Birdfeeder Question

[gympunk]

I'll post this here because there isn't an "Old Lady" Misc page!
Any tips on what birdseed to use that Sparrows won't eat,
or will attract other birds?
I get 99% Sparrows at my feeder.

[kademrulz]

Here ya go. I didn't read it all but it should be helpful.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/NetComm....aspx?pid=1179

[gympunk]

Thanks!

[jf1]

i use black oil sunflower seeds exclusively.
have many, many different birds feasting.
only problem; had to squirrel proof my setup...not an easy task.

[IronCharles]

Where I live, English sparrows are considered a nuisance They are a non native, invasive species that are legal to shoot or trap as pests. Same for starlings. In fact, there are farmers organizations that will pay you a bounty for dead starlings.

I don't kill them personally. I just put out enough of a variety of seeds so that all species can eat their fill.

[-=FLEX=-]

Same for starlings. On fact, there are farmers organizations that will pay you a bounty for dead starlings.

Starlings are a freaking nuisance. Loud as hell and they travel in huge flocks and crap all over everything.

We had a couple guys living next door last year that put out 5 freaking birdfeeders and we literally had hundreds of Starlings every day in our yard (townhouse) crapping all over my patio furniture and my grill. Then because of all the seed on the ground we got mice in the garage.

First thing I did when they moved out was take all their damn birdfeeders down and thrown them in the trash.

Then I realized they didn't move out until two weeks after that. LMAO.



-=FLEX=-

[KrohDaddi]

maybe that's why they move on

[FlaIronMind]

Starlings are a freaking nuisance. Loud as hell and they travel in huge flocks and crap all over everything.

We had a couple guys living next door last year that put out 5 freaking birdfeeders and we literally had hundreds of Starlings every day in our yard (townhouse) crapping all over my patio furniture and my grill. Then because of all the seed on the ground we got mice in the garage.

First thing I did when they moved out was take all their damn birdfeeders down and thrown them in the trash.

Then I realized they didn't move out until two weeks after that. LMAO.



-=FLEX=-

LMAO...excellent.

[LisaSkinnoble]

I'll post this here because there isn't an "Old Lady" Misc page!
.

Oh how I wish there was an "Old Lady" Misc page! I'd finally fit in!

[beachguy498]

Here ya go. I didn't read it all but it should be helpful.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/NetComm....aspx?pid=1179

Cool, didn't know that feeding birds was so scientific. I do put out a feeder with seed that most birds seem to like.

I have those eastern starlings in the winter. They crap all over my pool cover and bathe in the water that collects on it. No joke, one Xmas someone brings over this horrible cake, think one person took a little slice out of it. The next day, I put it out for the birds and in 3 hours all that was left was the plate it was on. My yard is fenced so that rules out dogs but the squirrels may have had a hand (or paw..) in it.

BG

[KrohDaddi]

need a section for crones and wizards

[kademrulz]

need a section for crones and wizards

I could so see you in a wizard's cloak. Maybe you should be Merlin for Halloween.... or King Arthur. You have the hair for it.

[nikkiloo2]

I'll post this here because there isn't an "Old Lady" Misc page!
Any tips on what birdseed to use that Sparrows won't eat,
or will attract other birds?
I get 99% Sparrows at my feeder.

Not an old lady question at all. Or maybe it is since I'm an old lady.
I need to learn how to post pics, you should see the pulleys and hangers my bf has going on. It's the only way we could keep the squirrels away; they would climb all the way up the poles.
In New England ... Finches like thistle out of sock feeders. In the fall we don't get really brightly colored ones but from about June to mid September lots of bright yellow and bright red ones.
Cardinals ... black sunflower seeds. We have tons of them, entire families. They like the houses better than the pole feeders.
Hummingbirds ... there's some sweet stuff you mix like koolaid that goes in a hummingbird feeder. And suet. They're tough to get around here but once you get one they tell their friends.
Add a decent sized birdbath and you're good to go.
Love love love watching them early mornings and at dusk.

