I've spent a lot of time at home by myself this spring/summer and

[Arkansas Granny]

I'm spending a lot more time watching the birds (and wildlife) in my yard.

I set up a new feeding station this year, so I'm offering a wider variety of food and attracting a lot of birds. They have gotten used to my presence that as long as I stay on the porch, they don't hesitate to come in within 15 feet to feed. I don't even need binoculars.

I've been surprised to see how long the juvenile birds hang out with parents after they leave the nest. The adults feed the young for a while, but after that, even if they beg, the babies have to feed themselves. It's been really interesting to see how they interact.

[MontanaMama]

1. How fun!

You are correct. Once those babies fledge, they’ve got to hustle for their own food. I’ve had a pair of robins nest in a hanging basket on my porch the last 3 years. They WAIT for me to get the baskets up and are quite impatient until I hang them around Mother’s Day. They always choose the same basket out of the 3 or 5 that I hang. Mama lays 4 eggs...it takes 14 days to hatch them and another 14 days until they fledge which is amazing to me. Then they lay a second clutch a week later! 8 babies each summer. They’ve grown to trust me and will allow me to gently water the flowers in the basket even while babies are in the nest. The parents are quite attentive after the babies fledge but the gravy train stops once the babies are on the ground. I do keep a cup of dried mealworms on the ground for them just in case.

[Ohiogal]

2. Watching birds is very interesting!

For a while, I had a feeder right outside my kitchen window so I got a real close up look at them. (I ended up having to move the feeder farther away for various reasons)

Here is one thing that astonished me. One day I saw what appeared to be an adult bird feeding another adult bird. I think they were just common sparrows. Hmm, I thought, why are they doing that? Well as I watched them, the bird on the receiving end seemed to have a lame wing. When he was done being fed, he hopped down onto the ground and flailed around a bit as if injured. And his friend came down to the ground, too, and fed him down there. He was taking care of his injured friend! So neat to witness.

[Walleye]

3. Once I saw an adult male cardinal feeding two juveniles

They were almost as big as he was. It was comical. The youngsters acted just like siblings competing and chirping for attention. Dad finally got exasperated and just tossed the food at them. I love watching the birds. I got to watch a hummingbird, this year, building a nest and hatching and raising two babies. They just fledged last week.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. I feed a lot of hummers, but have never found a nest.

[Walleye]

6. I hang out feeders and they come back every year

This one chose a branch about 35 ft over my deck. I got to watch with binoculars. The nest was a real work of art. I watched as she stuck little bits of leaves on the outside for camouflage. I got to see her feeding them and watch them fledge. I feel Mother Nature smiled on me. I have photos, but I don’t know haw to post them here.

[Shermann]

5. I get robins and morning doves building nests on my outdoor speakers

That's not a good location so I have to shoo them away.

The robins can build amazing nests. They are tightly woven and have a well-defined shape that is solidly built. The doves, on the other hand, employ substandard construction techniques. Their nests are little more than haphazard piles of sticks and leaves to lie on.

Maybe they don't have the expertise of the robins, or maybe they just aren't motivated as much?

[Arkansas Granny]

7. I posted earlier this spring about robins building a nest at my daughters house

on the blade of the ceiling fan on her porch. Before they could finish and lay eggs, she turned the fan on to discourage them. She said it would have been neat to watch, she can't sit outside without that fan. It's just too hot and humid around these parts.