Do you feed the birds?

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

9 hours ago, Augie said:

 

That’s a little creepy. Ever catch someone staring back at you eye to eye with their binocs?  

the deer?  

 

or the prior post  about the apartment stairs? 

 

hmmmm  let me think on that.  it is a possibility.  

[Buffalo_Gal]

Nope. All our birdfeeders are for decoration only and have a screen covering the opening. We do get hummingbirds in the summer though, they like the flowers. Does that count?

Not only will I not feed the geese, if it were legal to shoot them in our town, I'd become a marksman.

[Jauronimo]

When I was a kid "feeding the birds" or "feeding the pigeons" was slang for masturbating in the park.  Change it up to "ducks" if you finished in the pond.

[row_33]

18 hours ago, ShadyBillsFan said:

In my case ... it took one to accuse one.    What else are binocs for when living in  or near an apartment complex?  

 

When a hot chick strolls in front of the wide open windows naked  (every weekend) ...  who wouldn't look?  

We would sit on the stairs outside my apartment door and the only view we had was the window across the way.  

 

My neighbors and I would have fun adding "commentary"   

She walks in naked, boyfriend / hubby watching March Madness,  she says a few things to him then she picks up her  medium size dog and leaves he room.

 

Dog gets lucky, hubby gets the dog house. 

 

I had a decent collection of binocs for college football games, we had tickets in the corner at Michigan.  When they went through my car at customs a few years ago they found 4 pair in trunk and accepted my explanation.

 

I crossed over to the US a few years ago in a car for which routine inspection found 4 hatchets and other "semi-weapons".  When asked about it, the owner and driver flashed his badge (he is a narc) and off we went on our merry way...

 

 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

4 hours ago, Buffalo_Gal said:

Nope. All our birdfeeders are for decoration only and have a screen covering the opening. We do get hummingbirds in the summer though, they like the flowers. Does that count?

Not only will I not feed the geese, if it were legal to shoot them in our town, I'd become a marksman.

we have at minimum 2 Hummingbird feeders just outside our windows 

 

So in my book, yes beautiful to watch 

   

 

Edited December 7, 2017 by ShadyBillsFan

[ExiledInIllinois]

This just in from our yard... Wish I had better camera out... dSLR w/zoom. Pic does absolutely no justice... Also had to compress it on down to get under site limit. Oh well, the affect is in the poetry....

 

"Red bird came all winter firing up the landscape as nothing else could."

 

Red Bird ~Mary Oliver

 

Red bird came all winter

Firing up the landscape

As nothing else could.

Of course I love the sparrows,

Those dun-colored darlings,

So hungry and so many.

I am a God-fearing feeder of birds,

I know he has many children,

Not all of them bold in spirit.

Still, for whatever reason-

Perhaps because the winter is so long

And the sky so black-blue,

Or perhaps because the heart narrows

As often as it opens-

I am grateful

That red bird comes all winter

Firing up the landscape

As nothing else can do.

 

[mead107]

Had about 12 birds today. 

[boyst]

Yes. Hummingbird feeders attract more of my bees and only words but there are plenty of hummingbirds. And I shoot any squirrel I see

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

57 minutes ago, mead107 said:

Had about 12 birds today. 

You must be full.  

A reminder

 

its do you feed birds 

not 

do you feed on birds 

 

[Greybeard]

     I am also into feeding birds.  One pole with 4 spokes on it with multiple feeders on each spoke, and a window feeder on the kitchen window for the finches and nuthatches.   The window feeder gets sunflower hearts and the feeders on the pole get sunflower hearts and black oil sunflower seeds.  

 

    Here is a feeder in Ontario that gets a good mix of birds.  Would not have thought they get such a mix in the winter.  Nice to see the Grosbeeks.

 

  http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/38/Ontario_FeederWatch/#_ga=2.233530718.1927424736.1510238719-2071302637.1492465572

[Gugny]

On 12/7/2017 at 8:26 PM, Boyst62 said:

Yes. Hummingbird feeders attract more of my bees and only words but there are plenty of hummingbirds. And I shoot any squirrel I see

 

One year (out of 9) I had bee problems with the hummingbird feeders.  It was an isolated incident.  Love to see hummingbirds and I run two feeders each summer.

