Show Us Your Feeders, vol. #16

Lily, the window screen collector worked fine but was such a pain in the patootie - needing to be cleaned 3 times a day - that I have abandoned it. I'm just sweeping the seeds off the walkway when I pass by now, and at least that way the birds aren't right out in the open for the cat to ambush.

We've been so very lucky with weather this winter, only 3 cold fronts that actually brought the cold air, at least so far. For the rest we've been in the 70s and just gorgeous. We're a little short of rain but got about 1/2in. yesterday which was good. The bluejays spent the holidays down in the Keys after the first cold weather chased them further south, but they're back now. I have the titmice, sparrows and Carolina wrens as regulars, and the cardinals pretty often, too.

The neighborhood marauding hawk seems to be hunting squirrels instead of the birds now, which is wonderful!

haha. LilyLove! I KNEW it would be that Carolina Wren. I think it was the first last year too! Such good little detectives.

I'm raising millies hoping to attract Eastern Blue Birds into the garden for spring time nesting. At the mean time, I'm putting out live millies for treat. I think we've enough millies for smaller birds in the garden to include titmice and Wrens, but I am hoping to keep the bigger birds out. So I found this decorative cage, which I tried out and see if it works. Not sure little birds can get inside to get to the mealworms. But we'll find out.

Inside the cage, I placed a decoy 'Blue Bird' so I hope that will capture BB's attention.....guess who discovered the cage first this time around?

Gave it a minute or so, this little darling found it first. ^_^

Yes Kim,
That is the Macadamia stump.

I drilled a 1" x 12" deep hole in the top of the stump and filled it with 'Roundup'.
It will never shoot again now.

Now, back to the topic at hand; feeders. The 'Decorative Cage' feeder idea failed. Our temp. has dropped back down to seasonably appropriate for winter. I couldn't keep watch on the area closely over the weekend. But this morning I discovered that the millies were still there.

Plan B; I propped the cage's top open to invite visitors to visit the inside;

No sooner than when I walked away, the Carolina Wren has already found the open door invitation. ^_^

Thus far, I've only seen Carolina Wrens and Tufted Titmouse at the cage feeder. Though, several Eastern Blue Birds were also seen watching the area intensely this morning. Hope they will eventually return here to feed. And hopefully will nest in the garden this Spring.

Wooohooo! I had a visit from the Ruby Crowned Kinglet this morning, it also discovered the mealworm feeder. Yeah!!!

what a treat! such a little cutie

If I offered mealworms here, I have the feeling the stupid house sparrows would just gobble them up. The answer to the sparrow flock seems to be to have one feeder with millet (which they especially like) and several BOS feeders... they usually mob just one or two feeders at a time, and the other birds can use the other ones.

I have to get a photo of Joyanna's new feeder, a green mesh ball from No-no that holds 4-5 cups of BOS. The "special" birds love it, and she loves announcing when she spots a chickadee or titmouse or woodpecker or wren etc. on "her" feeder... she can recognize at least a dozen of our backyard birds (not bad for 2 1/2, brag brag brag LOL).

Let's see it Crit. :)

Way to go!

Ginger, I read her comment as meaning that *she* was returning to the feeder topic, posting about the results with that decorative cage.

It's hard to communicate perfectly in written posts like this (heck, it's hard to communicate perfectly in any medium!), so generally it's at least good to check whether or not offense was meant before going off in a huff. Just my 2 cents...

And now, let me return to the topic at hand also by posting a photo of my new mixed-seed feeder just outside teh window. I wired an old pizza pan beneath as a seed catching tray because the sparrows are such messy eaters.

I am in agreement with critter. Kell, you have simply applied the wrong tone to Kim's comment.

Great idea critter with the pizza pan. I pass on so many feeder because they do not have a seed tray on them!

I agree about going off in a huff, I don't see where she found offense. But I fear Kell is gone and isn't going to read our placating posts.

I also really agree about sparrows being SO messy! For every seed they eat, they seem to throw around about a dozen! Then there are birdies on the ground eating the scattered seed, and my cat stalks them with great determination. (hasn't caught any yet, though, she's so fat and slow) Was thinking to make a seed catcher for my new feeder out of window screening.

This new feeder from No-no does have a pretty decent tray on the bottom (deeper than many seem to be, so seeds stay in even if the feeder sways a little)... but it's just not enough of a tray if you've got a lot of sparrows. They threw more seed down than the ground-feeders could keep up with, and I didn't want to encourage the mice & voles or to attract rats. Window screen is a good idea, maybe with a clotheshanger-wire frame for sturdiness in case a squirrel jumps onto it.

Kell, I surely will miss seeing your post on this thread. Peace. Critterologist cool idea with the seed tray. Dyzzypyxxy love your backyard setting.

Our backyard residents trying to figure out the new feeder to this spot. I took the old feeder and its baffle down for it didn't keep the squirrels out, but it seemed to block the upper view, and Cardinals haven't been coming around while the baffle was up. So new feeder. The rest of the gang seemed to enjoy it. My Nuthatches and woodpeckers continue to have a ball with the peanut, and suet feed alternately.

Gold Finch and other small birds can get right inside the cage. It's easy enough for Redbellied wps to reach inside for peanuts also.

Downy and other woodpeckers do go for the suet feed most time, but will occasionally compete for the peanuts inside the feeder.

Cardinals eventually resorted to the other feeder in the front yard, in which the catch pan is designed to tip off a squirrel's if it some how gotten on the base. I've not yet seen the thing at work. But the seeds in the feeder lasted a good while longer compared to others (that squirrels can get to them).

And since I hung the new feeder, my good friend Cardinal is back checking it out. Yeah!

At the mean time, the Carolina Wrens are really happy with the meallies feeder. ^_^

oh, those stinkers are so cute!!!

Mrs. Ed. They so cute, they can claim the meallies in which was intended for the Blue Birds. lol

Here come the pics. They really aren't picky eaters. Suet will do too. lol

I wish I got them more often here

As few of you know, I went to meet Grannygrunt (Donna) this past week. She has been working very hard the last several months on building me a hopper type feeder that will sit on my WBU platform feeder. She designed and then built this BEAUTIFUL feeder for me! It is made of real Cedar and has a really pretty hammered copper roof on it. MY birds are going to be dinning in style now!

I thank Donna so much for doing so much work on this and being such a good friend!

You would be more than welcome to tag along Lily.

You're welcome Nanny. Geez, it really does fit in your tray. Was sweating that one out. LOL

Great job GG!!

Aww, thank you GG. I'd enjoyed the visit.

Brilliant work, GG. Maybe you could go into the construction business. Hmmm, now let me think of a business name.

You did an amazing job on it GG. Thanks for posting the pic Nanny. I'm sure you'll get plenty of visitors on it.