Show me your feeders!...Part 2....

Thats such a great variety duck!

Magpied, there was a different block that was called a "quail block". Didn't get that one. As you are far more experienced with birds than me, you could be right about the 'birds standing on it' issue, but wouldn't they stand on it on the ground as well as on the perch? I can't figure where the height of placement makes a difference. Let me know your thoughts.

Brenda

Brenda,
My thoughts are that [most] who sell bird feeders and bird food don't know too much about birds. This is why robins and bluebirds are depicted on bags of bird seed... lol Seriously. I'm guessing that quail blocks were initially used in places where people didn't want to disturb things--or travel to--too often. I dunno. Not a very bright idea to begin with. I wouldn't use 'em, but I also realize that it's difficult to keep droppings away from bird feeding areas.

The rules at DG prevent me from linking directly to my website (where I chip away -- LOL -- at adding bird info) but I recommend the info on the page entitled "Preventing Disease at Your Feeder". If you go to my info page, in the "what magpied wants you to know" section (because that's where I was told I could put it!), click the 'preventing disease' link. (Anyone else can post a link to it but I cannot.)

http://home.earthlink.net/~azmagpie/id15.html

:D

Thanks for the info!

I finally put up a salvaged Christmas tree with peanut butter! Just in time since the temp is 28 today.
Didn't see the Downy land just as I snapped the shutter, but the Wren did!

Sheila: the wrens don't miss much! :) I put out peanut butter yesterday, trying to attract woodpeckers, and the squirrels ate it. (sigh)
Deb

My squirrels haven't found it yet, but I look for them to be all over it today.

Cute pic Sheila!! I'll have to slap some peanut butter in the worm dish and see if my Wren will eat it.

Sheila_FW Just love your recycled Charlie Brown Christmas tree there!!! The birds seem to love it too!!

Cuckoo

Great shot Sheila! Neat little feeder too...a more manageable version of tree suet feeder. I like it!

I want to THANK Shelia_FW for the great idea and drawing for the extension for my wooden bird feeder. It WORKED!!! I also ordered a metal baffle for the 4" X 4" post to keep the squirrels out of the bird feeders. (I am putting up a feeder designed just for squirrels so they don't feel left out! (A Christmas gift from 2 years ago.) I picked up a suet basket and tube feeder because I got free shipping if I ordered more. It would have been about the same price either way, so I figured it was better to get more items than pay for shipping charges!

And then when I was at Wal-Mart buying bird seed, I found one of those flat feeders with a screen bottom. I really like that idea, so picked one of those up for less than $10. I think I am ready to open the Bird Cafe. I hope so......cause now I am broke! LOL

Here's what my first Bird Cafe looks like. Kind of bizarre, but hopefully the birds won't mind.

Any ideas how to get them to come to my feeders. Do I just add seed and wait? Or is there something I can do to entice them?

Another question ..... I have that "rubber" mulch underneath the feeder. If the birds eat any dropped seeds off the ground, they won't attempt to eat the mulch will they? I hope not. It won't taste good and would probably make them sick. I bought the no waste seeds and some shelled sunflower seeds to add to the feeders tomorrow. I took them all down until I fill them.

Edited to add:
I just looked at this photo again and the set-up looks like a light post with a bird feeder attached to the extended arm instead of the house address! LOL! Luckily, it's in my backyard, so the neighbors won't see it and think I'm beyond help. :-D

This message was edited Jan 15, 2007 8:39 PM

Too funny Becky!! If you sit and wait you might get a few birds with very confussed looks on their faces..haha! Of course ya put seed in! You won't have to wait very long, maybe a few days and they will find you. If you don't want any plants (such as millet), popping up around your feeder you can get a Patio Mix with already shelled seeds, or get seed that you won't mind growing around the feeder (Sunflower & Thistle). There is one called No-Waste Bird Food, that is fairly reasonable, and doesnt plant anything. They carry it at Kroger here. Mealies and fruit (Cherries, Cranberries, Nuts and Papaya) are what I use my hanging tray for, because the mealies cant crawl out. You will get creative with it, I know you..(:>!!


Beautiful set-up Becky!! The mulch square will help a lot with the mess. Sheila gives great instructions too!
oO You could plant some Sunflowers there under the feeders, the birds would love those as they ripen, along with some Purple thistle. Just a last minute thought..oO

This one Native is attempting to make friends with whoever makes that gooey peanut butter suet stuff, lol!...Check out those sharp little icicles!!

Oops!! Landed right in it!

Deb - I'd grow medium to tall plants around the bottom, but those rascal squirrels would use the plants to climb up to the feeders! LOL! So I think it's going to have to be either a barren spot or low flowering plants underneath it. I did buy the shelled bird seed mix to try to avoid any unexpected plants popping up!

Oh my..... I just remembered about the bird feeder I got for Christmas. I forgot all about that one. It's got a weighted perch to keep squirrels and larger birds out of the seed. I think that I am going to have to add that feeder and the tube feeder to the Shepherd's Hook that I decorated for the hummers. LOL! Maybe the birds will appreciate my red cups and ribbons! Ha,ha,ha .....

I love all the birds you are getting in your yard, Deb! I hope I get some, too!

This message was edited Jan 15, 2007 9:28 PM

Well you and DH did a really fine job there!! It looks really sharp!
Yeah, later on you may want some lower growing flowers there. By Sunflowers I didn't mean the giant ones, lol. There are many that grow only 18" or less, and the Squirrels would trip on the flimseier stems... Humm another idea would be miniature roses, that protects the birds very wll here by my window. Squirrels wouldnt like the thorns at all, and if a Hawk came by they would have a safer place to hide!!

Now where are you going to sit to take your pictures?

Becky, your set up is ideal - you'll have them lined up in no time!!!!

I like the rose idea, Deb! I may just have to seriously think about that! Though I don't have a green thumb with roses. But ..... ya never know until you try a different location. ;-)

Murmur - Thanks! I hope you are right. :-)

I am definitely going to use the Shepherd's hook, too. Just haven't figured out where to place that one where the squirrels can't jump to it. If I hang the tube feeder and the weight sensitive feeder on the pole, do you think it would discourage the squirrels from bothering it?

Deb - I don't remember who said it on this forum but....... someone mentioned adding a duck blind to their yard to hide in so the birds can be photographed without scaring them off! LOL! When I read that ..... I thought that was a great idea! LOL! Can you just see my dh's face when I tell him my next project is to build a duck blind in our backyard! Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha ....... HE would commit me to the state mental hospital! ROFL!

LOL - Becky, my dh would just roll his eyes and not be a bit surprised!!!!

Murmur - Lucky you that your dh would not find such a request out of the ordinary! My dh would NOT think it was one bit funny. Years later they would find my body buried in the backyard ...... probably underneath the bird feeder! LOL!

lolol....now thats a great idea! A deer blind...hahaha......I hadn't thought of that......lol

Melanie

Edited to say: A duck or deer blind would work...! lol

This message was edited Jan 15, 2007 9:33 PM

LOL, Becky you are so funny about your dh, sounds like my situation. The feeder looks great! I'm sure the birds will be there in no time at all. Can't wait to see your first pics!

The feeder looks great Becky! Good job.
Nice pictures too Debnes. We did have a little ice today, but the streets really weren't as bad as they let on, just the overpasses. I was still glad to have the day off today. I got to see the Waxwings that Debnes sent my way!! LOL! But alas back to work tomorrow.

On the duck blind idea, you just made me remember I have a lattice piece at the end of the shop I could hide behind, also I could take the screen off and go inside the shop and open the window a crack. Hmmm......

Okay I'm definitely asking the DH to make me a blind. He will think I'm nuts but it will be a nice winter project for him.

No, no....just tell him you want a new trellis / archway that you can grow vines on. LOL!

You guys are too funny with the duck blind idea LOL!!
Becky, great feeder setup! I've heard that the sounds of moving water will increase your feathered visitors by a large amount so you may want to give a fountain or the like a try... I'm sure your cafe will attract all sorts of pretties regardless!
Wanna see pics too! :)

You guys crack me up this morning!!
Oh yeah a duck/deer blind... great idea!! Whatever it takes! Some wee birdies will just not come out if they see ya. Yes I can imagine your DHs faces... I've seen 'the look' many many times, (one eyebrow raised..."say what??").
Lattice and vines sound good too Sheila.


Quack(:>

I'm glad y'all are getting kick out of my not-so-amused dh!

I have another question. I filled the flat feeder, the suet feeder, and of course the one that goes on top of the post and put them all on the post hanger. I have a tube feeder and a weighted perch feeder. I can add another arm to the 4X4 post to hang more feeders.

QUESTION:
But .... is it better to have the feeders ALL together or scattered around the yard?

Right now I have the other two feeders that are for smaller birds hanging off a 4 arm Shepherd's hook on the other side of my screened porch.

Shelia - Wow that's a LOT of birds sitting in your trees!

Deb - Loved the little quack, quack duck!

If someone here makes a duck blind .... ya HAVE to post a picture!!! Please!!! :-)

Ta, ta! .....Off to work.....

Oh okay, Becky, These Ducks arent blind, but they aren't looking either........hehe!

No honestly I'm serious about the bird Blind, there are some birds that are really shy (like the Red Bellied Woodpecker) and this would help tremendously. I could decorate it with some sort of camaflogue (sp?).
This pic at the top was taken while I was sitting just 8 feet from the feeder but the Downy are quite brave little birds.

Becky, I'm right now seeing that the RBW and the Downy do not come to the main area where most of the feeders (4) are now hanging. I do have the one squirrel proof feeder and 2 plain suets away from the others and they use those. Maybe it will just take them more time. All the other birds do use the main feeders.

Almost all my feeders are in the same general area, however, I've never had an RBW come (I've read in my bird books that they are in this part of the countryj). The Downy's and the Hairy's come all the time, as do the Flickers. The Steller's Jays, Finches, Chickadees, Thrush, and Sparrows all more or less share feeders.

These ducks stay away from all blinds and hang out at the beach.

That's not the pic I meant to attach - I meant this one with Mr. & Mrs. Mallard.

Cuuuuute ducks!

I just have to share this photo of a morning dove that was sitting on my deck. I swear she actually posed for this!!

Just look at that fabulous face - she did indeed pose, Pixie!!!

Very nice Murmur! What I have done is kind of mix it up after watching what goes where. Wren and Warbler like the place under the shrub in the very back corner. The main bird population like it up here close by the rose bush. Then the suet feeder is kinda hanging up and away. As you see what comes you can change it around. Keep the main feeders right there though, looks like a greats spot for them, and for you and any messes
the birds make.
You're right Pelle, Some birds I would not see at all without this window as a blind, plus it is warm in here at the foot of my bed.

This little Kinglet is one I would probably never see without a blind of some sort>
(Zero gravity...)

Cute pic deb!

Love the ducks Murmur!

Nice dove pic pixie!