1 minute ago, JR in Pittsburgh said:

I have a real aversion to birds— mostly pigeons and geese. They disgust me. Nice, colorful birds are okay but can

keep their distance.

 

Mike Tyson will eat your children.

[Greybeard]

On 12/5/2017 at 6:56 PM, Limeaid said:

We have birds, squirrels (squirrel cannot get into feeder but sometimes will lay on top and stick paw into it) and a very busy chipmunk.

The chipmunk goes into the feeder and eats while pushing more seed out.

The bigger birds like doves eat the leftovers from ground along with squirrels while they behave.

This is the 5th birdfeeder type we have had and only one effective against the squirrels.

I miss the bigger birds feeding from feeder but we needed to find way to keep squirrels outs out and evidently hooking bird feeder to electrical circuit and frying them is illegal; my wife tried using an air gun on them but they learned to ignore it.

        This is a good home made squirrel baffle.  One good thing about it is if you use a bought pole or shepherds hook with a fork at the bottom, you can use this design to wrap around the pole before you close it.

        Stopped the squirrels but one issue I had is the small opening at the top of the baffle was just the right size for chipmunks.  Had to duct tape the holes.

 

      

 

[DC Tom]

1 hour ago, Greybeard said:

        This is a good home made squirrel baffle.  One good thing about it is if you use a bought pole or shepherds hook with a fork at the bottom, you can use this design to wrap around the pole before you close it.

        Stopped the squirrels but one issue I had is the small opening at the top of the baffle was just the right size for chipmunks.  Had to duct tape the holes.

 

      

 

 

Or you can buy one of these...

 

 

[ExiledInIllinois]

Winter RedBird came back to our yard today and landed on the head of St.Francis!

 

Cellphone camera sucks at that distance.

[ExiledInIllinois]

4 hours ago, JR in Pittsburgh said:

I have a real aversion to birds— mostly pigeons and geese. They disgust me. Nice, colorful birds are okay but can

keep their distance.

Maybe the movie: High Anxiety (1977) is in your subconscious.  Is this a trigger!

 

[Shamrock]

Feed, I think I support the bird life of the area. We have Ringed parrots, King parrot, Cockatoos, galahs, occasional Kookaburra’s, Grey Butcher bird and we have 3 magpies that appear at breakfast, will sing for breakfast scraps too. Also the possum gets fruit scraps at nite. The Tawny Frogmouths don’t need feeding but sit in our tree. Our old dogs keep the cats away and I think the birds have figured the dogs are old.

[ExiledInIllinois]

15 minutes ago, Shamrock said:

Feed, I think I support the bird life of the area. We have Ringed parrots, King parrot, Cockatoos, galahs, occasional Kookaburra’s, Grey Butcher bird and we have 3 magpies that appear at breakfast, will sing for breakfast scraps too. Also the possum gets fruit scraps at nite. The Tawny Frogmouths don’t need feeding but sit in our tree. Our old dogs keep the cats away and I think the birds have figured the dogs are old.

We have wild monk parakeets here... But it's 20° F out, they are hunkering down in their cocoons in the oak trees.  They like the pods from the locust trees... Noisy, nasty little squawkers, always fighting w/each other.

 

Edited December 10, 2017 by ExiledInIllinois

[Shamrock]

1 hour ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

We have wild monk parakeets here... But it's 20° F out, they are hunkering down in their cocoons in the oak trees.  They like the pods from the locust trees... Noisy, nasty little squawkers, always fighting w/each other.

 

Ringed parrots much the same, squawkers too. There’s a definite pecking order and often they can be seen pairing up. Have 2 feeders, try to minimise the fighting! Come on, it’s free bird food, ease up. Pigeons sit back, wait ‘til they fight each other off. We back onto a park with a creek. I’ve got a chair out on the lawn and to down time sit out there, watch the birds, the old dogs will come and sit and the kids come and play around. My daughter calls it ‘day watching’, I’m sure at my most relaxed there. 

On 06/12/2017 at 1:28 PM, westside said:

The real question EII, do you feed the carp?

