Show Us Your Feeders Everyone!

Here is my newest bird feeder (under construction).

I've had this idea for a while but this morning when I saw a neighborhood tree coming down I stopped and offered them $10 to throw this in my trunk.You gals could have done just as well with a sweet smile.

Anyhoo, the reason for this post is to get the benefit of all your creative thinking. What do I do with this thing now that it's sitting on my deck waiting for action?

Do I use it horizontally like a log or should I mount it vertically? If vertical, do I level the top? Trim the sides? Do I smear $100 worth of peanut butter on it or should I just fill the crevices with BOSS? Anything as good or better than BOSS? Drill holes in it? etc,etc. What would you do?

All I know for sure is that it will be a better and more natural platform for bird pics than a homely suet cage.

Thanks, in advance, for any of your thoughts.

P.S. I'll be AWOL 'til my TV Football is over.

Hi Dave, Nice log!

I would definitely hang it vertically because if you do it the other way every Dove on the block (not to metion others) will be able to use it for a long perch and crap it up (scuse my language,lol) in no time.

If you hang it vertically and drill fairly large holes (filled w/ suet & seeds or peanuts etc) in it your Nuthatch and Woodpeckers will really appreciate it. It might even bring more of them into your yard. I know my Downy WP's really love the vertical suet log.

JMHO- Enjoy the FB game! Pelle :-)

What a neat idea! Of course my dh would think I was insane if I did such a thing......

LOL, really nanny? My DH would think;"Better than having to shell out $15 or more for a feeder".

Lets just call him Mr. Frugal. :-)

OK, I've heard from Pelle. Now I'm hoping others will chime in.

I've put it to work while I'm waiting.

BTW, the guys wouldn't take my $10 so consider this a freebie we could all get.

Oh wait a minute! How much does the log weigh? Looks much bigger in this pic.

I'd guess 60#.

Oh my goodness; that might be difficult to hang,lol. Pelle :-)

So who's your FB team Dave?

My DH took some larger lower branches off of trees last week and my mouth is watering over the anticipation of possibilities for them! :-)

Blah!! The Bear's who just got beat and hapless Notre Dame. Why do you think I'm tinkering with the log?

LOL, I knew my DH's team was losing today when all I could hear was silence except for the TV. (St. Louis)

Looking forward to seeing your final decision on the log.

I just saw a couple of Chickadees check it out so I'll leave it where it lies for now.

Boy, would I love to get a beautiful Towhee like Indiana_lily just did. I didn't realize that we Hoosiers could get that lucky.

Since it is 60# cut or split one third off. Drill or cut whatever holes you desire in the smaller piece and hang it. Hollow out the larger piece and mount it on smaller branches like an old fashion saw buck and use it as a platform feeder. Or mount it on a base and stand it up after drilling holes in the sides for suet and hollow out the top for seed.

Hey Dave I don't know how close the deck is to your house but don't forget about Rat problems etc. It is something to consider unfortunately.

Right Pelle.

Frank,

While you're at it, what diameter holes would you drill in the sides?

Also, I might pick up a bag of Sackreet or the new stuff on the market.

Dave

Dave...Small ones are easier to hide from the camera. Large ones hold more goodies. You might want to think about where to drill the holes and how to position the log to get the best shots. With the holes all on the sides the camera will not see the holes and any WP would apear to be searching for insects. If the holes were toward you; you would only see the back of the birds.
What is the new stuff on the market?

You know, I completely miss my finches....

They've left completely? I'd be sad too! Do we have the same feeder?

I've not seen them for a while. I think I had maybe one or two stay into December last year, but, that's it.

Does your feeder have a yellow plastic top? :)

Yes it does! :-)

No way not you Dave.

Your a Teddybear at heart!

This one's getting rather long, here's Volume 2:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/780857/

Hello Pelletory (Sept 15th post) I just read your post and I have so many photos just like that but from our old house in San Rafael, CA (just north of San Francisco). I would have two upside down feeders filled with Goldfinches all morning and afternoon, even in the pouring rain. But we just moved to a new locale - near the Sierra foothills past Sacramento - there are Goldfinches everywhere but NONE in my yard! I have one upside down feeder and two sock feeders and in two months have only seen one pair on the sock feeder for about 20 mintues. I have lots of other of the "usual cute suspects"....house sparrows, Juncos, Titmice, White-crowded sparrows, lots of cute little White breasted nuthatches and Towhees. I have the Goldfinch feeders in the left part of the yard and the regular feeders on the right so the regular sparrows won't bother the Goldfinches but alas...still no luck attracting my favorite yellow birds! :(

Hi Sarah, I'm sorry to hear that. Is the thistle seed new? It goes bad pretty fast.

Also is there any type of structure closeby to their feeders that they may not like?

I would also try to plant some natural plants/ flowers that they enjoy. They seem to really be attracted to the color yellow (sunflowers etc.).

Is there a bird bath of some type nearby? Pelle :-)

How do you know if thistle seed is bad? I haven't seen goldfinch lately - as far as I can tell, the seed looks ok.

It usually only last about 3-3 1/2 months. Its better to buy smaller amounts more often than to buy alot. You can tell when the Goldfinch stop using it.

Sarah- Heres some things that Goldfinch like:

Thistles, Grasses, Echinacea, Rudbeckia and Zinnias.

I just bought it a couple weeks ago, so it should be ok?

LOL, very funny deb! :-)

I don't mean that it goes bad in the sense of mold or mildew.

It just gets stale.

Thanks Pelle.