Jump to content

Backyard Birding


SoTier

Recommended Posts

I put up a pole with a seed feeder on one hook, and a hummingbird feeder on the other.  After about two weeks I noticed that the seed level was going down, but I hadn’t seen birds. This morning I saw a chipmunk climb up the pole and get to it. I put Vaseline on the pole. Let’s see if that stops the little buggers.  I’m not sure what I’ll do next if it doesn’t. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, Gray Beard said:

I put up a pole with a seed feeder on one hook, and a hummingbird feeder on the other.  After about two weeks I noticed that the seed level was going down, but I hadn’t seen birds. This morning I saw a chipmunk climb up the pole and get to it. I put Vaseline on the pole. Let’s see if that stops the little buggers.  I’m not sure what I’ll do next if it doesn’t. 

You could get a squirrel baffle too, that way you don't have to remember to put the vaseline on regularly.

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Limeaid said:

Yea we have a chipmunk who occasionally goes to our bird feeder, climbs in and pushes stuff to ground.  Our dog does not know to chase it away.  Fortunately it is not as greedy as squirrels and only comes occasionally although we think it lives in our honeysuckle bush.

Probably only comes to the feeder occasionally because he's packing them cheeks with a few days worth of food lol.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Love watching the Ibis here feeding in our yard. Also love watching the Osprey and Bald Eagle chase each other. Very partial to the Cardinals that take residence in our Jaboticaba trees! I love doing the Cardinal call to them, they hop around and respond right back for minutes at a time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 6/2/2020 at 9:46 AM, Gray Beard said:

I put up a pole with a seed feeder on one hook, and a hummingbird feeder on the other.  After about two weeks I noticed that the seed level was going down, but I hadn’t seen birds. This morning I saw a chipmunk climb up the pole and get to it. I put Vaseline on the pole. Let’s see if that stops the little buggers.  I’m not sure what I’ll do next if it doesn’t. 

 

       Build one of these.   I have never seen a squirell get past it.  Although I had to work on the top a little as a chipmunk would crawl up the center and into the feeder.  It also has one additional benefit.  Most baffles you buy are built to go on a straight pole.  If you have a bishop's hook with an L at the base you can take this one and not connect the seam until you are putting it around the pole.

 

 

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 6/5/2020 at 12:56 PM, Irv said:

Orioles seemed to have left.  Haven't see one in a while.  Anybody still seeing them in NY?

 

         A friend down the street from me still has two pairs.  Last year they stayed around into July.   I had one male, one female but I haven't seen them in a couple of weeks.   They would stop at the jelly feeder, then go to the blossoming apple tree and stay in the apple tree for few minutes going down the branches.  It seems like as soon as the blossoms were gone, so were the orioles.  Now I only have a couple of catbirds that visit the jelly feeder.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 6/5/2020 at 12:56 PM, Irv said:

Orioles seemed to have left.  Haven't see one in a while.  Anybody still seeing them in NY?

I read that the Orioles will stop eating the jelly around June 1st. That's when their babies hatch and they need protein more than sugar so they turn to eating insects more. They will return to sugar around the first of July. I can't confirm this as is my first year feeding them.

  • Like (+1) 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

I mentioned earlier in the thread that I had never had a squirrel mess with my suet feeders. That has changed... there is 1 that comes around in the morning and then the evening, guess he likes eating upside down lol. I don't care, everybody eats here.

 

Am going to just no melt suet cakes, every bird I have around will eat off of the cages except the mourning doves who eat whatever is on the ground. I have 3 of the cages and it is a lot less hassle than doing the seeds... and also a lot better on the wallet. Was hoping the cardinals would take to them and sure enough they did, its a monkey see monkey do thing with all of the different species I suppose.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Loved backyard birding for years. Have a 4 acre lot that backs up to a creek. In a residential neighborhood.

 

It was a joy learning what to feed to draw beautiful birds.

 

Spent a nice chunk at Wild Birds Unlimited yearly. Then the big blue totes came to town.

 

Which were clearly merited, as the rats, which I never had, found my feeders not long after.

 

I will never do backyard birding again....but I still get a wonderful variety, but they're on their own.

Edited by I am the egg man
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

I have yet to see 1 Humming Bird this season.  

 

 

Just last night I saw my first hummingbird nest in all the years of having them around.  Perched about 12 feet up on the branch of a shagbark hickory tree.  The hummingbirds are partial to the day lilies that are prevalent through the yard and neighbourhood.  When the day lilies are done blooming, the hibiscus seem to be the food source.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 6/10/2020 at 5:35 PM, sabrecrazed said:

I read that the Orioles will stop eating the jelly around June 1st. That's when their babies hatch and they need protein more than sugar so they turn to eating insects more. They will return to sugar around the first of July. I can't confirm this as is my first year feeding them.

 

On 6/12/2020 at 10:48 AM, Irv said:

I saw one yesterday.  It was feeding in my crab apple tree.   I have the oranges out and they are not being hit.  Thanks for the advice. I'll circle back in July. 