We took over a house that the ol’ folk couldn’t keep up the garden, including a pond. It was filthy. My son and I drained it and found 13 fish. All light bronze gold fish. And a sad Lilly. The water was mud soup. Cleaned it. Added clean water from rain water tank, set up an overflow so that the pond water watered the ferns. Well the fish got their colour back, the Lilly flowers and the ferns are going crazy.

[Johnny Hammersticks]

I practice “trickle down” bird feeding.  I feed chopped steak to predatory birds all winter long.

[T&C]

10 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

Winter RedBird came back to our yard today and landed on the head of St.Francis!

 

Cellphone camera sucks at that distance.

A little grainy but still a nice pic there.

14 hours ago, Greybeard said:

        This is a good home made squirrel baffle.  One good thing about it is if you use a bought pole or shepherds hook with a fork at the bottom, you can use this design to wrap around the pole before you close it.

        Stopped the squirrels but one issue I had is the small opening at the top of the baffle was just the right size for chipmunks.  Had to duct tape the holes.

 

      

 

I had this same thing on a different post on the other side of the house, worked just fine (no chipmunks here). Made it out of a roll of sheet metal left over from work.  Other than this, the best way I've found to keep the squirrels out of the feeders is to buy cheap cayenne pepper and mix it in liberally with the seed. Doesn't affect birds but sends any mammals heading to the nearest waterhole... after a couple of tastes they give up.

[Heavy Kevi]

Damn neighbor has a million bird feeders...

 

...subsequently I have pyro and pellet guns.

[Marv's Neighbor]

Yes we do.  We have Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Gold finches, but they're not gold in winter.  Occasional Blue bird and Indigo Buntings.  They are good, cheap entertainment, and 2 of the 3 cats watch from inside.

I know, 3 cats???  They're my wife's, and all "unplanned."  We also have Golden Retriever #6, going back to '72.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

We also have a bird bath next to the feeder ....  damn does that get nasty of you leave to too long. 

[ExiledInIllinois]

3 hours ago, Marv's Neighbor said:

Yes we do.  We have Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Gold finches, but they're not gold in winter.  Occasional Blue bird and Indigo Buntings.  They are good, cheap entertainment, and 2 of the 3 cats watch from inside.

I know, 3 cats???  They're my wife's, and all "unplanned."  We also have Golden Retriever #6, going back to '72.

I see you those 3 cats, no Golden but 2 guinea pigs... I am like living w/Dr. Doolittles... Then the birds.  I guess I am insane in the membrane.  See you guys were right all along.

 

Crap... I never want to see pine bedding again.  I think I am Tractor Supply'd out!!!  Of course modern guinea pigs need: "to live in at least pairs" and have the biggest cage on the planet now to "frolic and play a happy life"... Well so says my daughter... Holy moly, the enclosure takes up 1/4 of a room! 

3 hours ago, ShadyBillsFan said:

We also have a bird bath next to the feeder ....  damn does that get nasty of you leave to too long. 

I flip the bird bath for winter.  Sorry Birds, no heater, "pool closed" for winter... Fend for your own bathing needs!  I am going conservative jerk-wad on their butts.  Winter feed hand outs when the going gets cold and tough... But come summer the bath comes out and they have to work for their food! 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

1 hour ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

I flip the bird bath for winter.  Sorry Birds, no heater, "pool closed" for winter... Fend for your own bathing needs!  I am going conservative jerk-wad on their butts.  Winter feed hand outs when the going gets cold and tough... But come summer the bath comes out and they have to work for their food! 

We have a small stained glass bowl that holds just over a gallon of water.  I stored it in the garage last month.  who knows what the snow plow driver would do to it (if and when he does the back alley) 

[Punching Bag]

On 12/10/2017 at 5:56 AM, Shamrock said:

Feed, I think I support the bird life of the area. We have Ringed parrots, King parrot, Cockatoos, galahs, occasional Kookaburra’s, Grey Butcher bird and we have 3 magpies that appear at breakfast, will sing for breakfast scraps too. Also the possum gets fruit scraps at nite. The Tawny Frogmouths don’t need feeding but sit in our tree. Our old dogs keep the cats away and I think the birds have figured the dogs are old.

