Wild Bird Feeders

barbszy · #1 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 05:51 AM

I have a bird feeder outside my front window. I like to keep it filled and watch the different birds feed there. Sometimes I look them up in a bird book to see what kinds of birds visit here.

Anyone else enjoy feeding the birds?

strmywthr3 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 06:20 AM

I do! I have feeders out front and out back. suet feeders, finch feeders, regular feeders and hummingbird feeders when they're here. I've been buzzed by hummingbirds fighting over my feeders before! My cats also love to birdwatch from my living room window.

barbszy · #3 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 07:16 AM

Barbi, where do you keep all those different feeders? Are they hanging from trees, standing on poles?

I have one "squirrel proof" feeder that hangs on a shepherd's crook. I could probably put another, different one on the other side. I just put regular "wild bird" seed in it. The squirrels do come to the feeder and feed there but they have not ruined it (like they did the other 2 feeders I had in that spot before then).

strmywthr3 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 07:40 AM

most are on shepherds hooks, some off trees and 1 hangs off my gazebo. they'll all get moved around and mixed up when spring comes around. I have to take down the suet feeders then or the raccoon destroy them. but, my hummingbird feeders are going up about the same time, so I need those hooks anyway!

Sammi1961 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 08:38 AM

Wow, what a great thread! I absolutely love feeding the birds. I have 2 suet feeders hanging fron a dying apple tree in my front yard and have both a downy woodpecker and a hairy woodpecker that come to them. I have to other feeders hanging from shepards poles in the front yard right outside my window so the dc kids and I can watch the birds. I also have a squirrel feeder on the same apple feeder that I fill with dry corn on the cob but the bluejays eat it as much as the squirrels. A few years ago i had two pair or red cardinals who came to my feeders and they came back last year as well. Now all of a sudden this year I have 6 pair of red cardinals coming. I am thrilled as they are my favorite winter birds. I also get nuthatches, grosbeaks, chickadees, bluejays, and other birds I have not identified yet. They are all just so much fun to watch and it helps get me through the winter. I need to go buy birdfood today and may try some different mixes. Has anyone had any luck with squirrel proof feeders? I tried one and it did keep the squirrels away but the birds didn't seem to like it much either.

Pag36 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 09:23 AM

Thanks Barbszy love my birds and have 3 out back right now. I also have squirrel feeder and buy the cobs for them and peanuts too.

will enjoy reading this thread

barbszy · #7 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 10:32 AM

Sammi, I am just happy that the squirrels have not DESTROYED this feeder. They ate their way through the other 2. This one, they can feed from but not break. The birds also feed from this one. I have some pretty fat squirrels, let me tell you

Sammi1961 · #8 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 11:54 AM

Barbszy, I know what you mean. I have lost count of all the feeders I have gone through due to the squirrels chewing all the bird perches off. They can even climb the shepards hooks. I once put vegetable oil on the poles and OMG you should have seen the squirrels. They would jump up the pole the slowly just slide back down. They could not figure out what was going on. But as soon as another storm hit, the vegetable oil wore off. I have a squirrel feeder that I put corn in but they still try to eat all the sunflower seeds. I put some on the ground for the ground feeding birds like mourning doves and blue jays but they still try to get into the feeders.

Lizzie-boo · #9 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 05:27 PM

Barb, I was so hoping that when we moved to your part of the country we'd escape delinquent feeder-destroying squirrels. Oh, well.

DH is more of a bird feeder enthusiast, but I dearly love watching all the various visitors we get to our several bird feeders. We had even been lucky enough to have a pair of sandhill cranes visit us every summer, and even taught their babies to fly in our backyard. What amazing parents they are! The babies would nap in the shade of our backyard trees, and the two parents stood guard facing opposite directions and would run off any interlopers. Amazing!

Liz

strmywthr3 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-18-2007, 06:34 AM

sandhill cranes in your backyard??? you are so lucky! that would be so cool!!