Comments on: Wanted - Hungry Birds http://cottagedaily.com/2008/01/22/wanted-hungry-birds/ Online Guide to Cottage Living Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:59:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: CottageDaily.com » Blog Archive » Going to the Birds http://cottagedaily.com/2008/01/22/wanted-hungry-birds/#comment-1216 CottageDaily.com » Blog Archive » Going to the Birds Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:30:35 +0000 http://cottagedaily.com/2008/01/22/wanted-hungry-birds/#comment-1216 [...] The analogy, if you build it they will come, is certainly true for our window mounted bird feeder. Hesitant at first, and still quite shy, the birds are coming, more every day. It’s seems word has spread and the seeds are quickly disappearing or perhaps they read my blog, Wanted Hungry Birds. [...] […] The analogy, if you build it they will come, is certainly true for our window mounted bird feeder. Hesitant at first, and still quite shy, the birds are coming, more every day. It’s seems word has spread and the seeds are quickly disappearing or perhaps they read my blog, Wanted Hungry Birds. […]

]]> By: Julie http://cottagedaily.com/2008/01/22/wanted-hungry-birds/#comment-876 Julie Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:02:16 +0000 http://cottagedaily.com/2008/01/22/wanted-hungry-birds/#comment-876 Hi Debb, I realized after we bought our feeder that they're not recommended for windows. Our location is very dark, so I'm hoping they wont' have problems with the glare. Thanks for your reference. I hope you enjoy your time at camp - how many more sleeps??? Cheers, Julie Hi Debb,
I realized after we bought our feeder that they’re not recommended for windows. Our location is very dark, so I’m hoping they wont’ have problems with the glare. Thanks for your reference.

I hope you enjoy your time at camp - how many more sleeps???

Cheers,
Julie

]]> By: Debb http://cottagedaily.com/2008/01/22/wanted-hungry-birds/#comment-873 Debb Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:49:09 +0000 http://cottagedaily.com/2008/01/22/wanted-hungry-birds/#comment-873 The biggest concern I have with feeders,at home and at camp, is the chance that birds will hit the windows. We just installed 4 huge windows in our new room at camp and the first thing I did was apply decals on the OUTSIDE of the windows. I got them at our local birder store, but you can see them here: http://www.windowalert.com/?gclid=COfinYnSjZECFQ6CPAodDyQQFg After doing some research last summer, I discovered that any deterrent for the birds has to be placed on the outside of the window, because of reflections, etc. Also, hang your feeders fairly close to the window itself. Not only can you see the birds nicely from inside, but this prevents the birds from gaining too much speed when leaving the feeder - which also prevents them from hitting the windows. We don't get many varieties of birds. Just chickadees, nuthatches and the odd woodpecker and blue jay. The squirrels eat the most I think! We put seed out whenever we're at camp. I try to put out small amounts at a time so there's none left there when we leave. Once we returned to camp and found the feeders had been dropped to the ground. By bears or racoons perhaps, we don't know. In the spring, when bears are more hungry, we tend to only put small handfuls of seed out so as not to attract the bruins. Haven't seen a bear on our property in the four years we've owned it, but we have seen them across the channel at our neighbour's. The biggest concern I have with feeders,at home and at camp, is the chance that birds will hit the windows. We just installed 4 huge windows in our new room at camp and the first thing I did was apply decals on the OUTSIDE of the windows. I got them at our local birder store, but you can see them here: http://www.windowalert.com/?gclid=COfinYnSjZECFQ6CPAodDyQQFg

After doing some research last summer, I discovered that any deterrent for the birds has to be placed on the outside of the window, because of reflections, etc.
Also, hang your feeders fairly close to the window itself. Not only can you see the birds nicely from inside, but this prevents the birds from gaining too much speed when leaving the feeder - which also prevents them from hitting the windows.

We don’t get many varieties of birds. Just chickadees, nuthatches and the odd woodpecker and blue jay. The squirrels eat the most I think!

We put seed out whenever we’re at camp. I try to put out small amounts at a time so there’s none left there when we leave. Once we returned to camp and found the feeders had been dropped to the ground. By bears or racoons perhaps, we don’t know. In the spring, when bears are more hungry, we tend to only put small handfuls of seed out so as not to attract the bruins. Haven’t seen a bear on our property in the four years we’ve owned it, but we have seen them across the channel at our neighbour’s.

