You eat like a bird!

We enjoy providing our feathery neighbors with victuals of their own. Creating an inviting environment for birds will help our kitchen garden fight the bugs that come to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

February has always meant goldfinches. They show up earlier in small groups, but the hordes always seem to arrive in February. And true to form, over the last few days there have been at least 100 of these hungry guys at the feeders-devouring all the seeds in sight. We have two large tube feeders with black oil sunflower seeds as well as a mix w/ millet, sunflowers and lord knows what else. We also have a cool double sock thistle feeder especially for the finches. And rounding it out, a couple of suet baskets. We tend to fill the tube and sock feeders every three days once the posse arrives. We also have a little clear plastic house-shaped feeder with suction cups attached for sticking it right to your window-so you can see the feeding up close. Here's a goldfinch who has gorged him/herself and, consequently, passed out.

Ahhhhhhhh....just like grampa after Thanksgiving dinner.

Waking up after a five minute "bird nap".

After you watch the way these little guys put away the groceries, you have to wonder about the phrase "you eat like a bird"...because birds can really pack it away. I'm counting on this when those hornworms and earworms start showing up...unfortunately, the goldfinches will be in the Hamptons by then, but our cardinals, chickadees and titmice will take care of it.

Side note-carrots, beets and radishes planted today. According to the farmers' almanac  today was a good day to plant root veggies. Let's hope the moon agrees.