Spring is definitely in the air here in the Copper Country. Bob Gilreath has two good examples in his photos today. The small finches are back at the feeders. The ones in Bob’s shots are the Common Redpoll, with the small red cap and the males also have a tinge of red on their breast and neck feathers. These birds are enjoying the thistle in the feeders. Bob says he likes when the birds “rain” down from the trees to get at the feeders, which is always neat to see and fun to watch.

Bob’s second sign of spring are those bright yellow crocuses, bursting out of the ground. They are just coming up, so they’re still all tightly wrapped and looking like a small rocket. Before you know it, the petals will spread out and open. The new beginnings of spring are always great to see.

Our video is a short clip Bob was able to film of those Redpolls busily working at getting the thistle seeds for their dinner. It’s nice that they can share the feeder, rather than some birds that have to chase all the others away to have the feeder to themselves.

Hi
Looks neat. It also looks like squirrels would
have trouble with that feeder.

Downstate, the crocuses have come & gone. But we
did have some forsythia blooms on our table for
our Easter dinner.

Thistle seed is pricey.

Also..if you have squirrels in your feeders,
baffles work awesome. Just make sure the squirrels
can't jump to the feeders...they can really jump!

Strange you still have redpolls this time of year. Usually they are already headed for the Arctic to breed.

All of our small birds have left for the north; all we have now are several varieties of blackbirds and doves, mockingbirds, a couple starlings, and a robin. We too have squirrels and it's a never ending battle to keep them out of the feeders.

We feed the birds year round with the feeders midway on a shielded cable between two trees about 25 ft apart and about 6-7 ft above the ground. Along the cable from one end to the feeder are strung plastic soda (pop) bottles with holes drilled into the bottoms, with a few old CDs placed between them for good measure. Same thing on the other side of the feeders. The squirrels won't even try any more, even the new broods. Finally outsmarted the little buggers! Birds get to dine in peace.

Nice, however I feel extremely birdened.