I’m excited to start blogging my weekly bird feeder counts and observations from Minnetonka, Minnesota. I live in a suburban area, but thankfully have a lot of trees and spaces for wildlife near my balcony. This blog series is part of me signing up for Project Feederwatch this year!
Here’s my current bird feeder set up:
- A hopper bird feeder with sunflower chips (planning to mix in peanuts and millet soon).
- A birch tree suet feeder with peanut suet plugs
- A squirrel-proof feeder with more sunflower chips
Project FeederWatch officially started on November 1st and I’ve been logging for the weekend, when I’m able to watch more often. Here’s my official count for the weekend:
- 10 House Sparrows
- 6 Dark-Eyed Juncos
- 4 House Finches
- 2 American Goldfinches
- 2 Black Capped Chickadees
- 2 Downy Woodpeckers
- 2 Northern Cardinals
- 1 White-Breasted Nuthatch
Here are some fun things I’m noticing at my feeders right now!
Several American Crows stopped by my feeders a couple times this week. They’re pretty timid and usually hop up to my feeders looking for peanuts or peanut flavored suet. The Crows usually take a quick stab at the suet and take some to go.
Flocks of Northern Cardinals congregate at my bird feeders when the sun is setting, usually a little after 6 p.m. currently. Some of the local Cardinals still appear to be paired up as couples when they visit my feeders, though they appear less territorial and are willing to share space at the feeders.
Related Content: 5 Ways to Attract Cardinals to a Bird Feeder
The American Goldfinches are completely olive colored at this point. They usually molt their brighter feathers in the late summer and many stick around in Minnesota through the winter. I notice that Goldfinches in my neck of the woods tend to flock with other birds like House Finches and House Sparrows. They blend in and are tougher to spot for my bird counts.
Related Content: Here’s what Goldfinches like to eat and their favorite bird feeders
I’m looking to add more to my future updates, but my wife and I are traveling to Italy soon and I need to pack! Chao!