 

I put oranges out about a month ago and have not seen one oriole (nor have I ever seen one in my yard).

 

Zero hummingbirds this year, which has never happened.

 

Had a couple juncos build a nest in one of my hanging flower baskets.  They're finally gone and somehow the flower is not completely dead.

 

Hoping my nuthatches come back in the fall.  They're the only ones to take residence in the birdhouse.  This is the 2nd year they've been back.  They do their thing in the spring, then split for the summer/return in the fall for a bit.  They're fun to watch/listen to.

 

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

I have yet to see 1 Humming Bird this season.  

 

 


We have a large flowering shrub, a weigela.  Over the years I have noticed that the hummingbirds like it.  In June this year when it was in full flower I saw a few hummingbirds come to it.  I put out a hummingbird feeder near it, and it got some use.  Now the flowers are gone, and I haven’t seen a hummingbird in a few days.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So the juncos left town and I got my hanging flower basket back.  That nest was smack dab in the middle and deep!  So I picked all the dead heads off and got some fresh water in there .. and decided to do the same with the other flower basket.

 

What do I see?  A mother ***** nest.  AND a little egg.  But it had been abandoned, which is sad.

 

I've lived in my house for 12 years and have hanging baskets every year.  NEVER have birds nested in them.  I hope this doesn't become a habit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Gugny said:

So the juncos left town and I got my hanging flower basket back.  That nest was smack dab in the middle and deep!  So I picked all the dead heads off and got some fresh water in there .. and decided to do the same with the other flower basket.

 

What do I see?  A mother ***** nest.  AND a little egg.  But it had been abandoned, which is sad.

 

I've lived in my house for 12 years and have hanging baskets every year.  NEVER have birds nested in them.  I hope this doesn't become a habit.


It might.  

 

My neighbor across the street has birds building nests in his mail box “paper” slot.  
 

he takes the best out and they build again and again. 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My neighborhood discourages bird feeders due to rats and the %$^#@ flying squirrels. It was $everal thou$and to get those squirrels out of the attic and seal it off. 

 

HOWEVER, we have a rather large fountain in the small back yard, and we have no shortage of birds. They come for the water all day long. Have to put a few drops of anti-algae stuff in there monthly, but it’s safe for them. Love the parade of birds. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 7/6/2020 at 7:02 AM, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

I have yet to see 1 Humming Bird this season.  

 

 

I've been at this same house for 22 years and have never seen even 1, ever. I've never used one of the feeders so I guess that's why. Really though, I don't have many flowering plants at all but for some reason I have a ton of butterflies, at least 8 different types. They are all over the place.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

49 minutes ago, T&C said:

I've been at this same house for 22 years and have never seen even 1, ever. I've never used one of the feeders so I guess that's why. Really though, I don't have many flowering plants at all but for some reason I have a ton of butterflies, at least 8 different types. They are all over the place.

Plant trumpet vine. Easy to grow.   Hardy.  And the hummingbirds flock to it.  This is my mail box.  Started with a sprig  from New York. One bird even buzzed me this year...IMG_0750.thumb.jpg.159da9193b0c62aefdff2d76cb96ddbb.jpg

 

 

 

 

  • Like (+1) 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

25 minutes ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

Plant trumpet vine. Easy to grow.   Hardy.  And the hummingbirds flock to it.  This is my mail box.  Started with a sprig  from New York. One bird even buzzed me this year...IMG_0750.thumb.jpg.159da9193b0c62aefdff2d76cb96ddbb.jpg

 

 

 

 

Nice pics. I am familiar with that one and it can really get away though. The previous owner of this house (1/2 acre) thought it would be cute to plant morning glory along a fence line. To this day I am fighting to keep it at bay... it seems to pop up in weird places just when I think I have done it in.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 minutes ago, T&C said:

Nice pics. I am familiar with that one and it can really get away though. The previous owner of this house (1/2 acre) thought it would be cute to plant morning glory along a fence line. To this day I am fighting to keep it at bay... it seems to pop up in weird places just when I think I have done it in.

 

 

Honeysuckle is another one, but it also can take off. I have that and the trumpet creeper too. I also like to use 50% sugar in my feeding water. 

Edited by 4BillsintheBurgh
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, 4BillsintheBurgh said:

Honeysuckle is another one, but it also can take off. I have that and the trumpet creeper too. I also like to use 50% sugar in my feeding water. 

It sure can too. I'm going to hold off on the hummingbird thing until after hurricane season has ended. 

 

Someone around here, and I haven't found out who because of how my area is laid out, has midnight jasmine. In the late fall/early winter it is thick with scent at night with the windows open... very nice. I'm sure the hummingbirds must love it if there are even any around here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, T&C said:

Nice pics. I am familiar with that one and it can really get away though. The previous owner of this house (1/2 acre) thought it would be cute to plant morning glory along a fence line. To this day I am fighting to keep it at bay... it seems to pop up in weird places just when I think I have done it in.

