Watching the feeder

Ever since we moved to BC we have been feeding the birds. The very simple wire cage with slabs of lard filled with seeds attracts a wide range of birds. Every morning between 10 ish and 11ish there is a parade of birds to the feeder. This morning I watched the Chestnut Backed Chickadees in two and threes peck away the seeds. The Varied Thrushes - 3 of them - were hanging around the base of the feeder. They don't seem able to get a grip on the feeder but they do a great job of the cleanup below the feeder. One of them would regularly come up on to the deck to see what could be found - invariably there as a seed or two to reinforce his efforts.