We’ve fed the birds for years and have loved every penny we’ve spent on suet and black oil sunflower seeds. Close at hand is a Roger Tory Peterson Field Guide and every species that shows up gets noted with the day and year it first appeared at our feeders. I’m pretty sure that if it weren’t for bar hopping, I could have gotten into bird watching as a hobby when I was younger.

Not, being younger, however, has moved me to install a feeding station that has a more favorable view from my favorite chair. It started as a desire to attract the squirrel population since lots of them live in our woods and they are great fun to watch. So, I went to Tractor Supply one day and bought a cedar corn feeder for squirrels, along with a 50 lb bag of shelled corn and a bunch of corn still on the cob. Several weeks later I’ve yet to see a squirrel taking advantage of the free and easy food. They run up and down the tree but have yet to stop and check out the snacks.

On the other hand, the birds love the new feeder and I’ve added a few additions to make it even more attractive. I started mixing in some sunflower seed with the shelled corn and the nuthatches loved that. The blue jays and red-bellied woodpeckers opt for the corn but are just fine with the seeds as well.

Yesterday I saw a video about bird feeding and it suggested that birds love peanut butter. I looked on Amazon for peanut butter feeders but decided I could improvise something simple with just a couple of milk jug caps. One problem with putting a large supply of PB at the station is it being devoured by the possums and raccoons that show up most evenings and clean up the leftover cat food.

As I write this I’m looking out the window waiting to see that first feathered creature dipping its beak into the peanut butter. And not to disappoint, a nuthatch just landed and found the PB I smeared on part of a corn cob. I know they talk with each other and it won’t be long before the word gets out.

Our total feeding station now consists of two sunflower feeders, two suet feeders, the corn feeder, a couple of corn pegs nailed into the tree trunk, two peanut butter feeders, and a hanging container that we keep filled with hair clippings and threads that some birds use to line their nest in the spring.

Oh, and from early spring until late fall the hummingbird feeders go into action. Guess what our children’s inheritance is being spent on?