thistle seed is the ultimate seed

except for one trait and that is it
clusters into hard globs and gets mildewy
after a huge rain storm.......... so now,
i use it differently and salt it in on occasion
instead by hand.... that or the finch seed.

thistle seed is the ultimate seed



Agree Rav, but man that stuff is getting expensive. :(

Agree Rav, but man that stuff is getting expensive. :(

yeah i know....i went to buy this small bag one day and said $10 bucks for this Lil ole bag....forget it... and that was at wally world.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A few Saturday's ago... i'm lying in bed listening to this female Oriel
singing on the back fence and it seems to be getting louder and louder... i resist opening my eyes as i am still on the threshold of sleep wanting to catch a few more Z's ...and the singing is still getting louder with each repertoire of Song.

Finally the female jumps onto my window screen 15 inches from my head and is Singing up a storm right into the window....

Singing away as if to say.... GET up, GeT up you sleepy heads ...it's morning, Good Morning...oh what a beautiful day it is....and i'm the happiest bird alive.....right into my ear and my wife slept thru it.:uhuh:

You ain't kiddin about the price of thistle seed!

Just spent 20mins looking for the Gdamn camera while a JET BLACK robin was drinking from my pond!!!:realmad:

That's oh such more rare than an albino!The damn thing spent 20 mins at my pond as I tried as quitely to run like a maniac thru the house looking for the %$%$%$%$ing camera!

Camera wasn't where it was supposed to be!PISSED!!!!!!!

Just spent 20mins looking for the Gdamn camera while a JET BLACK robin was drinking from my pond!!!:realmad:

That's oh such more rare than an albino!The damn thing spent 20 mins at my pond as I tried as quitely to run like a maniac thru the house looking for the %$%$%$%$ing camera!

Camera wasn't where it was supposed to be!PISSED!!!!!!!

the chances of him not returning are remote
so NOTE the time of DAY and pick the best place
to snap a picture beforehand...... and get set up

gee that woulda made you rich

if you got .0000001 cents per million that is.... :grins:

check out this all black freak of Nature :uhuh:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/Blacky.png

the chances of him not returning are remote
so NOTE the time of DAY and pick the best place
to snap a picture beforehand...... and get set up

Did so.Camera is at ready.Sitting and waiting.Laptop is at the back window.

At first I thought it was just a blackbird and then I looked closely and thought that "geez that kinda looks like a robin".Then it opened its mouth...it was a robin!Jet freakin black!

gee that woulda made you rich

if you got .0000001 cents per million that is.... :grins:

check out this all black freak of Nature :uhuh:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/Blacky.png

There's a black whitetail deer on Prudence Island...or there was.No one's seen it since it was first spotted several years back.

Black is also the dominant color for squirrels but you have to go to Wa DC to see them in significant numbers.

you don't need the red stuff - 4 part water 1 part white sugar.
it's best to have several seperated as they always seem to buzz each other, I never get more than 1 at a time at a feeder. Males are around I have them, you'll get them, Raven probably has some ideas too

I have a dead branch in a tree above my skylight . Almost every time I look out it at the branch there is a hummer sitting on it. They luv that perch. Just saw one a min. ago. Cute little buggar

Took the parent chickadees less than 2hrs to find a newly hung thistle feeder and show it to their offspring. I've let my naturally planted sunflowers grow in the feeder area so can't wait until they bloom and the goldfinches start to visit a fresh seed source.

my goldfinch population just doubled

as did the rose breasted grossbeaks that hatched out
but it appears that one pair has recently migrated elsewhere

the "no MELT" peanut butter suet has been a huge success
and the catbirds really love it....

plenty of cardinals still around....but i've backed off the bird feeding a bit
because of construction materials expenses ect.

During the summer months I wean them back to what they should be eating: bugs
They will keep coming to the birdfeeders because free food is free food. If you fill them less often, it will force the birds to fend for themselves, and they will start with our #1 favorite, the mosquito.

Just make sure they have water and they will stay around all season long.

I've dropped all feeders other than the thistle feeding. Nothing has been available for the last 2-3 weeks so most of the birds have scattered to their natural feeding grounds. I've got that expensive thistle left over and need to get rid of it (soon).

BTW: not all birds eat bugs, or at least exclusively.

I should have mentioned that as well.
Since most people have plenty of sparrows in and around their yards, the sparrows our primary source of insect feeders.
Most birds feed insects to their young, mainly because of the amount of readily available protein that they provide a growing chick.
Once the bird has left the nest, they will seek out a more varied diet.

generally only the fly catchers will take mosquitoes out of the air...

come to think of it tho.... :think:

i haven't see a single BAT here this year.... and that saddens me!

i am running my mosquito zapper now ........all night long
and just replenished the bait in it....

i hate those sneaky bastids

We used to have a birdhouse on a tree in full view of a bay window (now converted to 3 regular windows).
I was amazed to see the sparrows that were nesting (and year-round tenants) fly back to the house with their beaks full of flying insects, mostly mosquitos.
Since then, I keep the birds supplied with ample housing opportunities so that they can stay and feed in our yard.

I've seen more catbirds this year than ever before

Latin Name : Phyllosloscopus Borealis

My very first one actually- VERY COOL green Bird

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/articwarbler.png
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/articwarbler2.png
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/Articwarbler4.png

I've seen more catbirds this year than ever before

Ditto here!

I might challenge your ID! Did you look up the range map for the Arctic Warbler? If it really is you'll have every Audubon member in your back yard (assumption is that is where these pictures were taken).

That third pic showing the red eye leads me to ID as a Red Eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus), most abundant bird in e. deciduous forests.

That third pic showing the red eye leads me to ID as a Red Eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus), most abundant bird in e. deciduous forests.
I think that's your positive ID.

The green color and hook at the end of the beak give it away.

We do get some weird accidentals around here (my best is a Red Phalarope in Tiverton) but that bird would really be off course!

-spence

I might challenge your ID! Did you look up the range map for the Arctic Warbler? If it really is you'll have every Audubon member in your back yard (assumption is that is where these pictures were taken).

That third pic showing the red eye leads me to ID as a Red Eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus), most abundant bird in e. deciduous forests.

it seemed much smaller to me.... and I didn't have time
to compare it to the red eye...but logic dictates that your correct.

the red eye is 5.5 - to 6.5 inches long and this bird was quite small
because i held in my hand
Phil....

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/redeye.png

Was it injured? Stoned?

-spence

Was it Stoned?

-spence

why yes.... Spence...

you see i had this magic JOINT that Nebe Gave me

i said SIM SIM sala BIM all green birds come down to me...LOL

and with a little puff into the wind...down he came
Stoned as can be....

HAH HAH HAH HA

with my green house glass...

i was up on the ladder installing some shade cloth
and heard the thump sound.........
low level light in the afternoon
and they think it's not even there

i revived him with my chi force
until he flew back to the other blue spruce.

during the interim i took some real nice close up shots

just for the fun of it....

nice taxidermy job!!

Nebe shares???

-spence

Raven has a digital camera?

Raven has a digital camera?

YEAH THE KIND OF FRIGGAN CAMERA THAT THE subject
LETS CALL IT A STUNNED BIRD

is so close to the lense it MAKES it look like i have an expensive
zoom lens when its NOT.........

a neat trick only

Funny, I was wondering how you got so close!

-spence

YEAH THE KIND OF FRIGGAN CAMERA THAT THE subject
LETS CALL IT A STUNNED BIRD

is so close to the lense it MAKES it look like i have an expensive
zoom lens when its NOT.........

a neat trick only

That bird was very stunned, I hope it makes it.

That bird was very stunned, I hope it makes it.

i did the MR Miyagi energy charge up on him and he flew away briskly.

i did the MR Miyagi energy charge up on him and he flew away briskly.

No Shaman incantations?

JUST charge your hands...

and do circles over your PATIENT palm facing downwards
counter clockwise
whether it be plant or animal

and energize them with your chi force....

doesn't work until you AMP up your chi...

so first you feel the AIR as if it were WATER
a combination of "like" treading water and tai chi

breathing in VERY deeply....

and gather the chi right out of the air...

until you build up a charge...

then transfer it to you patient

works like a charm....

my inner chakra just exploded

JUST charge your hands...

and do circles over your PATIENT palm facing downwards
counter clockwise
whether it be plant or animal

and energize them with your chi force....

doesn't work until you AMP up your chi...

so first you feel the AIR as if it were WATER
a combination of "like" treading water and tai chi

breathing in VERY deeply....

and gather the chi right out of the air...

until you build up a charge...

then transfer it to you patient

works like a charm....


I think I just electrocuted my patient with a static electric charge! Maybe I over energized my chi...:)

I think I just electrocuted my patient with a static electric charge! Maybe I over energized my chi...:)


you sure you were not going CLOCKWISE?

