Hi Iowagal, where in zone 4 are you? Your finches are either very hungry or really tame. We have 3 feeders hung in our tree and all I have to do is step out the door and they are gone. I am however able to watch quietly as the hummers feed in the summer while I am on my knees and weeding in the flower beds. Today is a windy cold day and the blue jays, sparrows, finches, and cedar wax wings are busy right outside our window. They really appreciate the heated water, don't they? Mary

They are well fed at my house. But had a very hard time getting to couple finch feeders. Icey gravel drive. Have put LOTS of kitty litter. Bought very cheap kind that doesn't have anything in it but fill lime. Birds was eating it also. And big feeder with song bird feeder gets filled every day. Suet last about 5 days. So hard they have to peck HARD at it. They was all puffed up in the evergreen trees staying trying to stay warm.

I've been going through a gallon bucket of food every day since the ice storm. I have some special feeders for suet, niger seed and safflower. Then I have mixed seed along with cracked corn - yes, I even feed the pesky birds. The birds start chattering away when I walk out the back door every morning and I have a pair of doves who meet me at the feeders.

My goal this year is to plant more evergreens for winter cover for the birds.

Cricket

I looked out 2 days ago had about 50 cardinals. Got one big pine tree here the house and 10 20 foot ones end of property line. They like them on coldd windy days. We added up what we have spent on seed $140. But worth every penny. Get lot of enjoyment in watching them.

didn't you ever watch Grizzly Adams? he would step out his cabin door and wolves would come and rub up against his leg, birds land on his shoulder, bears lick his face. some just have that animal charm.

You've got cabin fever real bad; don't you, Javern? {{gwi:7286}}

IronBelly

I don't know about Javern, but I am right anxious to get out there and play in the mud and warm sunshine again.

We don't let our cat out in the winter because of the birds. We are trying to keep him a "Wabbit" specialist.

We picked up a little on the bird feed again this year, around 425 lbs. Wife says we are about out again.

Alors!