[KrohDaddi]

I could so see you in a wizard's cloak. Maybe you should be Merlin for Halloween.... or King Arthur. You have the hair for it.

maybe lancelot; i have the wound

[gympunk]

I saw an interview with a ornathologist (Right? Bird person?) & he said it surprising how many experienced birders can't recognize Starlings sometimes, because their colors can change in the light,from black to purpleish red, sometimes they look really beautiful...

[IronCharles]

Starlings also have an amazing vocabulary of sounds and songs. They are a lot like mockingbirds or parrots in their ability to mimic what they hear. It's too bad they are aggressive and chase away more desirable birds like bluebirds, orioles and cardinals.

If you put out suet, you can expect woodpeckers, if they are in your area. That can be good and bad. They eat a lot of bugs, but they can also damage your house. Also pretty annoying when they tap on your metal gutters!

[jellodirt]

I tried feeding birds this summer and all they do is throw it on the ground. I would like to someday learn how to lure and get set up for hummingbirds. They are fun to watch and a little more appreciative.

[IronCharles]

If they are throwing it on the ground, they have found a favorite seed in the mix and they are digging through what they don't like to get it. Solution for that is to put only one kind of seed in each feeder. Then they will just go to the one they like, and eat without sorting.

[nikkiloo2]

I tried feeding birds this summer and all they do is throw it on the ground. I would like to someday learn how to lure and get set up for hummingbirds. They are fun to watch and a little more appreciative.

Hummingbirds are tough to get around here. It took me two season of putting out that koolaid like stuff to get them. This is the first year I've had them; 4 different ones. I keep the hummingbird feeder closer to the house than the others.

[IronCharles]

Hummingbirds are tough to get around here. It took me two season of putting out that koolaid like stuff to get them. This is the first year I've had them; 4 different ones. I keep the hummingbird feeder closer to the house than the others.

Hummingbirds are migratory, and once they imprint upon your location, they will usually return in subsequent years, unless they are killed along the journey or die of old age. Every year we have swarms of them that stop by our place and have never ending battles over the feeders. But I can't put up more than four at a time because they are annoying to maintain. When you have a lot of hummers, they will drink a 16 ounce feeder dry in just days. I've had them land on my head and buzz around me while I'm refilling the feeders. Then they start drinking from it while I'm still screwing the base on. It's funny to watch them attack our cats too!

[StressMonkey]

Didn't expect this to really be about birdfeeders for some reason.

[gympunk]

Now I've been using black-oil sunflower seed & the Sparrows are ripping through it FASTER!
Like steak at a homeless shelter. Oh Well.

[hochspeyer]

Short answer= CATS

[nikkiloo2]

Now I've been using black-oil sunflower seed & the Sparrows are ripping through it FASTER!
Like steak at a homeless shelter. Oh Well.

The sparrows know to feed there; other birds don't and it's late in the season for new birds.
Try putting the black oil sunflower seed out in March; by May you should have cardinals.

[Whatanejit]

Oh how I wish there was an "Old Lady" Misc page! I'd finally fit in!

Lol at Lisa!


Awwwwwwwwww guys.. I love sparrows and starlings.

Watching the young fledglings in the garden in the spring is just hilarious - they are so adorable.

Sadly the sparrow is in decline here due to a mixture of environmental reasons and the increase in the number of sparrowhawks.

I agree that bird poo is irritating but hey, there used to be a few trees where your house is built. Someone trashed the birds' home.. they are just getting their own back.

[tmonkey]

i don't like bugs

birds eat bugs

i hate squirrels

[KrohDaddi]

'hate' is such a strong word i reserve it for special cases

[tmonkey]

'hate' is such a strong word i reserve it for special cases

hate'em

don't hate black squirrels - those i just really don't like reds are closer to hate but maybe on the line or dislike and hate

[hookrunner]

i hate squirrels

negged, i'm kind of friends w the squirrels around here...

[tmonkey]

negged, i'm kind of friends w the squirrels around here...

wait till they run up your leg and eat your nutz

see who is negging then