Spotted Towhee photo taken by a friend

[William Seger]

(Edited name, thanks petronius.) I hope no one minds me posting my friend's photos here (which I'm copping from Facebook). I'm not really much of a birder myself -- yet -- but I do like photography and birds and these photos have inspired me to give it a try. I don't really have a good place to put up a feeder (mainly due to a large number of neighborhood cats, and almost all of the food I put in feeders in the past was going to squirrels anyway), but come spring I'm planning some field trips.

[petronius]

1. Wonderful picture, your friend had talent! But I think that's a spotted towhee

rather than a grosbeak...

[William Seger]

2. You're right!

Thanks! I'll let him know.

[CrispyQ]

3. Great shot!

Did your friend plan the complementary background?

[Curmudgeoness]

4. I don't mind you posting the photos.....

I am so impressed with the pictures. Incredible. I enjoy seeing them.

I don't know what your yard is like, but if you have any trees or bushes, they will give cover to the birds to escape the cats (usually). And I have given up and feed the squirrels as well as the birds. It took me a long time (a year or more) to get a lot of birds coming regularly to the feeders, but after 20 years in this location, these birds are descendents of those first birds who have been taught to eat here. As are the squirrels. Or you can use a pole with a baffle to discourage squirrels and keep the feeders up away from cats. You should try it, and give it time. It is one of my forms of entertainment.