Feeding Wild Birds

[R2elk]

 

[Molpet]

View attachment 4277776

Is Hoot sitting on a frame for protecting fruits?

 

[R2elk]

Is Hoot sitting on a frame for protecting fruits?

Yes. That is the cage around the biggest cherry tree. The pipe he is sitting on is 12' off of the ground.

 

[TwoCrows]

The House Finches, Red-winged Blackbirds and Mountain Chickadees like the thistle seeds too.

I've got a pair of Mountain Chickadees that come to the tube feeder for Sunflower seed, I can't wait to get them some Thistle seed now!

 

[R2elk]

I've got a pair of Mountain Chickadees that come to the tube feeder for Sunflower seed, I can't wait to get them some Thistle seed now!

They hold a seed with their feet, hammer it with their beak until they get the hull off before they eat the seed. It's a lot of work for a tiny bit of food.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I’ve had my Northern Flicker come visit a few times over the last week. He keeps banging on the building. At first I thought someone was doing maintenance on the roof.

They hold a seed with their feet, hammer it with their beak until they get the hull off before they eat the seed. It's a lot of work for a tiny bit of food.

I have titmice that do something similar!

 

[TwoCrows]

They hold a seed with their feet, hammer it with their beak until they get the hull off before they eat the seed. It's a lot of work for a tiny bit of food.

I have titmice that do something similar!

Both the Chickadees and the Titmice are so entertaining to watch feed, they quickly come to the feeder and dash off with a seed only to hammer away at it on a nearby branch. But I've never seen them open a tiny Thistle seed this way, it does sound like more energy burned than the seed can provide!

 

[alinas2010]

I fed the crows the other day. Was hoping they’d return, haven’t seen them yet tho I really like them bc they keep the hawks away

 

[fuzzi]

We have a very busy feeder since this summer, with constant visits from Cardinals, Blue Jays, Pine Martens, Tufted Titmouse, two kinds of Woodpeckers, Morning Doves, and a variety of tiny birds with different markings on the face and chest that my mom identified and I've forgotten, oops.

Our feeder is so busy they are costing us a lot to feed. Any suggestions on cheaper sources with a good variety and quality?
The mealworms especially! The only thing these guys don't seem to eat is the tiny seeds that form the bulk of most mixes, so we've been buying ingredients separately (tsc mostly) and mixing ourselves.

Mr. Woody Woodpecker here...View attachment 4277468
View attachment 4277470View attachment 4277471

(I got rid of the side suet brackets since this was taken, which they appreciate for landing purposes).

I buy seed from Wild Birds Unlimited. Their seed is quality, no junk, no sticks, nor millet fillers. It's more expensive, but there isn't waste. I purchase a membership which saves me $$$ considering all the seed and suet I buy.

If you get grackles eating up all the sunflower seeds switch to safflower. They don't like it.

 

[sourland]

White Bird put on a show of aerial acrobatics yesterday. Helped brighten up my day and attitude.