My hummingbirds stopped showing up at the feeder about a month ago; I don't know why, since my cousin, Betty, said she was still seeing them a couple of weeks ago. I have an idea I had fewer birds than she did, out here in the pasture. So maybe my small flock just decided to migrate sooner.
Anyway, I've missed them. So I decided that, for the first time in my life, I'd get some feeders for all the birds that winter around here, and watch them.
Do you know how expensive wild bird seed is? Good grief! The little feeders aren't cheap, either. I refuse to pay $30 for a plastic feeder; the cheapest ones I found were still over $10, and I reluctantly paid the price.
I first thought I'd wasted my money, because the feeders just sat there, not visited by a single bird that I ever saw. Thank goodness Cliff happened upon an article in the Kansas City Star that said indeed, the birds know the feeders are there; it's just that there's still plenty to eat everywhere else.
I did notice lots of birds perching on the fence in the back yard, near the feeder. Finally about a week ago, I looked out to see finches hanging all over the thing. Exciting? You bet!
It seems they are checking out the feeders in the afternoon before the sun starts to set, because that's when I see them there.
You can see I do not plan my entries ahead; otherwise I'd have taken these pictures in daylight. 
Nope, I'm not one for planning ahead. I ventured out through the frosty grass and took pictures at six A.M.
