Barry

I live on 10 acres of forested land in Central Texas.  I have several vegetable gardens around the house.  I have one bird feeder that seems to be left alone by squirrels and racoons.  On the other side of the house I have a pedestal water fountain.  I want to provide more water for the birds near the feeder, but we have a very affectionate, young feral cat that has shown up and we feed her to hopefully keep down the mice and snake population.  I don't want her harming the birds though.  As far as I know she hasn't yet and she's been with us a few months now.  Most of the birds that I see come to the feeder are Northern Cardinal, Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse and Carolina Chickadee.  None of them seem to be interested in keeping down the grasshopper population that eats up my vegetables though.  I used to have a Red Tailed Hawk in a tall pine tree in the woods behind the house.  That pine died and the hawk moved on.  I have see Texas Roadrunners in my area and saw a Loggerhead Shrike a month or two ago up on a tree.   The Merlin app identified a Screech Owl this year also.  It has been many years since I've seen a painted bunting here. I hope to encourage a greater variety of species to stop by for a bite and a drink!  Especially songbirds.  I'd love to be able to get Mockingbirds to visit! But what I've learned is that I need a larger variety of food types for the birds.  I have acorns from Oaks, Pine Cones, Mesquite seed pods, Yaupon Holly berries, Prickly Pear Cactus and not near enough flowers other than what is on my vegetables.