The Seed Kitchen

When my oldest daughter was about nine-years-old, she participated in a bird-feeding project with The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  Each day, she placed three different seed types on three different plates and recorded the results of which birds preferred specific seeds.  We were fortunate to have befriended an unconventional birding couple at the time, and we spent many afternoons bird-watching and bird-feeding as a family.  Over the next twenty years, the kids lost interest in the birding activities; however, my husband and I have become the unconventional birding couple.   

TODAY'S BIG STORY:  Each winter we re-open The Seed Kitchen, and we welcome back our fine feathered friends. We bring the seeds, and they bring the appetites. Some days we serve more than a hundred hungry visitors.  

The locals arrive first; then a few town birds follow as soon as the chirp spreads that The Seed Kitchen is open.

No discrimination based on color, size, or species is allowed, even though the cardinals do get a bit greedy.

Occasionally, we feed the more distinctive client...

 ...but usually we cater to the flocks.

Black sunflower seeds are The Seed Kitchen favorites, and they leave quite a mess for the clean up crew. Bussing the patio is just part of the bird bistro business. The human waitstaff knows that feeding this homeless population is top priority during the cold months of winter.

 

For now, The Seed Kitchen is the happening place; however, in the spring, most of our loyal visitors will find their own homes and food.  The doors of The Seed Kitchen will close until winter's first frost. Even though we may not see them for three seasons, we will be waiting for their return with a 50-lb. bag of bird seed and sign that reads...

BIRDS EAT FREE!

Dianne ; )