Bird tree

If any readers of this blog also read my recent column about decorating for the birds, here are a few additional facts. First, be patient. The birds will be afraid of the swaying and swinging additions to their favorite perching tree, and it will take a few days for the brave ones to use it. To that end, make the strings for pine cones etc. as short as possible to cut down on movement and keep the decorations close to branches. And I found that some popcorn and seed under the tree will attract ground feeders, and signal to other birds that the site is OK to visit. When one of by popcorn and peanut garlands fell off the tree, a whole flock of starlings found it almost immediately, and then the sparrows followed. It just takes time.