No defrosting/thawing required. Toss the chicken into the pot with however much water you use to make your stock, and away you go!

You took the words right out of my mouth! Me, too! I think a little birdbath would ideal for such, though it's my understanding birds are more attracted to running, trickling, or moving water.

How about maintenance of the Hummingbird feeder, Krissi? We've never owned a Hummingbird feeder, but from everything I have read about them, one has to be extra careful about boiling the sugar mix before filling the feeder, and being dedicated in the proper disinfecting of the feeder.

Great to hear from you! I didn't HS, but back in the 80's the HS movement was yet to be born, at least there wasn't a strong following Re:.

Here, too... though ours seem to forever be screeching. LOL! First bird spotted for the New Year is my little Song Sparrow friend.

Thanks for the insight, LC! I cherish the thought of having a few nest boxes or actual birdhouses out for our little guys.

TIA!

Sparrows and Finches are so fun to watch!

Do the birds regularly use the safe boxes you have? How about seasonal changes in the way the birds use them, or the frequency they use them, as in do you notice any changes as to them vacating the safe boxes at certain times of the year or during certain months?

My sentiment exactly!

This is our next step, building a few houses for the little ones. It's still dark here so nothing to note as far as the first bird of the year goes, but my guess is either a Mountain Chickadee or Red-Breasted Nuthatch will be the first. We also have what looks to be a Song Sparrow that visits daily.

Though I've never witnessed an attack, we have friends who have, and they said it was utterly amazing how adept Blue Jays are at avoiding capture. Due to the Hawks size, they don't have the maneuverability as smaller birds do, so in the case of the Blue Jays, our friends mentioned how the Jays stayed safely in the tree, staying completely calm, and hopped from lower branch to higher branch, lib to limb, again and again, until the Hawk moved on. I would have loved to witness such an event.

That sounds lovely, Patty! Thanks for that. What a credit to your friend Re: Cornell using pictures of his!

LOL! I remember as a kid thinking the name, Yellow Warbler, was funny!

I've never before witnessed a Hawk migration. We do see a Hawk or two on occasion, but typically they hunt away from our home and that suits me just fine, though one did startle me one day by flying right over-head in pursuit of prey. I often refer to organized groups as gatherings.