A Disappointing Start to Project Feederwatch

Hari Krishnan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Project Feederwatch started on November 1st. This is one of my favorite birding activities.

Admittedly, things always start a little slow as there is ample wild food available. But usually, I see something. I don't sit and watch my feeders for extended periods, but I do check them every time I walk by the window, which is often, since I serve as the dog butler, and their bladder must be the size of a peanut.

Not one bird the first week. Not one. You would think that I would at least see the level of bird seed going down. Nope. Even the squirrels left the feeders alone, even though they were running the dogs ragged. I feed the birds year around, so they know the food is there and usually partake. I feel a little better that some of my friends had similar outcomes the first week.

I was wondering if the issue could have been that I cleaned the feeders all at once just before the start of Feederwatch. However, I didn't use bleach and they were thoroughly rinsed and air dried before I put them back up. Usually, I do one at a time. Who knows? 

We are now in week 2 and I have seen two birds--a cardinal and a white-winged dove. I have heard a few other birds (robin, house finch, an blue jay) in the front yard, so I expect they will eventually make their way to the feeders. At least the level of food is going down this week.

They say patience is a virtue, but I have never been especially virtuous.

Good birding!