Birds are behaving strangely in my backyard this fall

With autumn now about ten days in, bird activity at one Maine backyard has shifted—alongside leaf blowers and preparations for winter. The writer keeps just one platform feeder stocked with sunflower seeds, aiming to teach birds the yard is a food source while limiting the risk of attracting bears with a large meal. Red-breasted and white-breasted nuthatches, plus chickadees and titmice, have been feeding heavily, while blue jays have largely ignored the feeder. The author plans to expand feeding once bears den up, including nyjer for small finches and suet for others. A key part of the routine is cleaning to prevent mold and disease from droppings.