Bird Watching: Cardinal families, 0 by violabird

violabird wrote:
I've been feeding the birds off my back deck for years now and have especially enjoyed watching the courtship rituals of the Cardinals and then the parents introducing the young to the feeders. I have no idea how many families I have but have counted 20 on this rare snow day.

My problem is that I must leave town for months at a time to seek work and will no longer be able to feed them. I leave in 2 weeks. Should I continue to replentish the feeders as normal (twice a day) or start tapering off? As it is, they line up and wait for me. Will they know how to forage for themselves?

Others that feed include titmice, juncos, chickadees, and finches.

I so hate having to do this but I have no choice, I must leave to find work and live alone. My area is quite rural and is mostly forested. Please tell me that they will be ok--I will really miss them.