OMG..... :grins: you send him to Australia MATE

Have yet to see the black robin since the last sighting.Still can't get over seeing that.Tons of hummers though.

i have hardly any hummers and i'm very un Happy about it....
just one ruby throat at 8:30 pm

maybe i should put all the feeders in the SHADE :huh:
outside of the north facing window
i think i'll try that.... next.:uhuh:

i am gonna plant a million flowers now !
i'm so PISSED :fury:
i'll have them in my friggan green house then :jump1:

i have hardly any hummers and i'm very un Happy about it....
just one ruby throat at 8:30 pm

maybe i should put all the feeders in the SHADE :huh:
outside of the north facing window
i think i'll try that.... next.:uhuh:

i am gonna plant a million flowers now !
i'm so PISSED :fury:
i'll have them in my friggan green house then :jump1:

Not using any feeders whatsoever,just flowers.Lots of flowers.

Jane's the gardener.When she gets off work I'll ask her exactly what they all are.

I'll bet you have lots of red flowers!

Had a hummingbird sitting on the power line a few weeks ago.

-spence

No hummers, but my one legged Downy Woodpecker is back
at the feeder with her young.
Talk about adaptability. :)

Not using any feeders whatsoever,just flowers.Lots of flowers.

Jane's the gardener.When she gets off work I'll ask her exactly what they all are.

yes please ask her asap ...and if any of them are dividable or able to clone or take cuttings i'll trade ya....but i need a start somewhere into the flower world.as ..all i have is some friggan marigolds to keep bugs away..a few potted flowers too

i did plant the humming bird mix but thus far they are just starting to bloom and not workin their magic yet

oh yeah, some pictures would HELP too :uhuh:

No hummers, but my one legged Downy Woodpecker is back
at the feeder with her young.
:)

do all the babies have little one legs too ? :rotflmao:

do all the babies have little one legs too ? :rotflmao:

Nope, doesn't seem to be in the genes Rav, but i sure
would like to know what happened to her other leg.

She hops up trees as good as a two legger. :D

Really amazing!

plant a butterfly bush for the hummingbirds. My parents have one at their house and it has humming birds at it all day. The butterfly bush grows to over 7 feet tall each year and is covered in purple flowers, they just cut it down at the end of the year and it comes back thicker and thicker

Jane's not around at the moment but what harrichate said...butterfly bush.

We have so many different kinds of flowers around the house but there are two that seem to attract...one is hanging basket with tons of small bright red flowers and the others are tall green plants with one big orange flower on top.I'm not sure if that helps you or not Raven.

Hopefully she's back before I get to deep into tonight's race!

If you're looking for cheaper prices for birdseed, check out Ocean State Job Lot.
They have 50lb. blackoil sunflower seed and 25lb. thistle for $20.00 each.
They also can have cheaper prices for suet (when the season calls for it) as well.

Just a little FYI.

sold out in west boro

Probably not uncommon, I just never saw it before. Easily 5 times recently hummingbirds have shown up at my feeder and landed on the feeder or the iron post that it hangs from, stopped flying and perched for a bit.

this tree house must be weird to be in
watching birds come crashing into the glass mirror

Almost invisible mirrored tree house built in Sweden | Yahoo! Green (http://green.yahoo.com/blog/guest_bloggers/56/almost-invisible-mirrored-tree-house-built-in-sweden.html)


oont ya

Couple pictures from this morning. The goldfinches are around all the time, but I wasn't out more than 2-3min when the hummer showed up!

finally have two hummingbirds fighting over the front feeder
and with the cooler mornings ->feeding at 15 minute intervals

my smaller sunflower seed feeders are emptied every other day by those goldfinches
and the RBG's, goin thru prolly a quart of seed .... they's a munchin

will do experiment.... 2nite .....and fill it at midnite to see if some 4 leggers are helpin

they are sure eating my big tomato's --> bastids

Nice shots,PRB. :btu:

Rav, do you have any problems with bears knocking down
your feeders?

Nice shots,PRB. :btu:

Rav, do you have any problems with bears knocking down
your feeders?

nope just damned racoons in the corn thus far,
but i just harvested it all so that ends that...
we ate some raw its so sweet...steaming some now for lunch

what a mess they make of it
....and hard to catch them in the act too....

because i'd chase em down with my old fashion weed slicer
shaped like a golf putter....
and lop their heads clean off...
next year!..... i'll have sleigh bells in the corn :uhuh:

i need a Super sharp samurai sword -LOL

finally got up to speed here
the hummingbird flower mix is now in full bloom
the seed mixture is most excellent i must say

now i have 3-4-5-6 :huh: battling for turns....

wicked cool because i'll be standing there watering the flowers
and the hummers go into hover mode with their tail feathers
fully spread (full flaps) and lookin large.....as they kinda "moon walk"
in forward motion every so slowly waiting to chase off the intruders

Huey and Duey

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/heuyanddeuy.jpg

Nice shot Rav, :btu:

Amazing, their beaks are larger than their heads a this point.

Great pic... That nest looks like a lot of work...

what will the be when they grow up?

doh!!! :wall: Robins -> there ............Tin Man :uhuh:

. That nest looks like a lot of work...

shocked the Sh1T outta me.... it was an amazing piece of construction i thought.
"precise mud work" like stucco
i hadn't been down there much.....
for say 2 1/2 weeks after straining my back..

(from carrying my table saw upstairs from the cellar... 2 days later i go hunched over)

the place was over grown allot ...so much so i had to weed whack the whole area again... :doh:

and suddenly i see the nest... oh great! i said...reaching in to feel for eggs
~ and there was already one....
otherwise, i would of moved it to the outside of the structure.

doh!!! :wall: Robins -> there ............Tin Man :uhuh:

Like how do I know that, tinfoil boy

Like how do I know that, tinfoil boy

:cheers:

"To know nature is to put oneself in perfect harmony with the universe.
Heaven and earth are one. So must we seek a discipline
of mind and body within ourselves." -Caine

Interesting site yesterday in Quick's Hole: thousands of swallows hanging around and flying over the water. Didn't really see any fishing....I've attached a video but you really can't see any details of the birds: the bright, flashing spots above the water. What you can see is the relative roughness of the conditions and this was not the rip area!


http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy10/PRBuzz/th_SwallowsofQuickHole001.jpg (http://s772.photobucket.com/albums/yy10/PRBuzz/?action=view&current=SwallowsofQuickHole001.mp4)

Went to the Raptor weekend at the Audubon in Bristol today.Very cool.

I always enjoy watching the southern hawk migration.
Should be starting soon. :)

So when do people start feeding the birds again? I still have summer buds hangin around, I normally have hummers until around Columbus day

anybody put up winter boxes for 'warmth sheltering' any success?

you'd have to heat those with a lizard mat
for the birds to wanna use them

Alas,
I haven't seen a hummer in 7 or more days. I think it's starting....

Anybody else have hummer's MIA?

Alas,
I haven't seen a hummer in 7 or more days. I think it's starting....

Anybody else have hummer's MIA?

We don't even put out hummer feeders. Our Flowering Cherry tree and all the other flowers about the yard have been attracting them like crazy over the past few weeks.We get one for some strange reason likes to hover at our front picture window.

We'll be putting out our Fall feeders this weekend.Hopefully my Sharp-Shinned Hawk comes back this year.

I put my fall feeders out this week

Still bummed about no hummers, just doesn't seem the time

FYI: A Tractor Supply store opens today on Bay Rd Taunton (Exit 9 off I-495) and they seem to have a huge section of pet supply stuff, including wild bird foods of all kinds. Might want to check them out, I did a quick walk through the store last night.

FYI: A Tractor Supply store opens today on Bay Rd Taunton (Exit 9 off I-495) and they seem to have a huge section of pet supply stuff, including wild bird foods of all kinds. Might want to check them out, I did a quick walk through the store last night.

Damn, I's been waiting for them to show up, that's 5 min from my house

Cool

Not on their website yet though

right next to BJ's right?

right next to BJ's right?

Yes, should be able to see it from 495, google earth shows a large pad being built

right next to BJ's right?

Yes

Funny thing just now my picture window hummer just showed up.He's now somewhere in the tree,I just can't see him!

T- for taunting ----penalty box...

Could the mods merge the "time to start feeding the birds" thread with
this one?

It would be nice to consolidate all the bird threads into one for easy info.

If she's eating English Sparrows or Chipmunks, she's welcome if not
she should find a different hunting ground.

I think it's a juvenile female Cooper because of her size and coloring.
Could be a Sharp-Shinned but hard to tell without a telephoto.
Legs were very bright yellow.

and play this video

tons of em on the web

this will send him elsewhere

YouTube - Hawk vs Crows (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLbGxJ7fgnc)

Geez Rav, i knew crows and owls were mortal enemies
but not crows and hawks. I've heard crows badger owls
for hours on end.

yeah they hate all predator birds...

soooo territorial about their roost trees....

use that to your advantage....

at a very early age i'd have birds (bluejays)
TAPPING AT THE GLASS BECAUSE I WAS PLAYING BIRD RECORDINGS OUT THE WINDOW - oops caps

you can use recordings to attract birds or repel them in that way
and it works quite well....

i wish fish responded so easily

...we had a Veytoslow pigeon show up yesterday....

