BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips

Subject: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Raptor
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 09:23 AM

A new place for your stories and tips for bird feeding.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Raptor
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 09:26 AM

A feeding tip: Go to your butcher and ask him to keep some of the fat he trims off the beef(should be free). you can present it in a wire mesh feeder. Cheeper than suet cakes

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Raptor
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 09:27 AM

I place my bird feeders outside my kitchen window so I can watch while I do the dishes.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 10:14 AM

Peanuts, chips or otherwise, are good for fat, too (says person at the birdie store). I bought a bunch of their "Christmas" blend which was loaded with big hunks of (expensive) nuts. But if I get stuck in a snow drift for a week and that's in the car, I'm not gonna starve.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Raptor
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 10:43 AM

How do you deal with squirrels?

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: MartinRyan
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 10:46 AM

Just don't let them into the car, I reckon! ;>)>

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 11:09 AM

I dealt with squirrels by hanging one of the vertical feeders with compartments using a fairly long cord/chain from a limb...or in my case, the gutter of the house.
Then I got a square piece of aluminum sheet, about 12-15 inches square-more if possible...(not foil..just thin metal)... and poking two holes in it spaced like the hanger wire of the feeder. I thread the hanger wire thru the sheet of aluminum and hang it up. The roof of the feeder is pointed, so the sheet has no flat support.
A squirrel who tries to go down the chain finds this wobbly barrier in his way, and gets VERY frustrated. (I have seen one hang by his back toes and reach around the edge and barely manage to grab a feeding perch and swing around the barrier, but mostly they either didn't try or slipped off. A bit wider sheet would have made it impossible.
   Occasionally a squirrel will take a flying leap from another limb, but they usually don't manage to grab the feeder....and we get the entertainment of watching them contemplate and try various methods.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 11:10 AM

Oh..BTW... the sheet provides a rain/snow shelter, and the smaller birds can have a dry lunch...

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 11:37 AM

I have a cylinder thing that goes on the pole to the feeders and works great. It's meant for squirrels AND raccoons. Enough seed falls on the ground so the squirrels have something to eat, and I sometimes toss the unreachable bits of suet onto the ground.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 11:39 AM

Martin, yes, the squirrels can stay out of the car. They don't drive very well anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Raptor
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 11:41 AM

I found that hardware stores sell stovepipe that can be wired for a pole baffle very cheaply.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Raptor
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 11:44 AM

I feed Black oil sunflower seed, Niger seed, Beef fat, Penuts not in the shell, And in summer sugar water.

I find that the mixed seed gets wasted when all the birds seem to want is Sunflower anyway.
What do you feed?

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: maeve
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 11:48 AM

We'll be setting up all new feeding stations in the spring. Squirrels (chipmunks,reds and grays) and other rodents are a problem here, and raccoons and their bear cousins are in the neighborhood, so we'll be looking for set-ups that won't tend to bring them in from the woods and surrounding land. We're thinking about pole height, baffles, seed catching trays, wire cable lines, pulleys, and so on, while keeping animal and bird behavior firmly in mind.

Since we'll be re-doing most of the landscaping and gardens as well, we'll plan for wildlife cover, habitat, and food plants as well as planning for bantam and wild turkey meanderings.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Raptor
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 11:53 AM

Then this thread might be of use to you.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 12:13 PM

Chickadees like black sunflower, but although other birds do too, they eat other things. Cardinals, so I'm told, prefer safflower. Good quality seed isn't full of things birds don't like.

This is what I have:
It can be expensive, but you can start simple and add on later. It's easy to put together and feels very sturdy. So far, I only have two feeders and the squirrel baffle. Maybe in spring, I'll add a hummingbird feeder.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Penny S.
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 12:22 PM

I was given a suet block feeder for Christmas, which has changed the variety of birds visiting - starlings, loads of.

