Hello from Indiana

My name is Monty, as most of you already know. I've been a bird watcher since my early teens. My parents began winter-feeding the birds in the ' 70's when I was a kid. Didn't take long until the den window became my entertainment. I would watch the birds eat from morning until night.

I don't know exactly when I became interested in cavity-nesting birds. I think it was when I was watching a house wren building its nest in a tree cavity down by the lake while my cousin and I were fishing. I found the bird in the bird book, read up on it, and began trying to attract it to our backyard.

Some time (years) later, I'd read an article about "Beginning your own Bluebird Trail". I was intrigued. I began reading all the books --this was before the internet-- about bluebirds I could find. My obsession had begun. Interestingly enough, I don't remember much mention about house sparrows, their damage, or their control in those books. It was firsthand knowledge.

Thankfully, when I began my fledgling trail, I had two great neighbors that I walked with down our "old mile road", on a daily basis. It was then that I picked their brains; "what to do?" Unfortunately, Russell passed away almost ten years ago now, and Jim is nearing 90. The days of talking birds with these two great neighbors are over. I'll miss it when Jim, too, is gone.

Anyway, I'm glad to be here, glad to be of any help I can offer, and more than happy to learn what I can from others.

Monty

Monty,

Great Introduction!

Whew, that was one heck of an intro!

Monty you have been a great addition to community and I look forward to our time to come!

Welcome