If she's eating English Sparrows or Chipmunks, she's welcome if not
she should find a different hunting ground.

I think it's a juvenile female Cooper because of her size and coloring.
Could be a Sharp-Shinned but hard to tell without a telephoto.
Legs were very bright yellow.

Sharpies are a little more common locally than Cooper's but both do occupy the same range.I have a Sharpie that visits every year.Have yet to see him get anything from around the feeders but he's done a number on a small group of pidgeons that hang around my neighborhood.

I think it's a juvenile female Cooper because of her size and coloring. Could be a Sharp-Shinned but hard to tell without a telephoto. Legs were very bright yellow.

I think it's a fish hawk targeting the fish in your window!

we have a Blue jay that has some throat or vocal cord damage
so that when it tries to make the normal call it comes out distorted
and sounds exactly like a red tailed hawk instead.

A flock of 500 grackles has descended upon our neighborhood making lots of noise in unison

I think it's a fish hawk targeting the fish in your window!

LOL, PR :D

Rav,my only problem is my neighbors would call the cops for
disturbing the peace with all those crow calls. :) I love the sound
of crows, takes me back to when I was a kid on the farm.

I was reading this morning how tough flyers the Coopers and
Sharp-Shinned are, flying through branches after their prey.
30 percent of autopsies done show broken ribs and wing breaks.

My one legged female Downy is back. :) Talk about tough, climbing
trees and at the same time getting food on one leg. :D

Understood Dave.... on the Noise issue deal

but to understand the "letter of the LAW"

a noise disturbance is "measured" by how many decibels
is being generated... and for how long too....

and i would imagine it would require
a mere ten seconds for the predatory bird
to hear it and FLEE the area....

Raven, that blue jay doesn't have a throat problem; it is imitating the hawk to scare the competition. I've noticed it is not just every blue jay that does it, just a very select few. I've had one particular bird nesting on my property for the last couple of years making that call from his favorite perches in the general area of his nests. I had heard that distant call for years and always thought it was a hawk!

This seems to be the time of year that most of the posters on this thread start feeding, but I'm the opposite. I only feed in the early spring to early summer - once the feeders start getting clogged with fledged sparrows I'm done. I'll be closing up my cottage soon (then back to Quincy for the winter, where I would just attract pigeons and squirrels) and out here in the wilds of Truro there is so much natural food for them right now (berries, seeds, etc.) that I thing that it is smart to put out feed and get them dependent on a food supply then stop - I don't think that would help them make it through the winter. But once March arrives I go at it full bore. The beauty of feeding in the spring is that I'm outdoors all of the time getting my place (gardens cottages splitting wood for heat burning brush etc.) ready to go so I have learned to ID birds through their calls. It is amazing the range that the blue jay has (I like the one that sounds like a creaky door hinge). I've learned that another bird with a surprising variety of vocalizations is the goldfinch.

By the time the survivors have made it to spring they are fearless when it comes to feeding - I have literally had them land on the feeder as I was putting it up. And as the berries and seeds that were so plentiful in the fall are exhausted my feeding stations are a big hit, so my yard becomes a cacophony of bird calls. Nothing nicer than after the end of a long day doing yard work in the spring after the long crappy winter ahead than to sit down with a beer in the middle of my feeders and taking in the birds doing their thing. Only three months or so to go -

for drawing the more "exotic" birds in any environment

so, you (2NA) and Clammer and others who have only pesky
sparrows ought to give it a shot and feed some wood peckers and Nuthatches for a while. (strictly suet)

Birds need fat to burn in the dead of winter and insects and grubs provide that for most of the year but not in winter.

now if you have a large amount of starlings that normally are living off the three fast food dumpsters then its a lost cause.

I've had twenty gold finches sitting on a 5 x 5 cube of suet ....still kicking myself that i didn't get that on film and bluebirds and orioles in the spring that never would have been there if not for the suet.

Mike I feed birds at my place the same way. In the Early Summer there is nothing more enjoyable to me than to sit with a good view of my feeder and a book and watch all the birds come in. I try to discourage the squirrels and they get POed that I'm there. We had Cedar waxwings last season,hadn't seen one in years.

Been seeing a bunch of Blue Jays and Cardinals around. Finally motivated me to mount the feeders to the side of my place - landlord said he didn't mind me making a few holes to hang a couple feeders right in front of our bay window.

Ladder ended up being about 4' too short. Was probably an interesting site from the road seeing me hanging mostly out the window with the misses holding my waist to prevent a 20' fall. The effort was worth it though and we have a great view... now to wait for the birds to find them.

Mike, thanks for the bags. Worked perfect with the suet.

most blue jays I have seen in years this year. Won't take them long to find it. I filled mine, I have 3 , and they were there within a half hour and I hadn't put seed in them for a good year. It was like they were watching me.

fastest eating sunflower seed bird
is the rose breasted gross beak

or maybe its the longest... :huh:
dunno

but the females sit there forever
with a beak thats PERFECT for splitting seeds
and they never leave :doh:

Raven, I do get the suet out too. 2 springs ago I kept every yellow rumped warbler in Truro fed til the bugs showed up. I would have a dozen sitting around it taking turns - never saw one before or since. I use the sparrow crop as a gauge as when to stop. I think the birds have to be given a chance to learn to feed on their own, but if they make it through winter I like to give them an energy boost until other food shows.

Yeah Johnny, those bags work perfect for the suet. They'll get crappy after a while, let me know if you want any more - I find enough of them on the beach.

Paul, I put a scrap of ply on a couple of sawhorses in the middle of the feeding grounds and throw seed on that too. I have 2 seed feeders and a bag of suet within 15’; I'll sit in the middle. The birds are accustomed to me so they barely spook. Mucho relaxing. The chickadees, pine warblers and red-breasted nuthatches will land within arms reach. I've wanted to try to hand feed them, but I think that would take too much time to get them to do it.

Chickadees are probably the least wary birds when it comes to you and the feeders. If you are filling the feeders, they will usually be the first ones there, and if you place seeds in your open hand held as high as possible (or as close to the same height as the feeder) they WILL eventually fly onto your hand and feed.
I've done this a few times in the past.

As for feeding, I feed the birds regularly during the fall thru to spring when I wean them off of my offerings and let them fend for themselves. It's about the same time that the spring insects make their appearance, so they food supply is consistent enough.

My favorite bird based on their call is the mockingbird. They will incorporate many sounds in their call, including machines and man-made sounds. I've heard them mimic cats and dogs as well as lawnmowers and car alarms.
The one that made the cat sound was funny because it was poised at the VERY TOP of a tree near a local bus stop. When I heard the sound, I thought I was hearing things since I could clearly see that there was no way for a cat to climb that high (plus the leaves were off the tree), and when the bird flew away it finished its call in mid flight, at which point I turned to a fellow transit traveler and said "Unless cats can fly, that was a mockingbird!"
They got a kick out of it, almost as much as I did!

Mockingbird calls are in my top 4 for sure. Some have been known to do 50 different calls in a row. Catbirds are pretty talented too but they never shut up. Got an affinity for the Carolina Wren but they are loud and early and wake me up some mornings, but probably my favorite bird. Beautiful to look at too. Also luv to listen to the Baltimore Orioles song too. Probably my fav though is the Robin. Listening to the robin as it starts to get dark in early spring as it sits high in the leafless tree is the best sound you can hear as it means the days are getting longer and warmer weather is coming out way. Brings me a smile all spring long.

Tim, I've had them land on the feeder in my hand as I was hanging it in the spring. I've read about how to wean them away from fear by putting a little seed on a table next to you, then putting your hand on the table, next move it closer to the seed, then finally get the seed in your hand, but I just don't have the time. It would be cool, though.

Paul, I lived in an apartment next to a marsh way back when, and the mockingbirds would call nonstop straight through the night. It was the only noise in the neighborhood. I've read that yearlings do that.

Catbirds watch me mow the lawn. Makes it easy for them to pick the worms and grubs out of the grass. Some times when I don't need to mow they'll sit in the Privets and bitch at me.

Mockingbird calls are in my top 4 for sure. Some have been known to do 50 different calls in a row. Catbirds are pretty talented too but they never shut up. Got an affinity for the Carolina Wren but they are loud and early and wake me up some mornings, but probably my favorite bird. Beautiful to look at too. Also luv to listen to the Baltimore Orioles song too. Probably my fav though is the Robin. Listening to the robin as it starts to get dark in early spring as it sits high in the leafless tree is the best sound you can hear as it means the days are getting longer and warmer weather is coming out way. Brings me a smile all spring long.

