Bird feeding, bird feeders, woodpeckers arriving

Construction has been slow here at the Shore Side Farm because Mr is currently absorbed in another project that I am beginning to record in another blog. He should only be involved in that for the next couple of weeks, but until his construction projects return to these pages, I am sharing some of the other activities we enjoy here.

The biggest blessing of this place is the proximity of the natural environment. This place is so pristine and biologically and ecologically infused that you just can't help but be swept up in all of it. Not many people can stand in their living room and have an eagle buzz past the window like a neighbor walking by, or have a Perregrine Falcon take dinner out of the bush by the front door...both of which have happened here. You have to be in the moment and enjoy what happens in that moment. Some things can be facilitated, like putting out hummingbird feeders or birdfeeders, and some things just happen like the last two vignettes. Part of my roll here is to facilitate these other events for the entertainment of all involved. Today was a pretty successful facilitation.

I have bird feeders and bird houses installed on the property. They get moved around the garden according to our life in particular months, and the cohabitation cycle of the wildlife. In the summer we unquestionably want the feeders adjacent to the porch so we can watch all the action. We find it amazingly entertaining and relaxing to watch the birds visit the feeders and brood young in the houses. Our guests also enjoy these activities. We have regular avian and human visitors and all activity revolves around both.  In the winter, we move the feeders to be adjacent to the kitchen window for good viewing. The type of birds that come rotate through the year, changing every month or two. It is a way to follow the cycle of life and seasons.  I have taken it as a challenge to research birds we should be seeing, and don't see and to devise a way to make them magically appear in the garden. This is not an easy prospect. Research is primary in this project, and with the research done I set my sails to accomplish my goals. This time the goal was to see and attract some woodpeckers to the garden.

Earlier by happenstance and serendipity I saw a Pileated Woodpecker, in fact I saw three of them at once! I have been looking to see one of these birds for about twenty years. They are shy and avoid human contact. Once or twice in the past I have seen parts of them, but not a full view. As soon as they discover I am in their area they depart. Last year I was sure I saw one fly over my neighbor's yard, and when I saw these three it was the validation that I did see it fly across my neighbor's yard...So with that history I threw down the gauntlet and decided to try to lure any kind of woodpecker to the garden. The good news is my project has born fruit!

Today was a big day at the feeder. I had a number of birds come that are new to the feeder. Yesterday I introduced a new food, so that surely worked in this project. I added whole corn to the feeders. I thought it would divert the attention of the squirrels and keep them busy, but instead it attracted some large birds to the feeders. My first new visitor happened by a day or two ago, but I did not see him eat until today.  It is a Brown Thrasher. My photo is not the best, but he was  a very happy camper eating the sunflower seeds, and last I saw him he grabbed a giant chunk of corn and headed for the trees. He was quite large, a beautiful Sienna Brown, and he was solitary...he came alone.

My next visitor, at least the next one I could photograph, was a Red Bellied Woodpecker. He is just the guy I was trying to lure. He started frequenting the yard and feeder when I put out some suet with chunks of corn and nuts in it. This has succeeded in making him a regular at the suet feeder. It seems he is much enamored of the whole kernels of corn I put out yesterday too. Nice! The coloring on this bird is nothing short of spectacular. He has a gray beige belly, red head and black and white striped back. He is just beautiful, and rather large.

I have two or three more woodpecker varieties that now come regularly, but I will cover them next time. The truth is, I need to take some good photos of them before I can share.  Till then!