Not Much Demand For Suet

I'm constantly amazed at the intense swings in suet use by my back yard birds across a year, even though I have enough years of experience to see them coming. From late spring through July I can count on heavy consumption: my four feeder baskets can be worked out in less than two days at some points in that period. And in September and October I can put cakes out and watch them ever so slowly disappear over a period of many weeks, to the point where I must check them daily to ensure they have no risk of mold. So far this September has been slow indeed. I am recording only a few visits daily from a few species, most notably Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, and Carolina Wrens. I see a Hairy Woodpecker now and then, as well. But the Bluebirds, Mockingbirds, and Robins are not to be seen. Of course consumption will pick up, most probably in late November once the insect populations are down and when energy needs grow. But it will be a long wait. The suet feeders seem lonely outposts these days.