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Oh cool! I see you have upside down suet feeders! The Grackles and Starlings come every year in March and gobble up all the suet until July from the wonderful native woodland Virginia birds! I loathe them so. They eat it all. I am now trying my best to keep suet out for a lovely Flicker. Even now I see her in a knothole ..and I think I wow if she would nest there! Its close to a suet feeder I remember years ago my father made upside down suet feeders. I thought it was his own creation. Perhaps he had seen them in Birds and Blooms or a Virginia Wildlife magazine. This was about 20 yrs ago, I suppose. And every year, almost, I mention those to him Because of my frustration. He's elderly now. Maybe I need to research them. I love the blackbirds. And the Redwings that come (I call them admirals) with the starlings and grackles are delightful. There used to be an old barn that was still in prime condition (100 yrs old) but the Y burned it down to make a hideous housing development. Barn owls, screech owls and 1000"s of barn and tree swallows called it home. It's such a shame. I never see swallows anymore. Thank you, for your lovely channel. I feed 100's of birds and many varieties. All year. I used to have cockatoos and fed them baked sweet potatoes, the robins loved the. Left overs I think they are even eating the homeless cat's kibbles because it is so dry. I sure hope we get rain this weekend!

What part of St. Louis?

I live in Lemay

@@jeannineroche5669 I practically need a passport to get that far from home.

I'm glad you enjoyed rhe movie--though I'm a little surprised to hear from you in July. That's interesting that you've seen the same thing, a squirrel eating a dead bird during a severe cold snap.

Aww, thanks, Nate.

Maybe House Finches singing? We'll see.

Cathy, I missed your reply until now, but I appreciate your response and sympathize about the fracture. How much is that going to affect your ability to film? Filming is a two handed procedure, and a fracture could take months to heal. Sounds like you're getting out of this winter with less pain than I've had but with an injury that could hamper you even longer than my eye injury will. I was pleased to see widespread approval from my viewers for this movie despite the grisly footage. It was, because of those shots, a more emotionally charged movie than I usually post.

Thanks for your concern Jo. Wrist is mending and physical therapy is helping a lot. Things are manageable, just slower and more frustrating than before but okay. I think you produced a realistic view of how wildlife endures or not. Maybe cause I'm a New Yorker but I prefer reality over the Pollyanna view. Life isn't easy for most on this planet and maybe seeing how hard it can be will cause more compassion and action. At least I hope it will.

@@quote_nature Amen. Well, that's not a word I usually use, but it seems appropriate after what you said. I'm glad to hear that your wrist isn't as much of a problem as I was imagining.

I love to hear that you do. Thanks.

I had not heard the term prosthetic eye. The doctors told me that I might eventually need a glass eye--it's probably not even made of glass anymore, right? We one-eyed jacks have to stick together. Right now, my eye is swollen closed so that I look like someone with a frozen blink. They tell me this too shall pass.

Love to hear it, Connor, and thanks. As for dragonflies, yes, they eat tons of mosquitoes.

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That's interesting that you saw a bird pecking at a dead Starling. In fact, your whole description was good to read.

Glad to help, sir sadist. Just kidding, of course. The movie is definitely informative.

Only just found your response, Tom. Did your bluebirds--as far as you know anyway--survive?

Good luck with your project. I hope you don't have too awfully many invasives.

Thank You. I know there will be plenty of chicks and tiggers...

He was out there morning and afternoon usually. The birds didn't empty the feeders, but they ate enough so that he had to refill them that often. I wondered too about the bacteria growing more slowly in the cold. That's possible; he just doesn't want to take chances. He didn't see any House Finches with eye disease this year. He attributes that to being diligent about cleaning the feeders. I'm glad you enjoyed the movie so much; I thought it was engrossing

Just call me David.

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME No you're Jo Allwood. You know your subjects intimately too. Your videos are just as interesting. I think you were right to show the squirrel eating the bird and the birds that had died from the cold. It's just nature as it is. Like you say "It's not Disney" Xx

Glad you enjoyed it.

We don't get bluebirds, but other areas in St. Louis do, and I had acquaintances bemoaning the death of their bluebirds.

Me too. And I wish more of us did.

That was an interesting story about your Robin. Thanks for telling me. Like you, I hope he’s happy somewhere. I’m doing pretty well healthwise, thank you.

Yes, Will. And did you recognize the Eurasian Tree Sparrows. You get them where you live, but in the States, they're only in the St. Louis area.

That is nice to know, Jo. Indeed I have them regularly in my garden in Amsterdam...

Breaking up peanuts, almonds and walnuts does help more birds to enjoy the nuts. I cut up bars of suet in flat bowls too. Good thot!

I didn't think of crunching the nuts up until earlier today when I was reading a comment from someone whose bluebirds died and I wondered if that might have helped them. Oh well, the movie is posted now, and I can't add that suggestion. But thanks. Justa Thot seems to be the perfect screen name for you.

I"m only now getting around to answering, but I couldn't let this fun bit of wit go unacknowledged, Tom.

I understand about the squirrel shot. My sister told me the same thing.

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME good to know I'm not the only one.

I injured my eye, as I explained in this short vid: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/p5OkhtxjytWvg2w.html

Thank you, Katya. I'm happy to see that you like my movies enough to watch several of them.