When I added a new suet feeder to my garden, I expected the usual customers to find it fairly quickly. Instead, things didn’t quite go as planned.
The feeder was hung in a new location, but for a while, there was surprisingly little activity. Then a large party of Steller’s jays arrived. They are infrequent visitors to my property, where a pair of territorial ravens typically keeps them at a distance.
Pacific Northwest native Steller’s jays are striking electric blue birds with mohawks and a definite punk aesthetic. They are also confident and assertive at the feeders, often dominating the space and sending smaller birds scattering. Their loud calls certainly make their presence known! While they may not be among my most frequent or favorite visitors, I appreciate having them as part of the diverse bird community in my garden.
After a few days of the Steller’s jay takeover, I moved the feeder closer to my birdbath, a familiar gathering spot for many of my regular visitors. Almost immediately, the neighborhood changed. Chickadees and Pine Siskins returned, several species of woodpeckers discovered the new food source, and Towhees are back to pecking at the ground for scraps. The usual garden visitors quickly worked the feeder into their morning routines.
Watching the birds interact around the feeder has been just as interesting as watching them discover it. Some share the space, some patiently wait their turn, and others are determined to shoo everyone else away. Even in a busy garden, there seems to be an unspoken hierarchy and plenty of negotiation.
The feeder may be new, but the bird politics are exactly the same.
For now, the balance has been restored, and I’m enjoying watching the usual customers discover their newest snack bar.
The suet feeder was provided to me by Kingsyard to try in my garden. All observations and opinions are my own.