By Jess Garby, Darcy Thomas, and Molly Miller
Creston Report by Jess Garby
Nestled among agricultural fields is a ten-acre bird oasis carefully crafted by Craig Hohenberger over the years that he has lived in Creston. By planting native grasses, forbs, and trees, Craig has created habitat that invites birds back to the landscape. I’m fortunate to rent a small cabin on this property, where Craig has been feeding birds for more than a decade, long enough that many species know this spot well.
At my station, a single suet block has attracted three individual Northern Flickers and a Downy Woodpecker. I also maintain three seed feeders stocked with a variety of mixes. They are routinely emptied by Red-winged
Blackbirds, House Finches, and American Goldfinches. This month’s excitement was a visit from an American Robin!
Kalispell Report by Darcy Thomas
My personal Project FeederWatch site is at my home, Ballymurray. So far this year, I have completed two counts with a total of 12 birds. My feeding setup includes peanuts in the shell, black oil sunflower seeds, suet, and mealworms. The highlight has been watching a pair of Downy Woodpeckers chase each other around before deciding which feeder to visit. Their antics bring wonderful energy to the yard on otherwise quiet winter days.
Whitefish Report by Molly Miller
My feeding station includes four feeders (two hopper feeders and two large tube feeders), each filled with a different seed mix. This year, I’ve also added a heated dog bowl as a winter bird bath. Throughout November, I recorded almost no visits, but after temperatures dropped and snow blanketed my yard in early December, activity picked up. I began to see solitary Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees and a pair of Dark-eyed Juncos. The juncos prefer to dominate the hopper feeders, while the chickadees opt for the tubes. So far, no one has tried the bird bath.
Because of bear concerns, the tube feeders are hung high under the porch roof, out of reach. Until colder temperatures settle in for good, I still bring in the hopper feeders each night.
I’m hopeful that more feathered visitors will appear in the coming weeks, so please stay tuned for next month’s report!
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