 

 

Yeah.   After it blooms... We gotta hack the crap out of it.  I hope it is not  pissing the  mail lady off...

 

A few weeks ago,, we were supposed to get a package.   The tracking app  said  "Animal Interference."  My daughter  thinks  it was a bee. I asked the mail lady, she didn't  know  about  it and  claims  it could  have  been  somewhere  else.  The package  was in mailbox  the  next day.   LoL...

 

Oh, But... In a way... Trying  to keep  the flowering  plants  at bay  may be keeping  the hummingbirds away effectively!

 

People complain  about not having  fireflies anymore.  It's  because  people keep  their  yards TOO neat, well lit.

Edited by ExiledInIllinois
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

Plant trumpet vine. Easy to grow.   Hardy.  And the hummingbirds flock to it.  This is my mail box.  Started with a sprig  from New York. One bird even buzzed me this year...IMG_0750.thumb.jpg.159da9193b0c62aefdff2d76cb96ddbb.jpg

 

 

I bet the mail person loves you.   dealing with bee's while dropping off your mail.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 7/8/2020 at 11:27 AM, ExiledInIllinois said:

Yeah.   After it blooms... We gotta hack the crap out of it.  I hope it is not  pissing the  mail lady off...

 

A few weeks ago,, we were supposed to get a package.   The tracking app  said  "Animal Interference."  My daughter  thinks  it was a bee. I asked the mail lady, she didn't  know  about  it and  claims  it could  have  been  somewhere  else.  The package  was in mailbox  the  next day.   LoL...

 

Oh, But... In a way... Trying  to keep  the flowering  plants  at bay  may be keeping  the hummingbirds away effectively!

 

People complain  about not having  fireflies anymore.  It's  because  people keep  their  yards TOO neat, well lit.

My property is far from "neat"... not really interested right now in attracting the hummingbirds but it is odd that I haven't seen at least one over all these years. I'm still cleaning up after hurricanes in a residual way. Cleaning up after them, many tree's down, other parts didn't get the right attention.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, T&C said:

My property is far from "neat"... not really interested right now in attracting the hummingbirds but it is odd that I haven't seen at least one over all these years. I'm still cleaning up after hurricanes in a residual way. Cleaning up after them, many tree's down, other parts didn't get the right attention.

You're  not in the Everglades area? Seems, only  place  they  aren't  outside  of West/Inter-Mountain West...

 

ruby_rufous_dist.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

44 minutes ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

You're  not in the Everglades area? Seems, only  place  they  aren't  outside  of West/Inter-Mountain West...

 

ruby_rufous_dist.gif

More central and nope, none. I'm on a secluded sort of a place near the big roads... they built up around here so much in the last 10 years I'm lucky to see one bat in the evening, used to be a bunch of them flying around at dusk. No more.

  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 7/7/2020 at 3:13 PM, Gugny said:

So the juncos left town and I got my hanging flower basket back.  That nest was smack dab in the middle and deep!  So I picked all the dead heads off and got some fresh water in there .. and decided to do the same with the other flower basket.

 

What do I see?  A mother ***** nest.  AND a little egg.  But it had been abandoned, which is sad.

 

I've lived in my house for 12 years and have hanging baskets every year.  NEVER have birds nested in them.  I hope this doesn't become a habit.

 

Well ... it appears the egg wasn't abandoned, after all.  Those ***** terrorist birds are back and I can't use my front porch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have several oriole families bringing their young ones to the feeder now. It's cool to watch the youngsters wait in the nearby tree while their mom or dad gets jelly from the feeder and brings it to them. Gradually, the little ones start coming to the feeder but still waiting for the parent to feed them. Eventually the parents bring the young to the feeder and then leave, and the chicks learn to feed themselves.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
On 7/21/2020 at 7:31 PM, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

77A110DB-B008-4487-89C0-53B24CB1E56D.jpeg

Sorry it’s sideways 

 

You know who I am  blaming... ?

 

When has this:  "sorry it's  sideways" ever become  acceptable!?! I am still trying to figure  out the plumbing pix...

 

Don't  the magic fairies in an iPhone  automatically  correct it for the lazy at heart. 

 

I don't gawt time for this!

 

? ? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, T&C said:

It looks like you took one of the ports out... what kind of bird is that?

 

that would be one of 3 humming birds I get yearly.  

 

This particular one seems lazy and sits to drink and not hover 

 

9 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

You know who I am  blaming... ?

 

When has this:  "sorry it's  sideways" ever become  acceptable!?! I am still trying to figure  out the plumbing pix...

 

Don't  the magic fairies in an iPhone  automatically  correct it for the lazy at heart. 

 

I don't gawt time for this!

 

? ? 

 

I tried to make it NOT in sideways ....  P~~~

Last year v

 

A87869BC-F61C-40A3-AD27-35166177A310.jpeg
 

I have to downsize the images to get them to load so the quality is poorly 

 

 

Edited by SlimShady'sSpaceForce
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is OLD. A NEW topic should be started unless there is a very specific reason to revive this one.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...