Turkeys roosting and Owls hootin

P. another favorite of mine is the wood thrush singing in the summer
evening. Had one nest in my rhodies near the front porch one year.

I think they are related to the robin family as they like to stay in the
marshy areas of the woods.

Ladder ended up being about 4' too short. Was probably an interesting site from the road seeing me hanging mostly out the window with the misses holding my waist to prevent a 20' fall.

LOL, prolly thought she was shakin ya and saying, " give it up". :hihi: :D

The Cooper was back today at 12 PM wating in a tree above the bushes
where the English Sparrows have their daily noon time racket fight for a couple of
hours.
Right now I'm rooting for the Hawk. :devil:

Haven't witnessed any activity at the feeder... until today.

First observed visitor (sorry about the image size):
http://imgur.com/U1Nll.jpg

So next on the agenda, I need a guide book. What do you guys suggest?

i see lots of leaves

Audobon field guide.

looks like a Goldfinch or a close relation

Johnny D: "So next on the agenda, I need a guide book. What do you guys suggest?"

John I've got a brand new (better classified as unused) Peterson's guide and a rarely used Audubon, we can talk trade. I have 3 guides so will not miss one. I like Peterson over Audubon, I can show you both and you choose.

looks like a Goldfinch or a close relation
Good call Mike. Seems to be a female American Goldfinch. Picture from a state's DNR website:
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/bird/birdposter/images/americanGoldFinch.jpg

Johnny D: "So next on the agenda, I need a guide book. What do you guys suggest?"

John I've got a brand new (better classified as unused) Peterson's guide and a rarely used Audubon, we can talk trade. I have 3 guides so will not miss one. I like Peterson over Audubon, I can show you both and you choose.
Appreciate it Phil, but I got yelled at last night when I mentioned "I might pick up a field guide tomorrow to be able to figure out what I'm looking at."

Apparently I ruined a Christmas gift from one of the grandmothers. :smash: Never did well with the whole "don't buy anything for yourself during December". I'll drop a couple hints on the Peterson's guide.

Thanks for the suggestions from you and striperman36.

Goldfinches are deceiving because they always change color

the females turn olive colored in the spring to be better
camouflaged when nesting

the males loose some gold ......... then regain it....

Johnny, the best bird book out there is Sibley's Guide to Birds.

Anyone else interest in birding field guides? I'm willing to barter......

i like all those GUIDES

but the best book on north eastern song and Garden birds
in my opinion is:
(to start out with- that is- not to carry)

song and garden birds of north america


an older book! prolly hard to find now
but it had small flex vinyl bird records in the back
which allowed you to hear each individual bird
as narrated by the bird guide
....and that helped me to identify birds better!

because allot of times you hear them
but cannot always see them because of dense foliage

Johnny, the best bird book out there is Sibley's Guide to Birds.

It is excellent.

I just want to point out there are several really good websites nowadays for bird visual/vocal ID. We are in the internet age!

I'll post some later but if you have your favorite, please post.

really good site. Cornell Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/search (includes multiple versions of calls/songs, video, color patterns and most likely to confuse with")

Common Birds of NE: http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Birds_Kamm_Kuss/Pages/PAGE_SEARCH_COMMON.html (no songs)

for those on iPad/iPod: http://www.birdjam.com/?osCsid=uggvejiefepqqgqko0d6ao4d92

Another great gift for Bird watchers is the iFlyer bird call wand. It is a small handheld wand and a small field guide that has pictures of NA birds. Next to each pic is a barcode... you wand it and it plays their unique bird call. I went to Mt auburn cemetary last spring (cambridge, MA) with a friend who has one and this device is great. At $87 from Amazon not cheap but the birders I know love this device.

here is the link to Amazon:

Amazon.com: I-Flyer BirdSong Scanning Wand: Patio, Lawn & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/iflyer-IW01-I-Flyer-BirdSong-Scanning/dp/B000VZI5HY)

watching chickadees pecking on frozen suet squares wasn't cutting it
as they hardly were making a dent in the now "wood like suet" ...
so i grabbed one......

brought it inside and grated it with a cheese grater into much smaller bite sized pieces for them

now the tuft TIT mice ,Nuthatches and Chickadees are loving life.

little things like this goes a long way in getting them enough fat to burn in these frigid temperatures and survive.

I've had the feeders up for almost two weeks now. For the past week, I've only had the same two birds show up every day. Haven't seen a single one of their avian friends. What's the deal?
http://imgur.com/vXGmB.jpg

LOOKS rather high up ....
i have several types

the one they like the best is made out of wood and is ancient

the wire is wicked cold , so, add a wooden dowel perch to it
attached to the wire with some twisto's

they like LANDING zones
to scope it out first- i've found
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/cardinal.png

I've had the feeders up for almost two weeks now. For the past week, I've only had the same two birds show up every day. Haven't seen a single one of their avian friends. What's the deal?


At least you have finches, you'll regret when the sparrows, blue jays and other less desirables show up and go through your sun flower seeds every day.

Agree with Raven, too high up and away from cover. Give them time others will find the feeder, especially at first snow.

Agree with Raven, too high up and away from cover. Give them time others will find the feeder, especially at first snow.

Appreciate the input from you and Raven. Unfortunately, that spot was my only option. We have some large bay windows with a reflective coating on the outside which works out well in that we can stand right next to the window and see the birds (the pictures I posted are without any zoom). We don't have a yard or anything like that and wanted to put the feeders in a place where they could be enjoyed.

Those two goldfinches have gone through half the tube of sunflower seed in about a week. Do you guys suggest I get a mixed seed or keep going with the sunflower seeds?

Honestly, my main goal is to get regular visits from cardinals. I really enjoy their vivid red color. Tips?

Honestly, my main goal is to get regular visits from cardinals. I really enjoy their vivid red color. Tips?

Get something with a flat bottom, cardinals don't like (but will try) to feed from tube feeders. Stay with 100% striped or better black oil sunflower seeds. Cardinals like safflower seeds (white). Put up a couple suet feeders and enjoy all the birds that like those. You can hang them from the bottom of your tubes.

Once birds start feeding they will draw more birds.

Get something with a flat bottom, cardinals don't like (but will try) to feed from tube feeders. Stay with 100% striped or better black oil sunflower seeds. Cardinals like safflower seeds (white). Put up a couple suet feeders and enjoy all the birds that like those. You can hang them from the bottom of your tubes.

Once birds start feeding they will draw more birds.

I have a similar setup on the other side of the bay window that holds suet. Haven't seen a single bird land on it and doesn't look like a scrap of suet has been eaten.

I may go to Job Lot and grab something like this:
http://www.mybackyardplans.com/pics/images/bird%20feeder/instructions/bird%20feeder%2014.jpg
hang it where the suet bag is now and hang the suet bag below.

I have a similar setup on the other side of the bay window that holds suet. Haven't seen a single bird land on it and doesn't look like a scrap of suet has been eaten.

I may go to Job Lot and grab something like this:
http://www.mybackyardplans.com/pics/images/bird%20feeder/instructions/bird%20feeder%2014.jpg
hang it where the suet bag is now and hang the suet bag below.

That's ideal for your cardinals! Get some high level mix with safflower and fill that feeder. The suet eating birds will be here shortly don't give up on it.

on the safflower seed

but you want to go get HULLED seed blend at a wild birds unlimited
outlet if you have one near by... as its allot fresher
kaytee is also a good quality brand

otherwise go to a feed store...and see what they have

stuff at: job lot, k mart ,walmart ect is old and usually a cheap quality....never BUY a huge bag of blended seed that has MILLET in it because its a scam BIGTIME and the worst seed imaginable
don't buy seed sight unseen where you cant see thru the bag
unless you trust the brand... noticing how much shake or broken down seed "dust" also is an indicator of seed age and quality

the higher quality seed is denser meaning less seed HULLS taking up space inside the feeder ... and they don't have to shell it

it's CHRISTMAS so reward them with something higher quality
ESPECIALLY since we are in extremely cold temperatures....

Always amazes me when i see a NUTHATCH t#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g saflower and sunflower seeds up underneath roof shingles as a secret stash only that particular bird will remember

Real suet (beef fat trimmed from a steak strip) went into 2 holders tonight. I'll let JD know when/what birds find it.

