Birds and Squirrels

I have been having fun watching the critters and taking photos of them out of windows. They all take off when I open the door to take photos.

The first 3 were taken 12/29. I am pleased to see sparrows and black-eyed juncos eating seeds from goldenrods and rudbeckias. This is 'Wichita Mountains' goldenrod.

I'm not sure how the birds are getting the seeds from the feeders to fall inside the fence. I suppose there is some on the other side, too, but I am wondering if they know they are safer from cats inside the fence. I see birds on the sidewalk outside the back door every day.

We were running out of bird feed, the other day, so I air popped some plain popcorn and put it on the rain barrel and a couple other places. I'm not sure if any birds ate it, but the squirrels did.

The top of the fence is a favorite perch of birds like this sparrow, and later, you'll see the squirrels like it, too.

The next several photos were taken yesterday, New Years Eve. I've read that these house sparrows came from England a number of years ago, and are not desirable to have around. I just read an article about them where they encourage people to control them because they kill bluebirds and other cavity nesters and take over their birdhouses. We have sparrows build a nest on the air conditioner outside our bedroom window every year. Do any of you have experience with sparrows? They seem to get along OK with other kinds of birds in the winter. I've seen the blue jays, this week, but must not have gotten photos of them.

Larry got the kind of bird food that cardinals are supposed to like, that does not have millet in it, and just a little cracked corn. Sparrows and squirrels aren't supposed to like safflower, but the sparrows here were eating it when the other food was out.

I'm enjoying the black-eyed juncos.

I was excited when I counted 6 doves among the sparrows. I couldn't move fast enough to get them all in a photo, but there are 3 and a half of them in this one.

This one was right outside the back door this morning.

I looked up to see 2 squirrels.

After taking photos, I decided to open the door so they would run off and give the birds another turn.

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