The weather's been so warm that they have no problem getting food on their own. Give it a little time and some colder weather and they'll be back.
Bill

I noticed it also....and it seems that starting in late Sept that they just quit coming to the feeders. I have the high quality seed, sunflower, thistle, suet cakes and water (during the driest Oct EVER!)....still nothing. Even the dove quit coming to eat the seeds that fall on the ground. Very unsual. I have cleaned out the feeders 2 different times. This area also backs up to a wooded area and we had constant feeding from last fall up till now. Hope you are right bill, as i worry about all the land clearing going on around us.

About the only one's I've seen near the ground lately are Finches and Brown Thrashers, although I hear calls of other species. They seem to prefer foraging vs. the feeders, which is a good thing, I suppose. It's never a good idea to make wild birds and animals dependent upon human offerings, but feeders and a source of clean water can be lifesavers during periods of severe Winter weather, like snow and ice.
Wait until the first snowfall or ice storm and they will pick your feeders clean! Last Winter, during our great "snowstorm" of about 2", the Robins and Towhees picked my Hollies and Nandinas clean in one day. Came back the following day and consumed all of the berries they dropped on the ground. Nice touch!
I have several sources of clean water for animals year around, but don't usually hang the feeders until after New Years.
Rb

I agree I usually have to fill my feeders once a week and this last time it's like they haven't even touched it. I was wondering the same thing.
I did change brands so I thought that might of been it.

cath

Anyone else noticed how many more red berries there are on most (not all) dogwoods this fall? I don't remember seeing so many in previous years. Could it be that the birds have a superabundance of berries to eat? Or maybe the squirrels have not had time to strip the dogwood berries because they are so busy with all the acorns this year. Old wives' tales would have it that we are therefore due for a hard winter.

I've noticed the same thing and was getting pretty worried, so I'm glad it's not just me or my yard. The squirrels and chipmunks and doves still keep coming around for water from birdbaths I have set out for them in about 5 different places, but that's about it for the last month or two. I had attributed it to my neighbor cutting down several large trees, even though my own yard has plenty of trees, because I couldn't find any other explanation. I just hope everyone comes back, because I was really used to watching the birds out my window, and I miss them!

I hope that's not the case! I love the birds!

Ya'll can come to Loganville and see them...I just filled my bird feeder and in 3 days all the seed was gone.

Last week there were a lot of birds around. This week, there don't seem to be any. I noticed this a couple of days ago. I saw some large goose-lookin things though. I don't know what they're called.

This year there has been an abnormal amount of natural food available for the birds so they are not coming to feeders as much as in the past. All of the berry crops are incredible as well as acorns, nuts,and seeds so they are using these sources of food now. I have gotten many calls from people asking why birds have deserted their feeders. I feel sure when weather becomes more severe with ice or snow and many of the natural foods are either gone or covered up, the birds will come back to the feeders.

I had a big slow down starting in September also. Now the Chickodee's are back. I think a saw a Titmice and Red Cardinal just yesterday. The hawks are flying high and sitting in the woods on branches looking for the next meal. The birds are cautious because they are being preyed upon

I have to agree with folks who have said the lack of birds is due to lots of natural food.....cause I also just remembered that I also have not seen any Squirrels! Not one!
If they are not raiding the feeders then there has to be more than enough food for all critters.

Eddie,
Earlier this summer it was eerily quiet in my normally bustling backyard. I mentioned it to my neighbor who had also noticed the same thing. It has gotten a little better since the cold weather has arrived. what is going on? It makes me sad.

They're back. My two feeders are getting the inevitable house finches (darn), cardinals, tons of bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, mockingbirds (of course),myrtle warblers, downy and yellow bellied woodpeckers, and carolina wrens. See, the cold weather works.
Bill

For a while I thought the lull was over when I started seeing a few more birds but now I am not so sure. I put out a suet cake three days ago and it has hardly been touched plus the black oil sunflower feeder that I usually can't keep full never seems to need filling anymore. I hope this is not some sort of "Silent Spring."
(I know it's winter, that's a reference to a book about pesticides killing all the birds)

We still don't have many birds, but there is construction going on 3 houses directly surrounding our yard, and much more street "traffic" along the sidewalk (yelling, screaming, boom cars, etc) so I think they have wisely decided that there are more quiet places to rest this winter.

GGG

In the last week I have been visited by a couple of titmice, a few dozen house finches, and dozens and dozens of doves. Yesterday along with the house finches came their sometimes-companions, a pair of goldfinches - one green and one almost-yellow. I was so happy to see them! Now if only the cardinals and woodpeckers would reappear in my yard, everything would be back to normal.