Birds in winter

I happened onto a good tip somewhere (likely here, but I forget) and just popped in the house to implement it while cleaning out my beds. I currently have grasshoppers jumping all over the place outside. I plan to carry an empty coffee can to catch them in, pop it in the freezer, and dole them out for the birds in the winter. I realize this falls in the realm of killing critters, but I seriously doubt I will put much dent in the grasshopper population, and I think the birds will appreciate it in the cold months.

On another note, does anyone have overwintering hummingbirds? I know places closer to the coast do and am wondering what their range is. I haven't seen one for a month or more and have taken down and cleaned my feeders for the season.

I still have hummingbirds! About 4 or 5 this AM while I was drinking my coffee. I have an orange Cuphea and the hummers just love it. This plant lasts untll we have a hard frost then the birds stop too. I have no idea if they stay all winter. If I was them I woud leave by Nov. when the heavy rains start.

We have hummers all winter here. I have two feeders that I keep out, and when it's cold enough for them to freeze solid, I rotate them so there's always one unfrozen.

Do birds like spiders? I would gladly shove those guys into the freezer.

Grasshopper? Huh. I don't think I've seen any here. Very cool idea. I suspect they don't live over the winter anyway.

I think Anna's hummingbirds overwinter here: http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/facts/annas_hummingbird_712.html

I catch them in a coffee can and have them jump in and out of butter then fry them. They are good.

One of my fondest memories of my grandfather (who died quite young) was all the grandkids eating some sort of crispy grasshoppers, maybe chocolate covered, and then sprawling on the rug and learning how to shoot craps.

Eeeewwwww

Deb, were you one of the grandkids who ate the grasshoppers?

Yes I was. There were other exotic tidbits as well - not sure where Gramps came up with them, but it was certainly a memorable experience.

That's awesome. What great memories to have of him. And how fun for him to have grandkids who were willing to try things with him.

Larvae, maggots in stumps are pretty good too. But grasshoppers are the best. I was an explorer scout and had to eat out of Michigan woods for 5 days. Lots of unusual foods. None tasted great until we got to insects.

Yes, I have Hummers that overwinter here at my Hummingbird feeder, and they use it several times a day. I just got in from walking the dog, and there was that Hummer. Or is it a bunch. My 5 feeders keep the birds around all winter just the way I want them. I love to wake up to birds singing it keeps this home bound, unemployed guy sane.

Wonder why my hummers all leave, usually in September seems like. I stilll have a couple fuschias and honeysuckle in bloom, but no sign of hummers. Oh well, I've switched out the sugar water for suet and enjoy watching the jays struggling to grab a bite (they are apparently too big to hang on the cage).

I have bee reading "Sand Co Almanac". And it tells a story that woodcock start their dance to attract their mate on April 11th at 7:50 pm every year. So they have an extremely fine sence of solar rise and fall. I suspect hunkers are no different.

I love the creative spelling that runs through this forum. Sofer, I assume you either meant 'hummers' or perhaps were referring to yourself as a 'hunker'. Either way could be correct...

LOL! I type on an iPhone and too tired to look at what I typed. Again rotfalmao!

I still see a minimum of 2 hummers at my hummer feeder every day. But at the 4 other feeders it can be a party like last Tuesday, when about 20 birds were spread across 3 sunflower seed feeders on the back deck, Rosy Finches, Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Goldfinches! I have never seen GF at any of my feeders until last Tuesday, and only sparse use by the normal crowd, everything but GF and the starlings keep to the front woodpecker suet feeder on the other side of the house. If I only had a BB gun.....

What really excites me is when I see a pileated wood pecker at my suet feeder. It is rare though.

When I first put out the Wood Pecker feeder, 2 Pileateds were over it for about 2 days, and I have never seen them again.

Bummer

Rob

I have continuous (during day) Pileated, Downy, and many flickers at my dead tree I planted and hang suet in. I will pick up my camera today and get some photos.

I think that we get too cold for the hummers when winter really hits, but we see Anna's off and on through November and sometimes into December. I don't have time to maintain feeders in my yard, but Mom has several in hers, and although the hummers move on, we get great joy out of watching the birds that do stay around over a cup of coffee on the weekends.

Bonehead, I love the idea of grasshoppercicles for the birds. Also love the story from your youth, but although I have tried and enjoyed several "odd" foods, I don't think that I could convince my stomach to tolerate bugs of any variety.... just kind of makes me go eeewwww

Sofer, I love your woodpecker tree. I have a natural one, but still haven't been brave enough to set a ladder up and get the suet up to the upper levels like you do. Still have my local Piliated that enjoys the tree, but unfortunately he usually chooses sunrise one the weekends to hang out, and it's right outside my bedroom window......

I have to say that attracting woodpeckers has its draw backs but they are so funny to watch. Their heads are like having a bobble head that wags side to side. They also like to play hide and seek with watchers. They look from one side of the tree and then the other. But they do use the house for lots of knockin.

I had never thought about catching Grasshoppers before! I have loads over here and they keep jumping into my leg outside. I've considered feeding insects to birds in the winter and actually planned on buying freeze dried mealworms for them, but I think this would be cheaper.

As for hummingbirds, we have them all year round. I didn't realize we had so many until I noticed my neighbors had feeders up in January. I put out my own feeder then and boom, I had dozens fighting over it.

Soferdig we have woodpeckers around my neighborhood but they tend to stay in the wooded area. The flickers though, well they love the buildings especially right by the gutters lol. I had a few trying to land on my feeder but it was too small so I'm looking for ideas to feed them.

They only like snags and that is why I put one up. Then suet to feed. I have every woodpecker in the Rockies feeding. Also Stellar jays and pigeons.

That's one of the only things I miss about our old rental house- the Pileated Woodpecker that hung out in the Madrona tree in our front yard. He was gorgeous.

I should rig something on the roof of the shed for all the Flickers and other woodpeckers. Wouldn't be too terribly difficult.

Megan and I used to live on the 3rd floor of a condo on a greenbelt and the best thing I can say about it is we had a Pileated regularly visiting the 2 feeders I had at that time. Miss that place, as I like living near woods. This suburbia is not for me.