As soon as I saw Gauri’s post in the A to Z Challenge, B for Birdfeeder, about making bird-feeders at home, I decided I was going to make one for myself. After all as the Birdwali Aunty I had to do my bit for the neighborhood birds. If in the course of it I could click a few pictures, well wouldn’t that be just awesome?! I announced my decision at dinner time to the L & M (Lord & Master to newbies). I had already told the dog about it and warned it to behave itself when the birds started coming. But all that was in the future, a near future which I looked at with starry eyes.
What followed the announcement-at-the-dining-table was predictable. The L & M took over the matter, right from getting the wooden spoons to hanging the finished product. My role got relegated to standing around twiddling thumbs, making a suggestion or two, and also giving plenty of encouraging smiles. The last of course is absolutely essential to show that your heart is in the right place and you appreciate very much what’s being done for you by your spouse, which incidentally is something you very well could have done on your own.
Anyways, once the bird-feeder was ready and hung up for the birds to feed themselves from, the wait began. There are quite a few birds in the vicinity, but surprisingly enough, none were found flocking to have their fill from the feeder. Where were all of them? Gauri had assured me that they would indeed come a-calling. I waited and waited and waited and waited. No luck. I grew despondent and then some more. There was only one thing to do, carry the grievance to the ears of the only person available, the L & M. So one weekend, I wailed to him dramatically,
“No birds are coming to the feeder. None at all!”
“Hmm”
“Gauri said they do at her place, you know.”
“Hmm”
“Why aren’t they coming to our bird-feeder?! I so want to click them!”
The L & M smiled in answer and turned the pages of the newspaper. Looking at the rustling newspaper, I added jokingly:
“Maybe we should take out an ad in the newspaper to let the birds know there is a feeder put up for them here!”
“That won’t work,” came the serious and immediate reply from the L & M.
I looked up in surprise. I had meant it in jest. But still I was curious to know why he thought it wouldn’t work.
“Eh? Why not?”
Pat came the answer,
“Your birds have not learnt to read yet.”
😮 
Now I am waiting for the birds to first attend school, get their school-leaving certificate, at which point I shall put an ad in the newspapers and they can finally get to know of the bird-feeder awaiting them. In the meantime I’d be only too happy to play host to any illiterate birds around. Any takers?
Shail's Nest 
The bird feeder looks so cute. Gauri’s DIYs are awesome. The birds will come in due time I guess. For my bird feeder at home, they took 4 days. They don’t come now because a cat drinks from the birdbath. Bad kitty. 😦
Oh, it is more than four days now! I think I have less of grain eating birds around 😦
Aww… that’s sad about birds not coming.
Hahaha! Well am verbally advertising your birdfeeder to my illiterate friendly neighbourhood visitors…let me know if any of them drop by! 😉
Thank you, Preeti 😉 I definitely will 😛
what a neat birdfeeder and you got it in exchange of just smiles. killer deal ,I must say.
Wait ,wait I am sure the birds will come soon. I think someone did verbal advertising as ‘feeding and shooting done here’ and they got scared. Do check with Preeti.
I agree, it was a killer deal 😉 😛 Omg, do you think the ‘shooting’ is what’s keeping them away! 😮 😀
shail the bird feeder looks awesome! You could possibly increase the amount of grain in the bottle, and maybe place it under a. tree or something, that should work. I got a lot of pigeons and sparrows near my place, so getting them to come eat was not difficult, until little S pulled it out and threw it down. It now lies sadly on the balcony shed of the family staying on the floor below 😦
It’s all trees and more trees all around here, Gauri. You know, like a friend suggested may be it is that grain eating birds are less. The Sunbirds prefer honey and the Barbet goes for fruits, Kingfishers want worms/lizards and so on. But I do hope the Bulbuls and mynas make an appearance. We don’t have sparrows or pigeons! I have seen a couple of pigeons in the apartment block in the next street.
I hope you will make another bird-feeder and have it up soon 🙂
The feeder is lovely. Maybe illiterate birds prefer some other kind of seed.
Lol, yes looks like that, Sally 😉
That looks lovely! I’m sure the birds are just waiting to give you a surprise with may be a new species that you haven’t clicked yet. :-).
Oh wow! looks for the sugar and ghee bowl to feed a spoon of the mixture to Rekha
hahha ! Birds will come soon. Be patient. This looks so cool. Have read it on Gauri’s blog too – I remember. Your hardwork will be paid off….
Patience 😉 ! Till then think of the innovative ad and write a post on it 🙂
good day
Patience is the watch word, eh? 🙂
LOL!! Waiting for literate birds!!
Maybe the feeder is in too open a space. If you hang it near trees where they can escape, if needed, they may find it safer to investigate!
Show me a place with no trees in God’s own country, Roshni! 😉 All the while I was thinking the trees are hiding it 🙂