I am having more and more success with my bird feeding station.
Last night we had not just our usual pair (m/f) of cardinals visit at dusk, but a small FLOCK of them: three males and two females.
Today, my daughter and I spied a new visitor, and quite an attractive one: A white crowned sparrow (see specimen picture below)
If you have not had success at your feeder, you may want to keep trying and be CONSISTENT. Keep it filled and common birds will take note. Their activity will be noticed by other birds in the area and soon you will have a variety of species to watch. Another option or addition is a birdbath , but again, be sure (at least in warm months) to dump out the water each day and refill it to prevent mosquito and/or algae growth. I also use a scrub brush from the dollar store to remove any bird poop, algae, etc, before I refill it.
My 4 year old is so enthusiastic about identifying the birds that visit and she has gotten quite good at it, even distinguishing males from females in certain species! This feeding station is visible from her bedroom window so its a fun pastime, and brings a little bit of the outdoors inside, especially during this cold, dank weather.