I've had the feeders up for almost two weeks now. For the past week, I've only had the same two birds show up every day. Haven't seen a single one of their avian friends. What's the deal?
http://imgur.com/vXGmB.jpg

Gay Democratic goldfinches

That's ideal for your cardinals! Get some high level mix with safflower and fill that feeder. The suet eating birds will be here shortly don't give up on it.
Good to know. I hate having to buy something so simple to make, but I have neither the time nor space to build one unless I wait until after Christmas.

on the safflower seed

but you want to go get HULLED seed blend at a wild birds unlimited
outlet if you have one near by... as its allot fresher
kaytee is also a good quality brand

otherwise go to a feed store...and see what they have

stuff at: job lot, k mart ,walmart ect is old and usually a cheap quality....never BUY a huge bag of blended seed that has MILLET in it because its a scam BIGTIME and the worst seed imaginable
don't buy seed sight unseen where you cant see thru the bag
unless you trust the brand... noticing how much shake or broken down seed "dust" also is an indicator of seed age and quality

the higher quality seed is denser meaning less seed HULLS taking up space inside the feeder ... and they don't have to shell it

it's CHRISTMAS so reward them with something higher quality
ESPECIALLY since we are in extremely cold temperatures....

Always amazes me when i see a NUTHATCH t#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g saflower and sunflower seeds up underneath roof shingles as a secret stash only that particular bird will remember
Awesome info Raven. There's a livestock feed store right down the street from my office, I'll see what they have. Otherwise, Briggs flower nursery in N. Attleboro usually has a pretty good stock of high quality seed - pricey though.

Good to know. I hate having to buy something so simple to make, but I have neither the time nor space to build one unless I wait until after Christmas.


Awesome info Raven. There's a livestock feed store right down the street from my office, I'll see what they have. Otherwise, Briggs flower nursery in N. Attleboro usually has a pretty good stock of high quality seed - pricey though.

Wild birds Unlimited by Stonehill College

Woodpeckers are back (both downy and the red bellied)
The rest have been here all year.

after i shaved a suet block with the cheese grater
the birds were coming and going gorging themselves like no tomorrow
no pecking required-LOL

totally cool seeing a NUTTY (nuthatch)
filling his beak full and throwing his head back to swallow it
kinda like us chugging beer
they were all so HAPPY they were singing ! :btu:

yeah the quality seed is a bit Pricey but conditions warrant it
spread some sunflower (non hulled) on the ground too for the ground feeders (cardinals prefer it typically)
but that attracts them closer then they'll find/discover your feeder again JD

Feeders, all single tube type are now up. Went to The Tractor Store and got the seed/suet last night. Great variety offered, pickup up individual bags of black oil, safflower, and sunflower hearts. Must have 6-8 different types of suet for $0.99 each. Have 4 suet block hanging.

These past few days have been very busy around the feeders for sure.
All the usual suspects for this time of year.

Air traffic controller needed: the flock has found the feeders within an hr!

Chickadees, house finches, titmice (titmouses?), wrens, sparrows, and 3 squirrels. Off to buy some cracked corn for those 4 legged rat, bas**rds with furry tails.

Air traffic controller needed: the flock has found the feeders within an hr!

Chickadees, house finches, titmice (titmouse?), sparrows, and 3 squirrels. Off to buy some cracked corn for those 4 legged rat, bas**rds with furry tails.

I go through way to much cracked corn.One thing I've started doing is placing my feeders away from anything that the rats can jump from and heavily grease the sheaperds hooks that I hang my feeders on.Its pretty damn comical to watch one jump up onto the pole and then slide down.The only drawback is that you have to regrease every few days so I just started using generic brand vaseline to save a few bucks.

Air traffic controller needed: the flock has found the feeders within an hr!

Chickadees, house finches, titmice (titmouses?), wrens, sparrows, and 3 squirrels.

Off to buy some cracked corn for those 4 legged rat, bas**rds with furry tails.


not me.... i just YELL SQUIRREL!!
and unleash the HOUND on -em

that's her JOB

not me.... i just YELL SQUIRREL!!
and unleash the HOUND on -em

that's her JOB


Keeps the old guy in shape and the little one never gets tired of tryin.

Day 2: add junkos, doves, and yes cardinals! I have 2 or 3 pairs of cardinals in the area year round.

JD: still no birds? You have seen cardinals around your condo, right? Try this: scatter seeds on the ground below. Even try to put out a water source. Once the birds are attracted to the area, they should look up and find your feeders. Gradually stop to the spreading of ground seed and the birds should be hooked on your feeders. Good luck.

i grab christmas trees
after christmas sometimes b4 on (last day)
or when they are free....

and i place them in a half circle
out in the snow as an instant habitat
then i salt the trees with seed
hang red onion bags of suet

a couple of those seed bells
and throw seed all over place
and in front of the trees

the birds have a freiken PARTY !!!

when i lived out west i paid particular attention
to the behavior of ants

if they were running around frantically
it was gonna rain sure as sh!t


yesterday i noticed the JUNCO's (acting different)
all spread out on the lawn (mathematically)

they were behaving like the ants.....
knowing the snow was coming

they were acting as if in unison
"all knowing" simultaneously

now every time is see that
i know what it means

literally a 1000 birds a day easy at my 3 feeders last couple weeks. Going thru seed like crazy. . Our 3 outdoor cats have lost interest there are so many birds. Tons of Blue Jays this year and have been absent the last several years. Seem to be hanging around the Japanese Snowbell tree i have as there are tons of fruits on the ground. I have lots of fruited shrubs loaded which are drawing birds too. I also think the flying squirrels have made an appearance too as I think I spotted one th other nite late. Cats are keeping the squirrels away it seems.

So,
today I'm outside working on the driveway and I look up and see a laughing gull (black headed seagull) that the right defination? Never seen one of those inshore before...

birds are eating quite frantically...

as i trim fat off the roasted holiday ham for meals

i place it outside.....for them

i had cooked some bacon the other day

and i had a small amount of liquid bacon grease
in the black iron pan..... to dispose of... ok

so i took a quart of black sunflower seed
and swirled it around in the pan... to soak it all up
then carried the whole works out to a feeding platform
the blue jays loved it as they eat the whole seed
without shelling them.... every seed was gone that day

they have been congregating on top of my PINK (coarse)
sand pile eating small stones for their gizzard- grinder too

well i don't mind feeding them some seed
but when they come in a flock of 30 +
and then attract the starlings -> i get pissed

and they drive off all the other smaller birds
then......... i have to take stronger measures

so i grabbed some unused at the moment
freezer baskets and caged them bastids out

they can find greener pastures elsewhere- LOL

F U http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/no-blue-jays.png

Raven: Great idea! Also functions as a squirrel guard.

looks like a carolina wren in there.

my lil Buddy....

blue jays can eat off the ground, he's lovin the privacy

my fav. call and bird. Loud little sucker

I have to go get more seed. the birds have eaten me out again.

Gonna head to TSC.

my fav. call and bird. Loud little sucker

i was quite surprised Paul

i hung a cedar bird house in the blue spruce

it looked like it was turned on a lathe too

very next day the wren moves in SINGing up a storm
i was real pleased

soon afterwards, a damn chipmunk evicted him
and moved in..... man i hate those lil bastids

I have to go get more seed. the birds have eaten me out again.

Gonna head to TSC.

BJ'S wholesale sells 40 lb bags Black sunflower for $18 and change

BJ'S wholesale sells 40 lb bags Black sunflower for $18 and change

I'll check out TSC and if need be, go over to BJ's right next door.

TSC is cool though.

What I am looking for though is a heated outdoor waterbowl for the dogs, the darn this freezes all the time.

Hanging out in Truro for the holiday. Had some time to kill yesterday so headed to Mid-Cape Home Center, grabbed some Cedar and built one of these last night as an alternative to the tube feeders...
http://i.imgur.com/AtzJh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/uFa99.jpg

Just need to head to Lowes and get a piece of plexiglass. Hopefully the birdies like it.

Nice. Build a wide gaged wire covering like Raven to permit only desired birds.

If you got more time to kill....I'd like one, too.

Nice work Mr D!

Nice. Build a wide gaged wire covering like Raven to permit only desired birds.

If you got more time to kill....I'd like one, too.
I'm gonna put it up and see what happens. Sorry Phil, off-Cape now and back to work tomorrow.

Nice work Mr D!
Thanks!

i spread a scoop of sf seed out on the dog area for the Jays

because hey,,,i realize it's tough going out there
and they're just trying to survive ...

it was fun putting a couple of mice out on top
of the plywood on the burn barrel
for whom ever would take them....
as my cat kills em in the attic often...

the jays had no interest but a crow did....
of course he had to hover- fly over the set up
three times before he was confident enough to go
take them and then he took both at once and took off with-em

i cannot stand starlings tho and wouldn't care if they all froze.

did you make the top pivot for easy refills ?

i cannot stand starlings tho and wouldn't care if they all froze.