]]> By: Julie http://cottagedaily.com/2008/01/22/wanted-hungry-birds/#comment-871 Julie Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:24:34 +0000 http://cottagedaily.com/2008/01/22/wanted-hungry-birds/#comment-871 Thank you Barb, Great tips on the food and feeder location. The birds in our neighborhood are well feed and have yet to show an interest in our offerings. I think the cabin will be a better place for a feeder. Thank you again for comments. Cheers, Julie Thank you Barb,
Great tips on the food and feeder location. The birds in our neighborhood are well feed and have yet to show an interest in our offerings. I think the cabin will be a better place for a feeder.

Thank you again for comments.

Cheers,
Julie

]]> By: Barb Staples http://cottagedaily.com/2008/01/22/wanted-hungry-birds/#comment-868 Barb Staples Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:18:00 +0000 http://cottagedaily.com/2008/01/22/wanted-hungry-birds/#comment-868 I chuckle each time when remembering the first time I hung feeders here. This Muskoka, Ontario cottage (home) was built in an area never previously occupied by humans, much less bird feeders; virgin bush if you will. Within minutes of hanging my Sontag feeders, the chickadees were on them. I was stunned they could recognize previously unknown (?) food so quickly. At that time, none of my more-than-a-mile-away neighbours were feeding the birds so it's not like they were in the vicinity and used to feeders as I am located smack in the middle of thousands of acres of conservation land. In a few hours I had redpolls, assorted finches/grosbeaks, hairy and downy woodpeckers, a pileated woodpecker, juncos, a single blue jay and red and flying squirrels. What an amazing day and night, and it wasn't even a rough winter, as in, there was lots of natural food in the bush. In my 30 years experience, if you cannot afford to buy all varieties of seed, the black oil is the most enriching for all and all the woodland birds will devour it, often before the niger seed, including the wild turkey hens that visit daily in spite of my dogs. The messy blue jays scatter enough to keep everyone happy, including the moles/voles/mice; all cute. Encourage your grocery store to give you suet for free; that is the only reason I loyally shop where I do and they know it. Considering bears, in eight years here there have been only two that caused next to no damage, they simply wanted that hanging fat when emerging from their dens in April; nothing I would hold against them. My dogs obviously have an influence here. Oh, for platform feeders, please position them within some protection so the raptors cannot swoop down and gobble the feeding beauties up. The bottom line is, feeders are not a natural occurence. We are messing with nature so we must be responsible about it, cleanliness (disease) and safety for all top the list. I chuckle each time when remembering the first time I hung feeders here. This Muskoka, Ontario cottage (home) was built in an area never previously occupied by humans, much less bird feeders; virgin bush if you will. Within minutes of hanging my Sontag feeders, the chickadees were on them. I was stunned they could recognize previously unknown (?) food so quickly. At that time, none of my more-than-a-mile-away neighbours were feeding the birds so it’s not like they were in the vicinity and used to feeders as I am located smack in the middle of thousands of acres of conservation land. In a few hours I had redpolls, assorted finches/grosbeaks, hairy and downy woodpeckers, a pileated woodpecker, juncos, a single blue jay and red and flying squirrels. What an amazing day and night, and it wasn’t even a rough winter, as in, there was lots of natural food in the bush. In my 30 years experience, if you cannot afford to buy all varieties of seed, the black oil is the most enriching for all and all the woodland birds will devour it, often before the niger seed, including the wild turkey hens that visit daily in spite of my dogs. The messy blue jays scatter enough to keep everyone happy, including the moles/voles/mice; all cute. Encourage your grocery store to give you suet for free; that is the only reason I loyally shop where I do and they know it. Considering bears, in eight years here there have been only two that caused next to no damage, they simply wanted that hanging fat when emerging from their dens in April; nothing I would hold against them. My dogs obviously have an influence here. Oh, for platform feeders, please position them within some protection so the raptors cannot swoop down and gobble the feeding beauties up. The bottom line is, feeders are not a natural occurence. We are messing with nature so we must be responsible about it, cleanliness (disease) and safety for all top the list.

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