There is something very special about watching a new day begin with the birds. From quiet darkness, to the first early chirps, to the first few winged visitors, building to the busy activity of dozens, local birds are a big part of the start of each new day. If you pay attention, you are likely to see patterns in bird activity in your yard. Every yard is different and every day is different, but this is the pattern I see on a typical winter morning in my yard.
Summer backyard birds can be a more relaxed crowd. While some may be raising a second brood of young, there are more food sources around. They come to the feeders, but are less urgent.
When you feed birds in a big way year-round like I do, you find there is no perfect year-round arrangement of bird feeders. Sometimes you need to reassess things and move a feeder.
The bird population in the yard is not stagnant. Some birds stick around with a fairly predictable daily schedule. Others are only here for a season and then migrate out again. Some stop by for a day or two and move on. And yet more discover the bird feeder buffet and become new regulars.
Some changes in the bird population don’t make a big impact, while others change the whole dynamic of the yard. That is when I find myself moving feeders around again to find the perfect setup for the new situation.
