November 20, 1980 - Time to Feed BirdsSECOND SECTION Tbr 611iffolh MMC5 NOVEMBER 20, 1980
Time to Feed Birds
To feed or not to feed, that is the
question. It seems each year this question
arises. To me there is so much pleasure
received from birdfeeders that the ques-
tion is easily answered, although the price
of feed today sometimes makes me
wonder. But then we're all tightening our
belts and when it comes to buying bird feed
it too must be thought of differently in
today's light. Like everything else we're
making things last longer and stretching
them out.
Years ago, with the low cost of feed, it
really didn't matter if the squirrels and
jays raided the feeder and cleaned it out.
But today we've had to improvise by
changing the type of feeders and their
location to cut down as much as possible on
the raids from these pirates. Even this is
not 100 percent foolproof, for every once in
a while I see a squirrel either sliding down
the wire or leaping from the rooftop onto
the feeder. Just to prove to me "it can be
done ".
Probably our best move was the
purchase of one of those clear plastic
feeders with the big inverted bowl -like top
over the seed dish. It's adjustable so the
bigger birds have a problem landing,
which so far has kept the starlings and
jays away. It's no problem for the
chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and
finches to get in, even though their coming
and going swings the feeder back and
forth. Ours hangs from the edge of the
eave and is right by the kitchen window so
Barbara can see it while working. A cupful
of sunflower seeds is their ration for the
day and it seems to hold out quite well.
Birds Become Quite Tame
With the feeder so close to the window
and human activity the birds have gotten
quite tame; so much so that with a little
patience they'll light on your hand for a
few sunflower seeds. Of course, this is an
old trick we've played through the years,
but we never seem to tire of it. There's
something unique and special in having a
tiny bird accept you and trust you. There's
no false friendship here.
The one disadvantage to having the
feeder so specialized and close to the house
is that it restricts you from attracting the
unusual birds. Usually these birds are a bit
more wary and therefore tend not to feed
up under the eaves. Also remember there
are two basic types of feeding birds. Those
that eat from the feeder and those who
feed on the ground. We would love to be
able to feed on the ground also, and
thereby attract the doves, juncos, spar-
rows, and so forth, but we have chickens
and as soon as we put seed out on the
ground it's gone. As a matter of fact, when
our feeder was away from the house on
posts our chickens were so aggressive that
they would fly up on the feeder and help
themselves. It's a constant battle to outwit
the unwanted.
Blue Jay's Cheek Capacity
For those who have feeders away from
the house and want to keep the squirrels
and bigger birds out of the feeder, I'd
suggest a type of mesh called turkey wire
that has one -by- two-inch openings. It
permits the small birds to enter but keeps
the pirates out. I guess we wouldn't mind it
if they weren't quite so hoggish. That blue
Jay with his cheek pockets really has the
capacity for holding seeds.
Years ago, when I photographed the blue
jay feeding its young in the top of a
hemlock I marveled at the way he satisfied
each gaping mouth. From nowhere there
would appear a berry which would be
plunked into the open mouth, then another
berry, and another and another. It seemed
an endless supply was being brought forth.
Different Food, Different Feathers
There is a whole different family of birds
you can attract by putting out suet. This
again reminds us of our changing times.
Once you could get all the suet you wanted
just by asking for it from your friendly
butcher. Not now though. It goes for so
much a pound. Yet, this isn't very much
and it's well worth the investment, for it
will attract the many woodpeckers along
with chickadees, nuthatches, starlings,
brown creepers and others. Here again we
have to watch out for the neighborhood cat
or the stray raccoons or opossums that
want their share. You could just tie this to
the tree and it would work for a while, but
I'll guarantee some morning you'll wake
up and your suet will be gone. I cut the suet
in half -inch slabs, tie it first to the tree and
then place a half -inch mesh wire over it.
This is tied around the back and does a fair
job of letting the birds feed through it and
still protects it. It takes a little work but it
is worthwhile.
Another way I use suet is to hang chunks
in an old orange bag. This, hung from the
extreme end of a tree limb, works well and
is so flimsy out on the end that I haven't
had robberies but once or twice.
Feeding birds is a wonderful way to
bring these ever - moving feathered friends
in closer range for your indoor enjoyment.
Many cannot get out and this affords
endless hours of delight, with the occa-
sional excitement of a new and different
species. Just last year for the first time we
had the handsome red - bellied woodpecker
from the south that is slowly invading our
area. What a joy he is to have at your
feeder! I'm sure many of you will have
your own specialty at your feeder this
winter. For those who have fed birds for
years and years, I'm sure the joy is still
there, and to those who have just
started..... we'll let the birds vouch for
their success.
Greenport `�rralel
Invites you
go An Evening
PAUL STOL'TENBURGH
at the
cSounMeW -Restaurant
No *tuber 21st - 730 p.m.
'Featuring a HOMECINES CRUISE acim
on the Doric to �Bermu ,)a
Complimentary Coffee & Hors d'oeuvres
--Sail with us May 2, 1981
Greenport Tra wel .agency, Inc.
120 FRONT STREET • GREENPORT, N. Y. Further information 477 -0777
STARLING - -A true Immigrant from Europe, the starling is now found in
all our states. He is an aggressive fellow and takes hiq share of a free
lunch. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
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