Starlings, blue jays, and English House sparrows all in the same boat....

with those damned starlings

being an avid bird watcher as a youngster
i was always aware what was going on in my home turf area

I knew where every nest was -knew every birds name
how they flew, what sounds they made....the whole nine yards

well one day as my neighbor grilled 8 -10 hamburgers on his grill
the F-ing starlings would wait for him to go inside
because they are opportunist's to the extreme

they'd glide on down from there perch on his chimney
their feet completely used to the heat....from being up there

and they'd gorge themselves quickly on the red meat like piranha
before he'd get the chance to flip them burgers over see
then they'd vanish just as quick :point: like a magic trick

so he comes out , and he's like 55, and i am five to seven years old
and he just looses his mind completely ...comes charging after me
to take out his absolute rage after seeing the literally striped thin patties on the grill...screaming bloody murder shaking me like a rag doll quite violently -> while accusing my dog of the crime

i tried to tell him and explain what i just moments before had witnessed with these sneaky as hell F-ing starlings and he
thought that was the BIGGEST god dam lie of all !!!! made him even madder
and he started shaking me even harder... he was going insane....

then while this was going on ......the starlings went down for seconds
and i hit him hard to get his attention ....
and pointed to his grill SEEE ->>> now crying and mad as hell

showing him who the real thieves were! LOOK
he goes running over there screaming at them now

then i proceeded to call him every swear word i had ever heard
and made him fell like a friggan pile of ant sh!t

my DAD almost went to jail after he told him a thing or two later :uhuh: true story

OK f---ing starlings win! Some experience you had.

did you make the top pivot for easy refills ?
I didn't want to bother with that. Wanted to make it as easy to build as possible so I ran the stainless steel cable through the roof so that it can slide up. There is a triangle piece at the top of the lid on both ends making the lid fit nice and snug over the two sides.

Pretty simple build. Bought a 4' x 8" x 3/4" piece of Cedar and used almost every bit. I didn't want a 3/4" thick roof so I cut the length and then ripped the board into two 5/16" thick pieces. Worked out nicely.

I have gone to squirrel proof feeders about 15 years ago. The squirrels will eat right thru a wooden one. I like the feeders that are spring loaded, although a little pricey they are worth it in the long run. Too much weight on perch they close. Luv watching the squirrels try and figure it out. They give up eventually. The darn sparrows are worse then squirrels though. They take up house on the perch and never leave till they are full. PIA.

On a side note take some time to check out your feeders at nite. I will bet you have flying squirrels but just never knew it. I got video of them, 4, feeding. Pretty cool. Since the neighbor stripped mined their yard of a lot of trees they don't seem as frequent anymore. If you have a lot of trees and close to the feeders you got them I'll bet. It is really cool to see them swoop down from high above. They are so friggin fast up a tree and they have gigantic eyes. They are in and out of the feeder lightning fast so you have to watch closely. I have a spot light on the feeder and they don't seem to mind it. I have had up to 8 at a time feeding in years past. Drain the feeder fast though with them at nite and birds in day. Stupid Cat killed one and bought it in house one nite. It was neat to examine it up close though. Real small and light weight.

On a side note take some time to check out your feeders at nite. I will bet you have flying squirrels but just never knew it.
Don't think I've ever seen a flying squirrel before. Gotta be pretty cool to see.

YouTube - Ultimate Squirrel Launching Compilation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5-d3rZZ-_M)

Hawk I.D. If you guess, give me an idea how sure you are on a 0 - 100% scale

Looks like a Sharp Shinned. Had them in the back yard as well, and just looked it up. Could be Cooper's, which look very similar, but bigger. The Sharp shinned is more common I believe. Let the more experienced weigh in though.

I agree, 80% SS. Hard ID but the barrel chest makes me think it's a SS.
Tail tip in the pic is hard to ID wether it is square or rounded like the Cooper.

The head coloration is what I find difficult to reconcile!

Sharp-shinned hawk
pretty high

.Check out www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw.../accpiterlDtable.htm[/url]. They have pics and comparisons
of the SS and Cooper.
Really hard to tell from the pic posted.

.Check out www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw.../accpiterlDtable.htm[/url]. They have pics and comparisons
of the SS and Cooper.
Really hard to tell from the pic posted.

Checked that site and 2 or 3 other sites plus 2 different field guides, just couldn't get a match I was confortable with, that is why I posted here: the ultimate authorities?:uhuh:

Pellet gun comin out shortly... too many squirrels showing around a now empty feeder

Pellet gun comin out shortly... too many squirrels showing around a now empty feeder

Ah, you too? After being woken up every morning the last 3 days and only the rare visit from birds, the squirrel must die. There's only one right now that comes by at the same time every morning.

I've got between 6-7 squirrels that fear the sight of me, one has felt my sting! A clap of the hands now has them scurrying for cover.

We get anywhere from 7-12 grey rats ** every day.
It wouldn't be so bad if they were content to feed on what I give them, but they have destroyed too many of the feeders for me to let it go any further. Fortunately the will only bother with a feeder that has sunflower seeds. Unfortunately they have learned to leap great distances in order to get at the only feeders that I fill with sunflower seeds, and they have chewed them into worthless plastic tubes.
I don't want a deterrent, a repellent or any other device/method to repell these creatures. I want them gone PERMANTLY. They not only destroy the bird feeders, they dig up way too many transplants in the spring, and take too many liberties in the veggie garden.
Their time is up!

** I was referring to squirrels, but in hindsight I don't want to give rats a bad name.

I've got between 6-7 squirrels that fear the sight of me, one has felt my sting! A clap of the hands now has them scurrying for cover.


when i attached the wire baskets to my one feeder
to deter the pack of bluejays

they finally gave up ...

But not the squirrels, and as i sent out the dingo to chase them off
one had difficulty navigating back out of the wire loosing precious seconds
and was actually in my dogs mouth for a split second before she went to do the clamp down...
he flew outta there missing entrapment by a half second
(wishing i had my camera) and hasn't been back since.

Rats -Grey_ i find live inside trees same as squirrels but down low.

so...how many of you guys blast squirrels?? Nothing pisses me off more than seeing one on the feeder shoveling out the seed and scaring off all the birds. Anti-squirrel devices simply do not work - they figure them out eventually. I had a red squirrel the would just chew through the line leading to the feeder so I had to start using a picture wire leader. They are like the Terminator.

I have a friendly neighborhood fox that collects them at nite, and as another benefit I have found far fewer mice in my sheds. Additionally, my accuracy has improved tremendously over the last 4 years.

I'd like make a simple blow gun with a curtain rod ,
a piece of yarn and a large sewing needle.....
have the compressor sitting there attached with 80 lbs of air..
the rod goes out right next to the feeder...


sitten there with finger on the trigger....

but....then,
the sk-wirl -dog would have nuthin to do or to get excited about :huh:

Within city limits one has to be extremely careful shooting anything...never know when a neighbor might report gunshots to police or PETA. Doesn't mean I don't do it (BB).

I once shot 12 squirrels one summer as they were eating all my peaches off my trees. A pellet gun took care of them but I have since cut those trees down and moved my peaches away from the tree line and out in the open and they don't bother them anymore. I have 3 outdoor cats so the squirrels are hunted all day long and rarely reach the feeders and they are squirrel proof feeders so they really don't waste their time if they are lucky to reach them.

I had 7 or 8 Robins at the feeder yesterday morning. I have to get more feed today as i am running low. Probably have the most Cardinals this year I have ever had. Sometimes there are 8 of them at the 3 feed locations I have in the yard at once. Going to grab some suet today as I have not put out any yet this year but came across 3 feeders in cellar yesterday so I'll fill them up. Still got my eye open for the flock of Bluebirds I see every winter but still a little early. Usually see a flock of at least 30 of them every winter. Also my compost pile is becoming a big hit with the birds again this year. I dump pretty much all my kitchen waste in there and the birds go thru it and seem to really enjoy the fruits and veggies and table scraps. It is always full of birds when I look out there.

a cute girl from Grafton ma. b4 christmas that i chanced to meet
at the suet selection table said she was getting bluebirds
feeding them the blueberry suet that they sell there @ the christmas tree shop.

so they're here... or around

what are the robins eating.....?

they only been hitting the bittersweet here...

this year they will be evicted every time i see a nest because
they are too dammed bossy over their friggan babies
:whackin::ninja::fight::horse::fence:

and we have 25 -50 on the front lawn every spring
so there's at least 20 or so pairs. No wonder my maine coon cat
cringes in fear sitting on the back of the couch at the bird feeder window.
WE are inudated....
it's like the seal population.....quit eatin my worms ya fat bastids,..
i dream of robin pie. :think:

they were eating off the ground. I have no less that 8 Viburnums that are loaded with berries right now and they are not being touched much. I think they prefer the sunflower seeds more.

Hav a Hart with peanut butter bait works well.

Just make sure you release them on the other side of a river
from your house so they will need to swim to get back. :)

I usually spin the trap around in circles a bunch of times before I release
them to confuse their direction. :hihi:

You could just toss the trap into the river, but that would be unneccesarliy cruel.
I know, to give them a fighting chance catch 3 or 4 and release them on a frozen pond/lake as far away from shore as possible and wait for a hawk or eagle or some other bird of prey to fly overhead, and then release them to see which one doesn't make it to shore?

