...tuppence a bag

Crazy Holly, after finding out all the children and parents were OK decided to fill the feeders, again. She put on my neoprene chest waders and plowed off in the name of the birds. She was thigh deep in what was yesterday was a bare path, in near white out conditions, (we can see the house next to us, but not the next).She then when to care for our pampered chickens and returned looking like a snowman,? woman?LOL Ric

We have flocks of cardinals and small birds feeding and huddling in or junipers. Ric

You GO, Holly! A couple of my feeders are empty, but the sunflower/peanut no-no feeder and thistle feeders were still half full yesterday, so I didn't try to get out for refills. There's been plenty of snow melt to top off the bird bath (actually a heated doggie water bowl). Some birds are getting bolder about eating at the window feeder, despite the way Eliot jumps up at them, LOL.

The starlings wiped out the peanut butter and mixed-seed hopper feeders, but they don't want the thistle, and they only periodically bother the no-no feeder (maybe the mesh keeps they from gobbling as they'd like).. but they're still hanging around. The mocking bird and the red-bellied woodpecker are the only ones who refuse to be bullied by them.

I keep throwing handfuls of seed out the back door also for our flocks of little birds. :-)

My Mom took down their feeder this morning. Se said she hated to do it but was afraid that with the winds they are predicting it could swing in and hit her big window. So she is setting a big flat pan out on the back step with seeds.

Holly is our Hero!! Those darned squirells overturned a lot of the seeds that I put out. I keep tossing more outside too.

I've not seen hide nor hair of a squirrel since this began. I think they know they bog down in the snow and would be easy prey. So I got brave and bought striped sunflower seed. The cardinals are liking that along with safflower. Many are eating the safflower too. Mockingbird is my bestest buddy since I put a few dried Craisins out there! Comes to the deck for more. THen he poos pink on the railing!

Sally, more good ideas. I have a lot of dried berries that are getting old. Think I'll toss them outside too.

You all are taking very good care of your feathered friends. They will reward you with spring song soon (I hope).

Take care of that cabin fever!

Well, I figured out they'll eat Trailmix, Strawberries, Blackberries, Coconut, any kind of nuts, dried prunes, goji berries and mini-marshmallows. They were very happy today.

LOL @ mini marshmallows!

I am not sure but I think dried fruits are no-no's for birds. Only fresh pulp. I recall reading something about their bellies swelling. It's good you guys are feeding the birds but you can overdo it. They'll sit around and wait for you to throw out more. Be careful not to make them too fat to fly!!

in this weather, I think any calories they can get are good ones! plenty of $$ seed mixes include dried fruit. Presented w a smorgasboard, they'll pick what's best for them!

I saw a squirrel chowing down on some of those marshmallows. Those blackbirds or crows were fighting each other to get at the suet cakes. What a racket they were making. These cute little tiny guys were eating all of the sunflowers seeds and pecking away at the fresh berries.

I read if you do dried fruit to soak it in water first.

LOL--urinary tract health for birds
~~might look at Cornell website for the truth about dried fruit for birds..

Still not sure! Looking around here at Royal Society for Protection of Birds
http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/scraps.asp
I'm afraid it does say no dried coconut. It says dried fruit is OK tho to soak it in spring and summer. (Well fall and winter???)

This message was edited Feb 12, 2010 10:10 AM

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