OK, Birdwatchers...what's going on?

[2LaneCruzer]

I was one of those kids that liked to pop those grubs out of the backs of cattle. I don't think todays plastic bottles would do the job though

Yeah, if I remember my VoAg, we called them "Wolves" or "Warbles".

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I get a kick out of watching how the birds behavior changes. If it's a bright sunny day, there's not much activity at the feeder. If it's raining, they hang around the feeder (it's sheltered from the rain). Yesterday the wind was howling, and I don't think I saw a bird all day long. They were hunkered down waiting for it to slack off.

 

[rekees4300]

I get a kick out of watching how the birds behavior changes.

Last week when it was -10F, noticed the woodpeckers would hang on the downwind side of a tree, fluff up their feathers then stick their heads between tree and chest. This basically covered their entire bodies with feathers like a blanket.

 

[npalen]

Any way to get rid of sparrows but keep the desireables when using a feeder? Wishful thinking?

 

[farmgirl19]

Any way to get rid of sparrows but keep the desireables when using a feeder? Wishful thinking?

Mostly wishful thinking, but you can try different seeds. Some species of birds have more of an affinity to one type than another. I have several feeders scattered about, and load each with a different seed or seed blend, so each feeder tends to have a different variety of birds around them.

 

[/pine]

Around here it's not sparrows I wish I could deter...it's doves...

But...other than leaving more seed for more interesting birds I don't mind feeding the doves...at least with doves they could one day feed me...! too bad them sparrows got such little bones

 

[farmgirl19]

Doves like the millet that the other birds would rather throw out on the ground. I like listening to the mourning doves, so don't mind adding extra millet for them.

 

[/pine]

Doves like the millet that the other birds would rather throw out on the ground. I like listening to the mourning doves, so don't mind adding extra millet for them.

For sure they go for the millet first...

I use a mix of black oil SF, safflower, mixed millet, thistle and cracked corn or scratch...the doves will eat it all...the wild turkeys are the same but at least they don't get up in the feeders...unfortunately a lot of birds like to feed on the ground so I go through a lot of seed...

 

[2LaneCruzer]

For sure they go for the millet first...

I use a mix of black oil SF, safflower, mixed millet, thistle and cracked corn or scratch...the doves will eat it all...the wild turkeys are the same but at least they don't get up in the feeders...unfortunately a lot of birds like to feed on the ground so I go through a lot of seed...

The mix I use is similar to yours (mentioned in one of my posts above), but it doesn't attract a lot of sparrows, at least not the ever-present English Sparrow. It attracts a really big variety of birds though. I have found that a lot of birds, especially the bigger birds, like the Sunflower seed, and if the mix doesn't contain sufficient SF seed, they eat it all and then scratch out the rest of the mix until the SF seed works its way down. Great for the Doves and Turkeys that eat from the ground, but a lot is wasted.

One ingredient that I used to add that I thought really attracted a lot of birds, was sterile hemp seed. For some reason, I can't get it any more.

 

[lockhaven]

I use straight black oil sunflower seeds in the feeders and scatter an economy blend on the ground. I welcome all birds except starlings, they get shot. My biggest problem is squirrels, I kill them year round but they seem to be still out breeding my killing.