The blackbird which fights over the garden, but does not use the feeder pole, has been not only seeing off the other blackbird, but also robins, bluetits, and anything else he can. He doesn't go for the starlings, though they have a go at the robins who go for their dropped bits - they are very messy eaters.

The wren has been having very thorough baths in the birdbath, but the blackbird hogs that as well.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 12:58 PM

We've got a bird feeder that has sprung perches around the bottom which, if any thing heavier than a bird gets on them e.g. a squirrel, push downwards and covers the feeding holes. Don't know the brand but I'm pretty sure it came from N. America (may have been Canada).

There's a photo of it here - the big one on the right. Mind you, I don't think it was cheap.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 03:16 PM

http://thebluejaysgarden.com/

Check out the squirrel feeder video too.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 04:40 PM

We put out two cups of mixed seeds from the farm supply store, nothing special. I have a feeling we need to change that, but price is an issue, at the moment. This area has changed with birds I remember as a kid either just not here any more or fewer. Seems silly, but I miss the magpies of my youth.:-) We lot and lots of ravens, but they don't come down for any feeding, thank goodness. I don't want to provide them with a ready smorgasbord of smaller birds.

All we get with what we put out are fat, cooing mourning doves, sparrows, and a few finches. No squirrels and the neighbour cats stay out of the yard because of our dog, so the seed gets spread on a round, plastic picnic table in front of the LR picture window. We call it our "Cat Tv" as our inside only cats enjoy watching early morning feeding time.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 04:45 PM

Ravens eating small birds? Seems odd to me. I don't see why a raven would waste it's time trying to catch small birds. The % rate must be very low, no?

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 04:55 PM

I've seen crows raid nests for baby birds, but I don't know ravens well.

This is the system I have. I thought I posted it, but maybe it was in the other thread. In any case, you can do simple: a pole, as squirrel baffle & a couple feeders, or you can do a bird-opolis. You can always add stuff later.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: maeve
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 05:54 PM

I've not known Ravens to eat small birds. They tend to be interested in carrion. Have you experienced different behaviors locally, kat?

That's a good system, Jeri; thanks. I like that it can be made higher and includes several sensible options. It wouldn't stop a bear, but if bears ever wander over here we'll stop feeding birds anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 06:22 PM

Oh, duh. I forgot ravens are mostly carrion eaters.:-) I don't know why I wrote that. I think I had in mind the small hawk which killed a starling right in front of me, in my driveway, and feeling badly about having the food out which attracted the starling, etc.:-) Thanks, folks. I really do like ravens, very much!

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jan 12 - 07:09 PM

Ravens are one of my favs. I believe one of Ebbies favs too. I know of them from being up country where the very large ones live. The large ones, bog ravens I call them, are as big as eagles and the eagles daren't mess with them. They are so intelligent and have extended families and a hierarchy among those families. I have seen them fend off eagles, yotes and bears... yes, young bears. They taunt young bears in large groups at carrion until the bear takes a rest and then they feed.

Read "A Sparrow Falls". It is accurate. A raven will help a human hunt. So will a Moosebird (Canada Jay) I have seen it first hand. The native peoples know. I learned it from my father who learned from his....

Sorry for the thread drift.

I put fat trimmings in the crooks of the branches of my maple in winter rather than just on the ground. When I whistle, the crows come but the seagulls have caught on and they outnumber the crows 100 to 1. Keeps the seagulls from shitting on my truck. I think that is a great tip.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Gurney
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 03:11 AM

I started by feeding a duck, a mallard, who found my goldfish pond. Now there are at least 20 who come for a meal sometimes.
Don't start it it!
Stewed wheat and cat biscuits are favourite.


How do you resist mum-and-ducklings, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 07:28 AM

That reminds me that when I was about 5 years old, and we lived in part of Newent Court in Gloucestershire, my father used to whistle and a pair of mute swans would walk up from the lake to be fed. Later on they brought the cygnets too.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Brian May
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 07:59 AM

How do you resist mum-and-ducklings, though

I don't, I can recommend Plum Sauce or even Hoi Sin Sauce . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 10:56 AM

...orange sauce is much tastier!

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Gurney
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 01:38 PM

Evil people alert!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: bbc
Date: 10 Jan 12 - 05:34 PM

Duane D. & I subscribe to the "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" school of squirrel thought. We feed them, as well as the pirate Blue Jays. They are some of our best photo subjects. We have several feeding stations with various seeds/nuts, etc. This photo is representative of what we provide, although not totally up-to-date:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mudder_bbc/2125994338/

All of the critters in the "backyard wildlife" set are from my yard in Columbia County, New York, USA:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mudder_bbc/sets/72157603798952756/

Thanks for the thread!

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: gnu
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 03:22 PM

Ahhh, Barb... don't the birds crap on yer deck with the feeders hung that way?

Great pics!

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 09:17 PM

Back around back around 2003 or 2004 the P-Vine and I had a pair of pileated woodpeckers frequent out feeder... Bow for those of you who don't know the pileated woodpecker, the pileateds are 16" to 20" with a flaming red crest and white underwing areas against raven black bodies... They are a bit clumsy and jerky and if Kramer was a bird he would most certainly be a pileated woodpecker...

But one night we were sitting on our deck watching the birds feed late when an additional pair of pileateds made their presence... Now most birders would kill for just one pair, we had two...

A couple nights later we got introduced to Woodie, Jr. who mom was feeding up on a limb about a 100 feet from the feeder... Now mom had her hands full with Woodie, Jr. in trying to teach him to land on the feeder so over the course of the next week or so it was Woodie, Jr. attempting to "stick a landing" (pilot's term) on the feeder and it was very amusing as Woodie hit everything but the lottery in his attempts to "stick that landing"...

But then, just when it looked as if he would never figure it out, God looked down and intervened and Woodie finally hit the feeder...

Most amusing time we ever had with any bird... By far!!!

B

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Janie
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 10:33 PM

I couldn't possibly begin to feed the squirrels sufficiently to keep them out of the birdfeeders.

I wish they liked acorns half as much as they like sunflower seeds. My yard is full of mast. Last weekend I looked out one of my front windows and out of curiosity, counted 20 squirrels in my field of vision without turning my head.

I have 3 different designs of springed feeders that I fill with sunflower seed that work just fine to keep the squirrels out - I had to put a squirrel baffle on the top of one they had figured out how to detach the feeder from the hanging apparatus (and it wasn't easy!) dumping the feeder on the ground to spill the seed. Before adding the squirrel baffle I tried wiring it.   The peanut/nugget feeders and suet feeders are more difficult. There is only one spot in the yard where a squirrel might not be able to spring onto a peanut feeder from an adjacent tree - baffles don't help with horizontal leaps from tree trunks - but that is one of the few spots in my yard where I also would not be able to see the feeder from the house.

In addition to the sunflower feeders, I have a nyjer feeder, 3 standard suet cake feeders, one caged suet feeder and a hummingbird feeder, not currently in use. I also keep a bag of mixed birdseed that is mostly millet on hand and broadcast it when snow is on the ground for the sparrows.

I did have a couple of suction-cup feeders attached to a front window, but they kept falling off, and I also noticed a higher rate of birds slamming into the windows (not to mention bird crap on the house and windows,) so no longer use them. Besides, I had a hard time getting inside chores done with the opportune distraction of birds so close for observation.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Janie
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 10:37 PM

and 2 nugget/peanut feeders.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Penny S.
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 04:19 AM

The starlings have cleaned me out of suet based food. Still have the nyger and unpeeled sunflower. No-one wants them.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: bbc
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 08:27 AM

gnu,

In answer to your question--Yes, my deck has suffered, in favor of being able to closely view our local wildlife. I have, since that photo, turned the feeders outward, so not as much seed & poop falls on the deck surface, but it is still a problem. We do dearly love watching the critters, though. I have considered that the condition of my deck may be a problem, when I want to sell my house.

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Raptor
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 11:58 AM

One time Little Hawk and I greased the top of a feeder the squirrels were jumping onto and we witnessed a launched squirrel hit that roof flying it was the funniest thing I ever saw.
The squirrel was fine but he yelled at us for a good 2 minutes.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Brian May
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 01:14 PM

My brother in law has a 0.22" solution to squirrels.

A bit bizarre, but he cooks them in stew - apparently tastes like rabbit.

Yeuch

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 10:31 PM

Bird Feeding!!!! Grrrrrrr
Fckin Crow ate my FROG

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Janie
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 11:31 PM

It strikes me how I enjoy observing all the creatures, even starlings and squirrels, as long as they follow *my* program.


Last winter I often had yellow-shafted flickers on the ground in the yard - never at the feeders. Had an eruption of ant colonies last year that apparently drew the flickers. They must have done a good job at organic pest control because I have significantly fewer big ant colonies in the yard now, and nary a flicker have I spied.

Has anyone experience with Roller Feeder squirrel proof feeders?

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Janie
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 06:35 PM

I got a real kick out of this video my son forwarded to me.

Crows just want to have fun!

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 06:55 PM

My neighbour feeds squirrels. For now. He thinks they are cute. When they get into his attic and build nests I suspect he'll stop. They stink of musk and cause damage to insulation and wiring. They are cute rats with bushy tails. But he's got a lot of good pics.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: maeve
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 07:23 PM

Yeah...squirrels are the suspects in our house fire. They have our blessing; far away from the house.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 08:34 PM

There ya go. Squirrels are vermin. Cute as a button but stink, carry disease and can cause damage. I wish people here would not feed them.

Hey, what about the ducks? We got a shitload a ducks here thru the winter for about ten years now. People feed them. They don't migrate. We get a bad winter and they die horrible deaths. What's wrong with people? Ya don't feed ducks, eh??? They think they are doing well by the ducks but that just ain't the case.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Bert
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 09:20 PM

Daughter Rachael had installed a pond in her back yard.

Just a small vacuum molded thing. She stocked it with a few fish.

We were sitting looking out the window one day when this huge grey heron came down. This bugger was bigger than the bloody pond. He stood looking for a minute or so. stuck his head down, grabbed one of her fish and flew off.

Now for a really expensive feeder and food try a pond with some fish.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 09:51 PM

I have had best success with my hummingbird feeder. I have tried a few different designs, but the one I like best is the HummZinger, which you can see here. It's easy to fill without spilling or dripping, easy to clean, and quite successful at attracting the hummers. It has a built-in "moat" which you fill with water to stop ants from invading the feeder. Every time I clean and refill the feeder, I find a few dead ants in the moat, which proves it's working. I don't think the hummers really mind having ants in their feeder, but why attract them?

To make fluid for any hummingbird feeder, mix ¼ cup white sugar with 1 cup warm tap water. Don't bother adding coloring. The red color of the feeder will attract the hummers. Empty, clean, and refill the feeder at least twice a week.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Janie
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 10:00 PM

Talk about a class act....

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 10:18 PM

I like my HummZinger but the Hbirds like the old fashioned el cheapo better. Plus, they have to hover, which is better entertainemnt. As for mixtures, it's an art. Early in the season, go 1:1 to attract them and then gradually reduce it to 4:1 over a few weeks after they arrive. Ramp it back up when they have young that will be heading south within a few weeks toward fall.

Having said that, the past two years have been terrible for hummers here. Used to have them nesting in the trees out back. Two summers ago, my neighbours took their feeder down in July... no Hbirds. It has been truly sad. Very few.

We had bunches of them at the feeders and at the hanging potted flowers (mostly mini petunias) but... they just haven't been around for whatever reason. Truly sad. Mum's favourite and she hasn't got a lot of birdwatching left.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Janie
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 10:54 PM

I haven't had much luck at attracting hummers at this new place as far as I have been able to tell. However, other than the feeder and when the red azaleas are in bloom in early-mid spring, there isn't much to attract them.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Janie
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 10:57 PM

don't know how long the link will last and you have to watch the ad first, but talk about birds!

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: gnu
Date: 26 Jan 12 - 07:32 PM

That's a shitload a birds!

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: maeve
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 02:44 PM

Here's some nasty business affecting birdseed http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/01/27/scotts-to-pay-4-5m-in-fines.html
"...Court documents state that, from November 2005 to March 2008, Scotts distributed 73 million units of birdseed coated with insecticides called Storcide II and Actellic 5E. This was done to keep insects from eating the seeds during storage.

Storcide's label says the pesticide is "extremely toxic to fish and toxic to birds and other wildlife." Documents state that Scotts continued to sell the products despite warnings in the summer and fall of 2007 from a pesticide chemist and an ornithologist, both of whom worked for the company.

Also in 2008, Federal EPA officials discovered that Scotts was selling lawn and garden products with falsified pesticide registrations. Court documents list a Scotts lawn service fertilizer, a garden "weed preventer and plant food" and another product called Southern Max Fire Ant Killer.

Scotts officials said in 2008 that the fake numbers were the actions of a single manager who was later fired. Court records state that the manager 'intentionally misled EPA by assuring EPA officials that the products were registered, suggesting EPA had lost its files.'"

More at the link.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 02:58 PM

That is just sick. Scotts should be prosecuted, and if found guilty, heavily fined and have their name plastered in every newspaper in the world where their products are sold. Utterly disgusting!

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Raptor
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 08:30 PM

Refresh.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: gnu
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 08:45 PM

Good idea. That disgusting business should be told far and wide over again.

Maybe that's not why you refreshed but I'll take it under the circumstances.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Raptor
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 09:17 PM

I personally boycotted Scott's because of that. But I refreshed because many people start feeding birds at this time of year.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 04:27 AM

I like those suet blocks, but they're quite expensive and the poor hungry starlings wolf them down in minutes. So I make what we used to call as children 'Bird Puddings'. You get lard (it's cheap) and melt it down gently in a pan. Add anything you have, for example porridge oats, breadcrumbs, a few raisins etc and pour it into those metal foil Chinese takeaway containers or small Christmas pudding basins. Put in the fridge to set hard and voila! To get the block out, just dip into hot water for a second or two. I put some on the ground and some hanging in the apple tree. I don't mind squirrels at all, they have to eat, God bless them. But they don't come to our garden, don't know why not!

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Arkie
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 09:36 PM

One can sometimes save a bit by purchasing bird seed, suet, etc. from farm co-ops. Not always the case but sometimes. I once got a much better price on sunflower seed at the co-op but somebody caught on to that.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Janie
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 11:49 PM

I pay whatever I have to pay for sunflower seed. Scott does not have a monopoly on the birdseed market and it is not difficult, at least in my neck of the woods, to buy birdseed sourced other than from Scott.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 21 Oct 12 - 06:13 AM

Sunflower hearts are excellent. We have a lot of goldfinches round here and they love them. But it does cost quite a bit. I buy as big a sack as I can afford from a local corn merchant (it's cheaper loose and in bulk)
I also let several of the apples from our tree lie on the ground. The birds love to eat the fruit at this time of year.

Subject: RE: BS: Bird feeding stories/Tips
From: Raptor
Date: 21 Oct 12 - 06:19 AM

I buy 50 lbs bags of black oil sunflower seed ($28) and Nyger seed($62) and keep them in metal garbage cans as well as shelled peanuts about ($1.20 /lbs)
I only have to buy seed once every month or so.
My birds love me.