If you get more than one bird of prey, it could make for an interesting event.

so...how many of you guys blast squirrels??
The same one or two squirrels have woken me up every morning going after the feeders I have hanging from my front windows. Grabbed my pellet gun last night from storage. This morning was the first morning in a week that I haven't seen them out there. It's like they know.

I coated my hanger poles with axle grease, so far so good as they don't make it to the feeders. Anyone want any squirrel fir?

I wish I had my feeders hanging from a pole based stand, but I'm stuck with having to hang them from the tree in our back yard.
I keep changing the location, changing the distance from the feeder to the nearest branch/launching point, and even the length of the wire it hangs on, but they still find a way.:wall:
My last addition was using an unraveled wire coat hanger about 3' long. They ride that thing like a stripper pole! :realmad:
One other option I thought about (ONLY thought about) was taking the coat hanger wire and sharpen one edge, so that when the buggers try to slide down the wire, they lose a digit or two.
Even I'm not that sadistic, but they are pushing me to the limit.

Mind you, I wouldn't be this peeved if it were only one squirrel, but it's a flipping GANG of them each and every day.

My logic at this point is that if they HAVE to raid the feeders every day, maybe it's time to "cull the herd" and decrease their numbers?
It would be the most humane thing to do when they are all starving during the rest of the winter when I am forced to remove my destroyed feeders.

Does anyone have a good recipe for squirrel stew?

Does anyone have a good recipe for squirrel stew?

Fried they taste like chicken! Use to live off them (in Iowa) while in college, Sunday evening meals.

no pellet gun here

so the hav -a- Heart with a full piece of bread covered in old peanut butter topped off with black sunflower seed proves out to be an irresistible bait that works every time! I use half the size for chippy's

had a red squirell coming over this morning which i thought odd

Dave the squirell's know their home turf by sound
not by internal compass

they remember things like sirens from the local fire station
church bells
a particular dog's bark
the sound of a dump truck squealing

so if the wind carry's that sound to them
they'll know which way is home

Is there enough ground swell (15 pages) here for an "Outdoors" Forum... Or maybe a combined "Outdoors/Sportsman" forum. Scuppers doesn't seem right. Maybe I'm being too anal :hidin:

no pellet gun here

so the hav -a- Heart with a full piece of bread covered in old peanut butter topped off with black sunflower seed proves out to be an irresistible bait that works every time! I use half the size for chippy's

had a red squirell coming over this morning which i thought odd

Dave the squirell's know their home turf by sound
not by internal compass

they remember things like sirens from the local fire station
church bells
a particular dog's bark
the sound of a dump truck squealing

so if the wind carry's that sound to them
they'll know which way is home


Interesting stuff, Rav, I had no idea. I know they have a great sense of smell
too as they keep trying to pry the lid off my metal garbage pail where
I keep my sunflower seed.

If they hear the sounds of the old neighborhood they'll have to swim
a 1/2 mile over the resivoir, then find the bridge over the river to
get back here. :hihi: When everything is frozen they betta think twice
about running over the resivoir with the pair of Bald Eagles we have
wintering there. :D

I would guess its a Cooper's.

I understand doing something to get rid of squirrels damaging your house or eating garden/orchard produce. I do not understand why people get pissed when they put food outdoors for birds and squirrels also go after it. Yes the birds are pretty and yes you can do things to make it hard for the sqirrels to get to since the birds fly and they don't but to me , you are putting food out for the "wildlife". I could even understand a BB in the butt for them but killing them , I just don't get.

Anyway , to shoot a squirrel that is coming to eat food you put out is too much like baiting them in for the kill.

Interesting stuff, Rav, I had no idea. I know they have a great sense of smell
too as they keep trying to pry the lid off my metal garbage pail where
I keep my sunflower seed.

If they hear the sounds of the old neighborhood they'll have to swim
a 1/2 mile over the resivoir, then find the bridge over the river to
get back here. :hihi: When everything is frozen they betta think twice
about running over the resivoir with the pair of Bald Eagles we have
wintering there. :D
~
i used to cross the Charles river over a bridge and walk another half mile.But, Before i opened the hav-a-heart i sprayed a small amount of paint on the tip of their tail so if they returned i'd know it.

One day, i happened to be there on a Sunday just before ten oclock
and the air was as still as can be,,,, then i heard the Church bells sounding off and i counted to ten. 2 weeks later that squirell was back and i figured he heard the bells and went closer tree by tree.

isn't always necessary..........

because some play nice and eat the seed that the birds flick on to the ground inadvertently when looking for that perfect "one" seed to fly off with.

others fill their mouth pouches and run back and forth filling up a cache
in a hollow tree until the feed is gone and can empty a feeder in a single day.

they will chew up the plastic and wood feeders and destroy them or get them to drop onto the ground and smash spilling all the seed in a single act. I have watched them do this.

the only ones i'd shoot were the ones that had already been caught in the trap once and would have nothing to do with it ever again.
these were the very destructive squirells that caused the most havoc.

~
i used to cross the Charles river over a bridge and walk another half mile.But, Before i opened the hav-a-heart i sprayed a small amount of paint on the tip of their tail so if they returned i'd know it.

One day, i happened to be there on a Sunday just before ten oclock
and the air was as still as can be,,,, then i heard the Church bells sounding off and i counted to ten. 2 weeks later that squirell was back and i figured he heard the bells and went closer tree by tree.

LOL Rav, maybe he just missed going to church, :D

I have the Audubon Squirrel Guard mounted 4' up the pipe, an H spread at the top for 6 feeders , 8' high ,8' from the deck
and I have never had any squirrels up top, they gave up years ago.

The one feed I have closer to the house is a suet feeder on the hummingbird stand over the water dish. squirrels don't bother with that.

They can have the stuff on the ground, friggin dogs try to eat it too.

:grins: Did ya find that heated water warmer upper thinga-majig?

i forgot about a piece of toast i put in the TOASTER

so i cut into skinier strips then cut those again cross ways
making mini bread cubes and tossem into the feeder

the TIT mice (i think of them as MIni blue jays)
................are flying off with them

also the BIG wood peckers RED BELLIES
are skipping the 4x4 inch cube of suet
and several full others to get
to the last remaining small piece
of the no-melt peanut butter suet
which they seem to prefer....

i added a huge Christmas tree
several more suet feeders
with shelter from the storm
log cabin inside suet feeder
...and a hollowed out log
that has three entrances

They are having a blast!
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/birdsetup.png
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/femalecardinal.png
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/INflight.png

Bird tagging/electronic tracking: why would anyone want to do this to a seagull?

There is a seagull on the ledge (I have pictures/movies) with a radio transmitter mounted on its back, presuming for tracking bird movement versus spying activity?:confused:

Anyone know who is interested in seagulls?

Bird tagging/electronic tracking: why would anyone want to do this to a seagull?

There is a seagull on the ledge (I have pictures/movies) with a radio transmitter mounted on its back, presuming for tracking bird movement versus spying activity?:confused:

Anyone know who is interested in seagulls?


Found the answer: The Mass DCR! Your tax $$ at work.:wall:

Water Supply Protection Gull Study
A variety of birds utilize the Wachusett and Quabbin Reservoirs for breeding, migratory stops, roosting, and feeding. Most species, like the common loon, occur in such low numbers that they pose little threat to water quality. However, some species – such as gulls, ducks and geese – can concentrate in large numbers for an extended period of time. DCR operates a highly effective gull harassment program at both reservoirs to limit the pollutants from these birds; Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs continually meet all state and federal drinking water standards.

DCR Water Supply Protection Gull Study (http://www.mass.gov/dcr/watersupply/watershed/study/index.htm)


What are the odds? There are 25 gulls with these antennas.

i would imagine a circling seagull would indicate
that there's baitfish below or some fishy activity....
theres potential there....

and actually if you were out to sea and had a trained one
to find the fish for a reward they are smart enough to deliver

always got a kick out of those diving ducks that
were tethered that would go catch fish
and then reeled in by the master

I think UNH does some work with seagull tagging... there's a ton of tagged birds out near the Isles of Shoals

Why don't they just head to the local McDonalds and shoot them all?

Here's a picture, camera didn't have the resolution to pick up the radio antenna.

Nice pics, Rav. :btu:

wow Johnny didn't know that you had that in you...

Down in Naples FL bringing the parents here for the rest of winter. My backyard here: a sharp shinned nailing geckos, white Ibis, all manner of egrets and herons (there is a drainage pond here) and, the cherries on top - swallow tail kites (elegant) and two sandhill cranes (awesome).

Too bad it is only my backyard until Monday then back to purgatory.

wow Johnny didn't know that you had that in you...

