We live not far from a bird sanctuary. This is, in actuality, a few acres of unimproved land. After 2 1/2 years we had seen a few interesting birds but just had not gotten around to looking for them. So I bought a bird feeder and watched helplessly as the first squirrel that came along dumped the entire contents of the feeder on the ground. After 5 pounds of birdseed became squirrel feed and there was not a bird in sight, I tried feeding the squirrels and the birds. I fed the squirrels and the squirrels and some chipmunks and a few birds. Then came the Yankee Flipper. Now only the smart squirrel eats from the feeder. We have been visited by a number of birds that I have never seen in these parts. Who knew they were here? We have seen cardinals and jays, goldfinches and chickadees, cowbirds and woodpeckers. They come in droves and then there's nothing, then they are back. Some gather together, some will only eat alone. Some come in pairs and one eats while the other watches. If you watch you can see. The Jays are the bully boys of the neighborhood. They fly in and everyone scatters. Like us, they are winging it.
