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Posted: Mar/14/2006 1:50 AM PST
To help assist in what the backyard should have I found it easier to start a new thread. Birds need a few things. Food, water, protection and a place to raise a family. Fresh water can attract birds faster then food, esp. if it has a dripper or mister. Keep water fresh and close to protection. That means in the open but close for the quick getaway. Cats can hide in flowers planted under bath. Food in feeders. The best all around food to attract birds is blk oil sunflower. A bonus here, is starlings can't crack them. If you want to feed starlings and other junkie birds, place some cracked corn elsewhere. Squirrels will eat the sunflower before they will the corn. Safflower, don't bother. Goldfinch feeders, I still use a sack and have an upsidedown finch feeder. Again, it keeps sparrows off. Nyjer is a soft shelled seed and will spoil if it get to wet to often and isn't eaten fast enough. Change it every month regardless. Tube feeders without trays for small birds and hoppers with platforms for larger or all birds. A special peanut feeder is good for peckers, nuthatches, titmouse, chickadees. Get a suet feeder. Again, mine is upside down to keep starlings and graclke at bay. Nectar feeders for orioles and hummers. Go with aspects hummzinger. Best one on the market. Habitat. Plant shrubs and flowers that will attract birds in your area. Don't expect birds that aren't in your area. Monarda, butterfly bush, hysops and salvias for hummers. Plant shrubs that bare fruits, redtwig dogwood, service berry, cranbaerry etc. Small trees like dogwoods. Plants and flowers will attract insects which attract birds Some thick bushes for protection and nest sights. Plant some within 10 feet of bath and feeders. Bath should be kept simple for easy cleaning. Stay away from glazings, to slippery. Earth tones or nuteral tones if possiple. Terxtured but not to fancy for difficult cleaning. Just a simple list and ideas. Any more questions, feel free to ask me at [email]Ron@backyardbirdingtips.com[/email] www.backyardbirdingtips.com |
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Posted: Apr/20/2006 8:52 PM PST
Tube feeders don't work in my yard for thistle seed/small song birds. The hundreds of squirrels we have claw the plastic with their feet and chew the hard plastic until they break in and steel the thistle seed. I've gone through 3 of those, and they really look like the things exploded when the squirrels got done with them. This is the only one I found that works....and squirrels can't figure it out! Attachments:  |
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Posted: Jul/30/2006 11:24 PM PST
Ron, I always look forward to your newsletter! Didn't realize 'til now that you post here.  Here's a question that might be of interest to others as well:There's a nasty free-range cat that visits our backyard, and despite my foot-stamping and hand-clapping every chance I get, he attacks the birds that enjoy our seed feeders. The little creep lays in wait under our shade arbor and has been way too successful in nabbing the birds who feed on the ground. Once I even saw him leap and nab one in mid-air!  [INDENT][B][I]Do the untrasonic cat repellent gizmos drive away wild birds? I DO NOT want that! And is the range localized enough that it won't drive our indoor kitty nuts?[/I][/B][/INDENT] None of the articles I've read about these products address these issues, and I don't want to spend the $$$$ if it will do more harm than good. Any wisdom any of you can share will be greatly appreciated! |
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Posted: Jul/30/2006 11:34 PM PST
I have a bird problem!.....Blackbirds and Crows! They eat, what I called when I was a kid, Inkberries in a vacant field next to my house. Then they mess all over my porch and deck when they fly over. They are even scaring away my song birds. If it's not one thing, it's another 
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Posted: Jul/31/2006 12:53 AM PST
I have had great luck hanging any kind of feeder from a homemade rack with a simple squirrel guard made from eight inch flue pipe and a cap. The suet feeder looks like a bird house but the bottom is a grill and the suet is only accessable to those birds that are willing to hang upsidedown. It works. If there is more interest I will gladly send more detailed pics. Attachments:  |
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Posted: Jul/31/2006 9:23 AM PST
Quote: Originally posted by Herb If there is more interest I will gladly send more detailed pics.Whadaya mean "[B]if[/B]"?? You betch there's more interest. Oh yea, yes yes. Would love to see more detailed pics!! Really. And, btw, the pic you posted is really, really pretty. |
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Posted: Aug/01/2006 12:57 AM PST
Quote: Originally posted by scarezimof Whadaya mean "[B]if[/B]"?? You betch there's more interest. Oh yea, yes yes. Would love to see more detailed pics!! Really.And, btw, the pic you posted is really, really pretty. Hi Sarez, I will take and post pics as soon as I can. Hopefully tomorrow. Herb |
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Posted: Aug/01/2006 11:21 PM PST
Hi Scarez, Here is a pic of the rack that I made for my feeders. You will also note the squirrel guard which keeps the squirrels down on the ground where they belong. Feel free if you have any questions. Attachments:  |
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Posted: Aug/04/2006 2:32 AM PST
I only saw the bottom of your feeders before and they are even neater now that I see the entire setup here. My squirrels don't understand what bottom means. They are into everything horizontal and veritical .. lol they don't know the meaning of bottom. They really think they belong everywhere, and that I put seed up and out just for their benefit. Pam the spray has worked well on the metal poles but the wooden pole that hubby made me has been a nightmare. I love your feeders. Hubby is going in next week for knee surgery so it will be awhile before I get any help making those feeders. I guess I will just log on here and admire them. |
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Posted: Aug/10/2006 8:32 AM PST
Quote: Originally posted by Herb Hi Scarez,Here is a pic of the rack that I made for my feeders. You will also note the squirrel guard which keeps the squirrels down on the ground where they belong. Feel free if you have any questions. Wow, awesome! Now why is it that your "squirrel guard" looks like the muffler off a 69 Chevy? lol |
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