| Author | Content |
KyWoods
Melbourne, KY (Zone 6a)
December 1, 2008 5:22 AM Post #5846464
| We feed black oil sunflower seeds and suet all year-round...in fact, I'll bet we have the only driveway that's 'paved' with sunflower seed hulls. LOL Thanks for all the info on who eats what, and for all the links! |
Mrs_Ed
Whiteside County, IL (Zone 5a)
December 1, 2008 1:09 PM Post #5846917
| You are welcome! I like the look of my sunflower "mulch" too! |
serenity93
Moncks Corner, SC (Zone 8b)
December 1, 2008 3:02 PM Post #5847199
| This must be one of the most informative articles I've read! Thank you so very much for sharing this invaluable information. :) |
Mrs_Ed
Whiteside County, IL (Zone 5a)
December 1, 2008 3:14 PM Post #5847238
| You are welcome serenity. Be sure to visit the Bird Watching forum where you can learn so much more. In fact, this week there was a good discussion on Safflower and Squirrels. Lots of people have squirrels that adjust to the taste of safflower if there are no other choices around. Mine have a daily allowance of sunflower seeds and corn so they seem happy to leave the safflower alone.
|
nanny_56
Putnam County, IN (Zone 5b)
December 1, 2008 6:21 PM Post #5847841
| Nice job Marna, a ton of information! |
darius
So.App.Mtns.
United States (Zone 5b)
December 1, 2008 11:03 PM Post #5848671
| Great article today, Marna!
If I could have thought ahead, I have some shots Floridian and I took of wild scrub jays eating peanuts out of our hands. |
Mrs_Ed
Whiteside County, IL (Zone 5a)
December 1, 2008 11:07 PM Post #5848681
| Oh, post it here! Those Jays are amazing. Grasmussen feeds his Stellar Jays peanuts and it's a good way to get pictures. So I started doing it here and it's so fun! |
darius
So.App.Mtns.
United States (Zone 5b)
December 1, 2008 11:21 PM Post #5848742
| Ooops, I spoke too soon. They must be on my desktop computer (not plugged in) or I have forgotten what I named the folder. |
Mrs_Ed
Whiteside County, IL (Zone 5a)
December 1, 2008 11:22 PM Post #5848745
| HA! Well I"m sure you'll find it. |
gabagoo
Yonkers, NY (Zone 5b)
December 2, 2008 2:34 AM Post #5849394
| Great article!
Since my yard is totally bricked I use the Patio Mix seed from the Wild Bird Center. Everything gets eaten and I don't have shells to clean up.
I also have nyger, suet & woodpecker blocks.
And peanuts! For the birds & squirrels (yeah... I feed them too! LOL!)
Bonus with the peanuts... the past couple of years I have had peanut plants grow from peanuts buried by my furry friends. They not only produced a nice plant with pretty yellow flowers... I was able to harvest peanuts the following fall!
The blue jays are a riot. And smart as well. I like how they pick up a peanut and seem to weigh it. Put it down and select another.
One time, a jay picked up one, spotted another and took the time to arrange them so they fit together. He was able to fly off with TWO peanuts at once!
Another time he tried the same thing, but couldn't get them to fit just right. He didn't want to take a chance that he'd lose one so he tucked one between two planters, flew off with the other. He came right back and went directly to the spot he hid the other and took off with that as well.
I also make a mixture of unsalted peanut butter, chopped peanuts & corn meal (it helps hold it together). I toss out little balls of it for the squirrels - they'll eat instead of burying .. plus it keeps them busy so they'll ignore the feeders.
I also put some in the suet feeders. The woodpeckers & chickadees love it.
Here are my backyard bird pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlf/sets/72157603613940108/
Nancy
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Mrs_Ed
Whiteside County, IL (Zone 5a)
December 2, 2008 2:39 AM Post #5849414
| OH Nancy, thanks for sharing those pictures. They are excellent. Too funny about the Blue Jays! |
KyWoods
Melbourne, KY (Zone 6a)
December 2, 2008 4:03 AM Post #5849687
| What a fun bluejay story, Nancy, and thanks for the squirrel treat recipe--ingenious! |
OPbirder
Orchard Park, NY
December 3, 2008 6:28 PM Post #5854953
| Great article Marna! I appreciate your research and sharing.
Nancy B. |
