealous.
Sooo... I set out a small wire stand behind my house, in front of our dining room picture window, with a plate on top, filled with seed. Nothing... The same birds fly across this "feeder" and completely ignore it.
Next... reading that ground feeding may help, scattered seed around... nada... not one bird... but at night, some rabbits. Have also broken up dry bread and crackers and placed them on paper plates.
We don"t have any trees behind the house, but some blue spruce in front of the house that house hundreds of sparrows, and another one about 75 feet away in next door neighbor's yard, which is also busy most of the day.
All spring , summer and fall, I have feeders at my camp. They attract, by count, 28 species of birds. I am not a "birder", but pretty close. This problem of being shunned is causing some angst. Am at the point of putting our artificial Christmas tree up to provide shelter but don't think that will work.
Any suggestions
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