It's time to put your bird feeders out, birdseed, tallow blocks and all. But, mind you, it's not for the birds, it's really for you.

A few years ago we attended a talk on birds and bird feeders and learned (I didn't know this) that bird feeding, whether in the winter or year round, is really not a charitable act to save the poor birds from starving otherwise. The birds were around before you and I came along with our bird feeders and survived the winter just fine. They are not relying on our seeds. Instead, we learned during the talk, bird feeders are strictly for our own pleasure - me-perspective allowed.

We attract the birds for our own enjoyment. And what's wrong with that? Nothing. Life is about experiences. I love watching the birds fluttering around the feeder, as do our cats from behind the window. The birds' colors are especially beautiful and bright when there is snow on the ground. We placed our bird feeder so we can observe it while sitting on our living room sofas. I've got a whole case of bird seed in the basement for a long winter of bird watching enjoyment.