Down in Naples FL bringing the parents here for the rest of winter. My backyard here: a sharp shinned nailing geckos, white Ibis, all manner of egrets and herons (there is a drainage pond here) and, the cherries on top - swallow tail kites (elegant) and two sandhill cranes (awesome).

Too bad it is only my backyard until Monday then back to purgatory.
Nah, I don't. Just the squirrel that keeps waking me up in the morning. The article was that the scientists are concerned about the gulls causing pollution. Since it's winter, my guess is that they'd all be at the nearest McD's like the ones they swarm around here.

I've heard rumors that during the beginning of winter, there are dead gulls all over the beach due to the lack of free food.

Florida has some beautiful birds. Driving some of the back roads can be a treat... aside from the boar I almost hit.

And armadillos

not on the big beach - begining of winter is a treat for them. Sea clams, scallops, all the other goodies that wash ashore like Ridley's, coyote killed harbor seals - and no NYers to run them over. I saw a loggerhead for the 1st time on Corn Hill, had to weigh 400 lbs - that'll keep them going for some time. Late season is wher the pickings get thin.

These ducks were in the canal today...

Enjoy

more elongated for a specific purpose, meat eaters, fish grabbers

nice pics OD Mike

And armadillos

some women go absolutely bonkers when they see ONE
thinking its the HUGE RAT from their nitemare :uhuh:

that long tail gets em everytime

The feeders have been crazy active lately with all this weather.Today
is off the charts with this cold weather.

My Sharpie has been visiting quite a bit lately but everytime I pick up the camera to snap a pic he takes off!:wall:

Check this out... kitten befriended by a crow that feeds it and takes care of it... in local attleboro, MA


Unlikely friends. by Ruth (http://www.slide.com/r/GoW_vErn1z_cCt59899h52D9bfdExd65?fbr=1)

make sure you got your feeders full with this weather. They are depending on you now and they need to eat constantly to keep warm and now would not be a nice time to run out of seed or not have them filled. Filled the feeders to the top yesterday and got 100's of birds in the yard all day long.

I put out fruit slices and a water source this morning [plus filling the feeders].

I put out fruit slices and a water source this morning [plus filling the feeders].

I need to do that. Do squirrels eat fruit?

water will be important but I don't have a heated one.

My fish pond is also a gathering area for the birds.I keep it running all winter by using a deicer.They always have a source of water.

I need to do that. Do squirrels eat fruit?

If they have a chance, maybe? I was discouraging them today from the area.

My fish pond is also a gathering area for the birds.I keep it running all winter by using a deicer.They always have a source of water.

My pond is frozen over. I put out a plastic trashcan lid filled with fresh water daily. Today I put a small circular pump to keep from freezing at least for 3-4hrs.....

I have a heater in my bird bath. I go through one every 5-7 years.

I have a heater in my bird bath. I go through one every 5-7 years.

Next time I visit TTC might pick one up, any recommendations?

Next time I visit TTC might pick one up, any recommendations?

No, I got the last one at Wildbirds Unlimited in Easton, across from Stonehill. looks like a rock.

My fish pond is also a gathering area for the birds.I keep it running all winter by using a deicer.They always have a source of water.

Ditto, the birds love it.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

was funny today as I had 100's of birds around all day. I went outside to stack some wood and it was around 4 or so and when I finished I looked around and there was not a bird anywhere. Dead calm wind and you could hear a pin drop and not a bird anywhere in the area. They must know what is coming for lows tonite and they are all getting to their sleeping, roosting, areas early. They will be back very early tomorrow morning for sure .

i bought extra suet for them
and its going faster than seed

even the squirrels think a trip
to the feeder is worth the risk
in confronting my DINGO

i smile every time
i see them smash into the chain link fence
unable to squeeze thru fast enough :grins:

Next time I visit TTC might pick one up, any recommendations?

Farm Innovators products are top notch.I use their low wattage deicer as my pond(s) is not overly large.They have several bird bath models also.

Farm Innovators (http://www.farminnovators.com/)

Agway sells a lot of pond/bird stuff but they're kinda pricey.I tend to buy my more expensive items like pumps/heaters online to save a few bucks.

Aquarium Supplies, Pet Supplies and Pond Supplies by That Fish Place - That Pet Place (http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/index.web)

was funny today as I had 100's of birds around all day. I went outside to stack some wood and it was around 4 or so and when I finished I looked around and there was not a bird anywhere. Dead calm wind and you could hear a pin drop and not a bird anywhere in the area. They must know what is coming for lows tonite and they are all getting to their sleeping, roosting, areas early. They will be back very early tomorrow morning for sure .

I had to refill the feeders this morning.They cleaned them out yesterday and its looking like they'll do it again today.

the squirrels are taking their chances here too. Suet is going fast too. I had a beautiful common flicker yesterday on a suet chunk up close to window as he could not see me thru the curtain. Great colors but very shy. I had 1 degree here at 7:30 this morning. Just got in from church and it is nice out now with no wind and 100% sunshine. Nice day.

Som ona B, I had three pair of cardinals at the feeder this year with
one male being the brightest crimson red I've ever seem. I was thinking the
other day he has to be in danger of the hawk as bright as he was and
seemed extra wary at the feeder.

Went out this morning to shovel and right on the walk there was nothing
left but bright red feathers and a quarter size batch of blood. Figured it
must have been the hawk but I could see all these large cat prints in the
snow over by the feeder. I've also been loosing lots of large suet chunks
and wonder if the Fischer Cat is back. Have to check the suet tonight
and see if it's missing in the morning.

1000's of English Sparrows and he has to get a Cardinal. :fury:

Where have all my titties gone?

Used to have about dozen come daily to the feeder but in the last 2-3 weeks haven't seen a one.

I saw birds in Falmouth on Saturday. Woking the shoreline they were eating bait and so were the seals. I need to fo fishing.

Sorry i get distracted easily.

Where have all my titties gone?

Used to have about dozen come daily to the feeder but in the last 2-3 weeks haven't seen a one.

they're gone until the babe of the week thread comes back

They're at my House Phil
i must have a dozen of -em

Cardinals are Unique in that they often are the
first one to stop at the feeder in the morning
and they kinda just crouch there alone and eat
then they are they last bird in the evening b4 darkness sets in too
The only thing you can do Dave is Bring the suet in at NIGHT


i have lost some chunks but typically it's a starling feeding frenzy
after seeing that Video of the foxes doing it on the guys snow covered roof :point: anythings Possible

I'm loaded too with them and Juncos up the wazoo. Lots of nuthatches too. Big hawk around here too but he is here all year long. No killings yet by the hawk but my cat has taken a few Juncos but they seem bored with the birds at this point. They like the mice and chipmunks better.

On a weather note last nite at work on Cape we had a fog bank roll in for about an hour around 9:30. Strange. out of no where. after it moved on the temp dropped about 10 degree's and my car was covered in a sheet of ice. Eerie feeling.

of the Carolina wrens.... (thumbs up) they like the set up i guess

just grabbed 50 pounds of black sunflower @ job lot
but they raised the price to 25 bucks... :fury: every friggan day its somethin,
2 or 3 dollars more than the last time.... :hs:

still got just the one but did see him this morning. Wish i could find the pictures I have of them living under my back porch the last few winters. I'll have to look again.

i was all happy when the WREN moved into
the Carved (on a lathe)Cedar
bird house last spring only to get kicked out by a friggan chipmunk

WAR on them is coming !

i coulda sworn i just saw a catbird at my feeder eating some fresh suet
i just bought.... that's mind Boggling and a very- very GOOD sign

Where have all my titties gone?

Used to have about dozen come daily to the feeder but in the last 2-3 weeks haven't seen a one.

just wanted to add this little tip for ya...

TIT mice Love spanish peanuts.... and will be loyal attendees if you add some to the Viddles.. :o) i always buy the nutty suet or the berry suet
you can make a LOG with drilled out holes next to perches to paste in a peanut butter and saflower seed mix or spanish peanuts and they'll never leave

Rav, the suet was on the ground this morning, not missing like
before. I think it must be those squirrel contorinists that must manuver it
upside down to fall out. Extra wire will fix that problem.
Yup the cardinals are first in the AM and last in the PM.

P. I had a night like that fishing in early December but opposite results.
Temp was in the 30's all afternoon then a sea fog rolled in at dark and the temp went up to I would guess 50's.
Fish turned on when the fog lifted and was one of my best nights ever.
Go figga.

i wonder if that was a reversal in Barometric pressure

I don't know Rav, but I'd like to see a repeat of it. :)

fergot.... i opened the birdfeeder station window about 4 inches
for some much needed fresh air.... havin the friggan flu......
i'm havin mucho trouble just breathing... see :confused:

well, i go outside to tackle the driveway and i come back in
until round#2 and theres a wren who cannot find his way back out
sitting on the ALOE Vera Cactus

so i opened the winda all the way
and shooshed him back out.....:uhuh: