Open Open Open the feeder is open for Benicia Birds, at least we wanted it to be! My husband and I have become our parents but we live in Benicia Ca.  My parents loved to watch birds.  My dad had a finch feeder right outside his window in London, Ohio.  It was a hoot to watch the finches clutch the feeder upside down and eat the thistle.  My step dad would take old bread and throw it out on the alley for the birds to eat in Columbus, Ohio.  He had some Blue Jay friends who loved his peanuts and the red Cardinals were beautiful. My mom would moan about all the bird poop.

Several Saturdays ago, when I actually took a day off, we went to Birds Unlimited in Pleasant Hill.  We decided to get a bird feeder for our backyard.  We have open space behind the fence and already get critters in the fields (read my blog Benicia Wildlife - Oh Deer)  We do not see many birds like the colorful ones in London and Columbus Ohio.  We do have sleek black birds some with red on the wings.  The brown birds, which I think are sparrows, timidly move amongst the black birds.  The hummingbirds will flit by and land on flowers in our neighbor's yard.

But we wanted finches, we wanted to laugh at their antics just like what we saw in Ohio.  Our first goal was to buy a finch feeder and we were not even sure if there were finches around Benicia.  That is how naive we are.  I do not admit any intelligence about birds but I sure can enjoy them! (outside)

We walked away with a finch feeder (yes we have finches in Benicia) and another bird feeder for the rest of the birds and a indestructible hummingbird feeder.  As soon as we got home, my husband filled the feeders up and hung them on a shepherd's hook. We placed the hummingbird feeder along the fence.  This was about 3PM.

All afternoon we sat with our noses pressed to the windows, saying OPEN, OPEN, OPEN the feeder is OPEN for Benicia Birds. 

No birds swooped by to taste the delectable feast we put out. No finches flitted over to hang on the feeder just for them.  Boy were we disappointed.  The saleslady at Birds Unlimited said it may take a while.  Geez, couldn't they smell the aroma and see the fresh seeds and thistle we so attractively displayed?

We went to bed disappointed and were gone the next day.  However when we got home Sunday afternoon, lo and behold, the bird feeder was 1/3 gone!  But we did not see any birds.  and we waited with our noses pressed to the windows.  Hey, there is one, oh my goodness, now there are 30!!  And those blackbirds get mean with each other.

Still no finches, the birds we really, really, really wanted to see.  Several days later my husband texted me, we got finches! They found us!  They know we are OPEN for dinner in Benicia!  Since then we have enjoyed their antics although California ones do not eat upside down, none the less they are a source of enjoyment.

IF you want a great holdiay idea, think of a bird feeder!  OPEN, OPEN, OPEN The feeder is open for Benicia Birds!