Jeremy Herndon

I’ve always had a soft spot for our feathered friends.  I keep a pair of binoculars and a bird identification book close at hand so if I spot a bird I haven’t seen before I can get a closer look and try to figure out what it is.  From time to time I’m thrilled and blessed to spot a few American Bald Eagles near our house!  But sightings like that are few and far between.  I mostly see hawks, blue jays, robin red breasts, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, doves, nuthatches, finches and cardinals.  Once in a great while I see a Northern Bluebird – what a thrill that is to see that!  I see way too many turkey vultures and buzzards for my liking, though, if you know what I mean.  I understand that they are a protected species and I know that they have a job to do, but they give me the creeps! 

I’d like to put a few Quality birdhouses and birdfeeders in our yard to help care for the birds in our neighborhood.  I suspect that if I did that I’d see a lot more of them in the yard a lot more often.  I’m just not really sure what is the best kind of birdhouse.  I love the colorful and whimsical ones, but I’ve read that the plain ones are more attractive to the birds.  What do you think?