One reader reported the need for someone to get 40 pound bags of bird seed. Note the plural.
We did that routinely in Phoenix. My mother lived in her half of the house, and she love loved feeding the birds. We had no squirrels to eat the supply. We even bought "dove blocks" of seed to in-between snacking. The sacks were black oil sunflower seeds.
Mom would scatter seed all over the back yard. Then, as a final gesture, fling an entire scoop across the area. It was a very large scoop, the kind used to fill an entire bird feeder.
The birds decided they found Paradise in the desert. We ran the rock waterfall to attract birds and provide shallow puddles of water for them. Migrating birds looked down at the waterfall noise, because birds like moving water.
Birds do not hide a favorite location but sing about it to all their friends. Soon we had birds that rested on the pool fence all day, awaiting their next meal. We often had birds in the house because they wandered in when we were going in and out to the backyard. I was in charge of bird removal from the house because "those are your birds."
More than once a workman was frightened by 50 doves taking off at once, with their noisy wings and alarm calls. We were used to the sound, but the occasional visitor was not. I was admonished to warn the unsuspecting city slickers.
We had mourning doves, rock doves, white winged doves, and Inca doves. One time the Inca doves stacked themselves up against the kitchen bay window, to keep warm one cold desert night. They were lined up like they were bird bricks, three high, keeping one another warm. I only saw that once.
Birds flock to food and water, sharing their treasures with all the birds, including some predators.
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| In Springdale, this squirrel concluded the bird swing was built for him to rest on - while stealing everything from the bird feeder. |
