Feeding Wild Birds

[dannichols525]

Be very careful about allowing feral birds to join your flock. They frequently have a strain of canker than can be fatal to domesticated birds.

Great advice that I will be sure to follow. This is something I hadn't thought of. Thank you.

 

[R2elk]

I got the gun out but was sure to miss. The hawk was too far away for a good shot but I did scare him away.

Don't know where you live but in the U.S. the Migratory Bird Treaty protects raptors. It is illegal to shoot them.

 

[SkyAJK]

I would like to share my story about my mom and her wild birds.

My mother used to have a dog that constantly with her. Her dog passed away and she was feeling very lonely so she feed the wild birds, they keep her company and they come inside her house as well.

Then her vegetable garden disappeared because they eat everything and it has become impossible to grow anything. Too many wild birds.

We did grow sunflower plants for them, and they pulled the whole sunflower head off before the seeds matured. So that came to an end.

Mom feed her wild birds cooked brown rice, boiled vegetables, uncooked green leafly vegetables and fruits.

Mom has solar panels on top of her roof. My friend had wild birds poop on her solar panels and it costs $1000 to clean out bird poops on her solar panel. I told my mom the story, and Mom promised not do feed the wild birds anymore, but still doing it, she is lonely and have that need to care for another living being.

Now these wild birds poops on her clothes when she hangs them out to dry. Mom does not want another dog because she tired.

My mom feed them twice a day, with a big plate of food and big bowl of water, they come to expect it now and knock at her door if she is late. It is beautiful to have so many birds in the garden, but at the same time it is not good for both human and birds.

 

[R2elk]

I thought I had heard a Northern Shrike earlier.

Checked on the suet feeder and saw the Northern Shrike in the Chokecherry tree.

 

[R2elk]

Northern Shrike

 

[R2elk]

GHO

 

[sourland]

Northern Shrike
View attachment 4034669View attachment 4034670

I've never seen one, but one of the deer hunters took pictures of a small bird impaled on a hawthorn spike. Shrike at work?

 

[R2elk]

I've never seen one, but one of the deer hunters took pictures of a small bird impaled on a hawthorn spike. Shrike at work?

It's possible. The first year I had Northern Shrikes nest here, I found grasshoppers stuck on the barbs of the barb wire fence.

I had no idea what was going on and wondered what sicko was sticking the grasshoppers on the fence. A little research taught me it was the Northern Shrikes doing it. They came back later and ate the grasshopper remains.

I have no doubt they would kill and eat smaller birds as I did see one eating a mouse.

 

[ValerieJ]

GHO
View attachment 4034673View attachment 4034674

That owl sure has a good camouflage going there.

 

[R2elk]

That owl sure has a good camouflage going there.

It was hidden so well that the little birds used the feeders without any hesitation.