Show us Your Feeders! Vol. #14

I had a flock of more than 50 but probably fewer than 100 black birds invade my yard a few days ago when the snow and cold were at their worst. Most were grackles, though there were a few red-winged blackbirds and I saw a couple of starlings and brown-headed cowbirds in the mass. Thankfully, they seem to have moved on, though I saw a couple of red-winged blackbirds at one feeder today. I don;t mind a few of the "trash" birds; I just don't want them to force the little songbirds and other desirable birds out.

I hear you sunfarm sigh. I have a Hitchcockian invasion of brewer's blackbirds in late summer every year who even scare off the bluejays by shear numbers. Fortunately they only stay about a week or so. I got a scolding from the chickadees when I got back from our month long travels because of the lack of black sunflower seeds. They are LUVING the suet that I made though (thanks to this thread) and there was still some left so I think it was just winter dissing to get attention ^_^

Just getting back to the forum. I think I saw a rufous hummingbird 2 summers ago. Aren't they more of an rusty-orange color? He came to my kitchen window to feed and I got a good look at him. I live in southcentral KY just above Nashville. I hope they are moving this way!

I love the ruby-throats but wish we had a variety of hummingbirds in Kentucky. Bluegrassmon, I hope you are right. I have noticed quite a variation in the coloration and markings of individual hummingbirds, though. Some are more emerald and some more olive green. I even had one a few years ago that had a red spot on his cheek. I will try to find a picture I took of him.

It can be sort of tricky identifying them. Many Ruby-throated have rufous flanks. A few times I thought I had a Rufous here when I did not. I keep looking for them because you never know.

They just had a Rufous in Cape May last month for a short while.

Here's the picture of the ruby-throated hummingbird with the red cheeks I saw a few years ago at one of my feeders.

Nice pic sun! It looks funny when their ruby throated feathers come up that high. I had one like that here too.

Although I thought that Cardinals are supposed to be ground feeders, we have a lot of them at our feeders. We have a lot of underbrush to protect them in the winter, so we sometimes see as many as 5 or 6 pair on the bushes near the feeders.

Very pretty with all the snow!

mygardens, awesome pic!! The background contrast really makes the red cardinal stand out and come forward!

Cardinals may prefer ground feeders, however, I have quite a few that come to visit my second-story feeder that I have hanging from a tree-top branch. Snug

A lot of my birds seem to eat what and how they're not "supposed" to, including ground-feeding, millet-loving juncos who flap madly to cling to the suet feeder. LOL

Here's my newest feeder, replacing my WalMart nyger feeder. It's a "No-No" feeder like the one I have filled with BOS & peanuts, but with smaller mesh to hold nyger seeds. Well, I'm not sure how well it holds them... they do spill out some, but mostly end up in the little tray at the bottom where juncos and house finches can get them, so that's fine. The birds have been going though the nyger seed faster, but I'm not sure if that's due to spillage or just to the popularity of the feeder. It holds about 2 pounds of thistle seed.

Very nice critter! That's a good length on it.

It's got more of a roof than my plastic one, so I'm hoping for no more wet, compacted thistle. It's big enough for a dozen birds at once, with only a little shoving. LOL It would also be a good one for anybody having trouble with squirrels gnawing their feeders. I'm pretty impressed with the materials & design of the "No-no" feeders.

Ah, yes, if you think roofs are important in MD, you can well imagine the need in the PNW. It is frustrating to me to not be able to use any open, flat feeders. We have lots of evening grosbeaks around and I know that is the kind they prefer. They do finally concede to use the ones with roofs, however.

Critter, your birdfeeder looks quite durable. I was considering one like your's, but wasn't sure if the fine steel mesh would be a deterrent, however, it looks like the goldfinches are just loving it!

Happy days are here again for me--I think. I just purchased this "squirrel-proof" feeder and so far it has been successful. I have personally observed Beelzebub not being able to break this one--at least not yet. Anyway there are many acorns from the oak trees he can eat--but he likes a challenge! LOL. The plastic umbrella on the top actually didn't come with the birdfeeder, but I thought it would help keep the seeds dry. Snug

MountainGirl, have you tried something like a piece of screen/mesh with a shallow frame around it? If it's not a deep layer of seeds, I would think the mesh would give the seeds enough chance to dry out without molding/sprouting... but if you're in the temperate rain forest area, the moisture might just be too constant.

Snug, our pair of squirrels haven't done any damage to our other "No-no" feeder, and we've had it over a year (and it does get attention from the squirrels, who view it as more of a "yes, yes!" feeder LOL).

O that's a nice one Snug! Where did you get it?

Critter, Not in the rain forest, but we can have rain for several days in a row. Your idea sounds like it would be worth a try, however. There are just some birds who like to have the area above their heads totally open. Thanks for the thought.

mygardens

I so love that photo, the cardinal is beautiful with the snow background....

Janet

dahlianut, it was a recent purchase from duncraft.com.

Critter, it's good to hear your feeders have not been damaged. So far my new globe feeder has been visited by Beelzebub, and I have viewed him trying to hang on from the bottom and then he extends his tongue out as far as he can to lick the nyjer seed that fell on the bottom pan. It's quite a feat! LOL Snug

I picked up this little peanut pieces feeder at Wild Birds Unlimited for $10 on Monday. The little birds finally get a shot at getting some peanuts instead of having to compete with the big birds!

ooo, cute. You know, the Rose-breasted grosbeaks will love that too. They liked peanuts out of my little feeders too.

Oh that is a bonus...I didn't know that! Thanks for that tip Mrs Ed!

I think I will be moving the finch feeder out to the Red Maple where I had it last summer and put this there. Right now it is on the Hummer's hook and that just won't do in a few weeks!

I just really hope I get to set up my new oriole station.....

Here he was at the ball feeder. Later they used the platform and the peanut silo, but this was the first thing I saw them at.

I've seen those little ball feeders, never thought of putting peanuts into them, what a great idea!

I just picked up on of those wire coil "wreath" type feeders (like Marna has) for peanuts in the shell... the squirrel is over the moon... now that he's found it, I'll move it to a place where he'll have to be more acrobatic to reach it. Let's face it, I am feeding him purely for the entertainment he provides! LOL

Yes as bad as I hate loosing a lot of seeds that I want my birds to have I must admit I do love watching the squirrels figure out how to get to the seeds.....lol

Janet

I'd like a bigger wreath where the holes are wider. Mine is just good for woodpeckers and nuthatches to peck at it. The larger ones Allow for birds to take a whole peanut away.

I have a deal with the squirrels. I feed them too and they leave the house and the bird feeders alone.

I got mine at a local nursery, and the squirrel can manage to finagle a whole peanut in the shell out through its coils.

I just saw this cute little suet feeder on Rachels Robin. It's adorable and even has a perch.

http://www.rachelsrobin.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-34835

Oh that is cute!!

It's that time again!

Visit us on Volume 15.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1139981/