Feeding the birds

This is our first year feeding the birds. We started with a small feeder in front yard and then added more feeders in our back yard. The birds prefer the back.

We were surprised by the attendance - and soon purchased "Birds of the Puget Sound Region (RW Morse) so we could learn who was feeding in our yard.

In December, some days we enjoyed nearly 100 birds at feeding time.

Here's a list of who we've seen so far:

• Western Bluebird (loyal returnees)
  
• European Starling (many in neighborhood, few feeding in our yard)
  
• Spotted Towhee (abundantly)
• Chirping Sparrow
• White-crowned Sparrow
• House Sparrow
  
• Dark-eyed Junco (abundantly)
• Purple Finch
• House Finch
• Evening Grosbeck (1-2 weeks and then gone)
• Northern Flicker
• Eurasian Mourning Doves (regulars beginning in Feb)
  
• American Crow (perching but not eating)