Maybe I'm wrong, but it sounds to me like something else is going on there. Are there other predators around that could be a danger to birds? Any spraying of toxic pesticides in your area? What about other people who live in the area...do they see birds? It sounds like quite a mystery! I've noticed much less birds, butterflies, etc. in a city near me during times of year when they're spraying for mosquitos and West Nile. It makes quite a noticeable difference and it's extremely sad!

Hi Linda: I never thought of pesticides. Come to think of it I have not seen a ground hog, skunk, or racoon lately either. The ground hogs always attacked my swiss chard, and ate the apples which dropped from my tree. There are definitely no pesticides on my property and the neighbours on either side have small kids and work so they just plunk in a few annuals from the nursery each year. We live in the suburbs and there are a few farms nearby: mostly corn and strawberries. However, they have recently been bought out by a larger outfit and I wonder about their methods. I commented to neighbours recently that you don't see any worms in the corn, which were present when 'old Henry' ran the farm organically. I must investigate this more fully. I definitely have fewer bees, and I have seen several yellow jackets rather slow moving and listless. I get some butterflies attracted to my Blue Fortune, but that's about it. It really is sad. I must make an effort to check other parts of the neighbourhood. Thanks for your ideas.