 

On 12/10/2017 at 6:12 AM, ExiledInIllinois said:

We have wild monk parakeets here... But it's 20° F out, they are hunkering down in their cocoons in the oak trees.  They like the pods from the locust trees... Noisy, nasty little squawkers, always fighting w/each other.

 

Absolutely lovely birds. Wish it was warm enough (or more precisely so cold in winter) so birds would nest here.  Maybe Global Warming will fix.

[ExiledInIllinois]

8 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

 

Absolutely lovely birds. Wish it was warm enough (or more precisely so cold in winter) so birds would nest here.  Maybe Global Warming will fix.

Not sure where you are, but these monk parakeets are in the wild here in Chicago.  It get colder here than WNY in winter.

 

Yet, they have to realeased by humans:

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monk_parakeet

 

"In Chicago, the origin of the monk parakeets is unknown, but they may be escaped birds from O'Hare airport or unwanted pets. The species first appeared in the 1960s and is continuing to thrive despite unusual bad winters that occurred in the 1980s and in 2014. The birds are welcomed in the city especially by bird watchers and were involved in a 2012 ornithological study. The population is estimated to be at 1,000 birds, with healthy colonies located in several of the city's parks. Austin, Texas, also has a thriving monk parakeet population."

[mead107]

Big blue jay and Squirrels are getting fat. 

[ExiledInIllinois]

4 minutes ago, mead107 said:

Big blue jay and Squirrels are getting fat. 

Because you are giving them 400#s of birdseed! 

[mead107]

Never made one for myself. 

[Johnny Hammersticks]

On 12/9/2017 at 5:17 PM, JR in Pittsburgh said:

I have a real aversion to birds— mostly pigeons and geese. They disgust me. Nice, colorful birds are okay but can

keep their distance.

 

I have an aunt who is completely terrified of birds.  She will have a full on panic attack if one lands near her.  My grandfather used to tease her at family gatherings by chasing her around the house with a peacock feather.  Ahhhh....family.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

Anyone who saw the movie BIRDS might just act that way.  I must have been 6 or 7 when they put that movie on TV.  I had nightmares for a week, 

[mead107]

Cardinals are back 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

F ing Cardinals never left 

 

the bastards are still pecking at my car door mirrors and shitting on the doors.   

[Punching Bag]

On 12/11/2017 at 5:38 PM, ExiledInIllinois said:

Not sure where you are, but these monk parakeets are in the wild here in Chicago.  It get colder here than WNY in winter.

 

In Northern Virginia and I have never saw one and I have gone bird watching in nature preserves.   It is possible to own a monk parakeet with banding and registration in Virginia but never hosted one, just parakeets, cockatiels, lovebirds and a macaw.  My wife raised a baby Blue Jay to point where it could hunt on its own (she taught it to hunt) and it joined another bird as mate or flock mate.  It was quite tame and she would take it out for a flight. Mail woman was surprised when it landed on her and she told her that is just Jay Jay.

[mead107]

No birds ? Today, way to windy.  Must be why they stayed till almost dark the other day. 

[mead107]

3 kinds of wood peckers today  ,   4 big blue jays. lot of birds today 

Edited December 27, 2017 by mead107

[Punching Bag]

Been getting flocks of black birds who figured out my wife is on vacation and throws out bread in morning.  Only come very early AM.

 

Squirrels got a surprised when I told my wife to add pepper to bird food. Squirrels was going crazy first time they tried feeding at bird feeder. 

Now we can put bird food in the "squirrel proof" bird feeder.

[Sweats]

If "feed the birds" is code for whipping out my junk and shaking it at the neighbours, then yes, i "feed the birds".

[Punching Bag]

Good luck on getting arrested for exposure.

 

 

One of the squirrels adapted to the pepper apparently and I found it inside the bird feeder today (it has a type of cage around it) and I was almost close enough to hit it today.  Took down that bird feeder today which means less leftover for squirrels. Squirrels are smart enough to find ways to adapt but not smart enough to realize of they sit in/on bird feeder the feeder goes away.

 

Black birds again this morning again. They will be very disappointed next week when my wife goes to work and stops leaving breakfast leftovers out for them.