> how that’s effecting the composition<p>Affecting.<p>We have several squirrel resistant feeders for both seed and suet here in Raleigh NC and have not had a problem (afaik) with invasive birds. We also have hummingbird feeders, a vegetable garden, a peach tree and a blueberry bush, as well as bee and butterfly friendly plants.<p>It’s impossible to keep the squirrels away. Even though they can’t eat from the feeders directly, they constantly probe them for weaknesses, eat seed off the ground, steal from our peach tree, etc. They are really terrible pests. We also have trouble with rabbits eating our flowers and ground plants, but it’s a little harder to be upset by them. We have to surround our blueberry bush in bird netting but somehow a bird still seems to find its way in so we only get about half our bush’s blueberries.<p>We get robins, blue birds, cardinals, jays, mockingbirds, woodpeckers, grackles, finches, wrens, chickadees and others.<p>The hummingbirds are usually the most fun to watch. You can watch them bulk up from when they first arrive till they are ready to migrate. They are very aggressive with each other. Our feeder could easily feed four at a time but that never happens because as soon as one lands another tries to chase him or her off. If I’m sitting outside they’ll occasionally fly near to inspect me but they are very skittish. I’ve seen them fight with wasps that also like to land on the feeder.<p>The Carolina wrens will try to nest just about anywhere. One year I discovered one trying to make a nest in my bicycle helmet which was hanging in the garage. We have to be careful trimming bushes midsummer not to disturb any nests.<p>The plants and wildlife make our yard so much more pleasant and interesting. Our most recent addition is a solar powered fountain/bird bath to the two baths we already had. The birds really appreciate the baths in the summer time. Even the squirrels sometimes drink from them.