I have figured out how to keep deer out. I built a fence around my yard, then an enclosed fence for my garden. So, I don’t worry about deer. I also have squirrels reasonably under control with my garden fence, baffles on the seed poles, and the use of Red-Hot Bird Seed. But with squirrels, you never know. They are wily so-and-sos. But grackles are another story. They drive … [Read more...]
Squirrels: How do I hate thee?
Squirrels! How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways. I hate thee when you chew the top off a $50 birdfeeder because there was once a seed inside. I hate thee when you gnaw on my $20 plastic lawn chairs in the back yard for who knows why? I despise thee when you sneak into my garden somehow, take one bite out of plump tomato and leave it there for the ants. I hate thee when you … [Read more...]
Attracting Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds. What fascinating creatures. Hummingbirds are tiny, really tiny. Got a nickel in your pocket? That’s how much the little birds weigh. Their nests are the size of a quarter. Hummingbirds are in a perpetual state of excitement, at least so far as their pulse rates are concerned. On average, a hummer’s heart beats 615 times per minute and can reach over 1,200 beats per minute. They … [Read more...]
Discouraging Grackles and Starlings
My long-time friend, Harold Spangler in Charleston, loves his bluebirds and has been feeding them live meal worms. He has also been inadvertently feeding the starlings and grackles. They are eating him out of house and home. He asked my advice on keeping the bigger birds away. I discovered the secret a few years back – a domed feeder. The dome over the feeder bowl is adjustable and … [Read more...]
A Peep Hole World
(From inside a bluebird house) “What’s it look like out there?” “I don’t know, Mom said stay low, till she gets back.” “What’s taking her so long? I’m starving.” “Wait. Here comes Dad and he’s got a mouth full of meal worms. Glad we live in the Brewer’s back yard. That guy must own a meal worm factory.” Gobble, gobble, gulp, gulp. “Wait Dad, Billy in … [Read more...]
Welcome Back, Catbirds
I was worried. All my feathered friends were present and accounted for– the cardinals, bluebirds, titmice, chickadees, doves, robins, bluebirds, sparrows, thrushes, assorted finches and woodpeckers. But no catbirds. Last year, I had two families of catbirds. They practically camped out at my suet feeder, constantly pecking off pieces of the C & S Peanut Suet to feed their … [Read more...]
A Bird’s Eye View
I hung the weird-looking Creature of the Black Lagoon’s Bird House on a shepherd’s crook in one of Nancy’s Garden beds a couple weeks back. As I described, the house is constructed of moss and clay and looks like it was drained from the swamp. But I hung it anyway. Because of the way the crook was situated, the hole to the nest pointed to the side, not to the front. I wondered if … [Read more...]
Birds of a Feather
A male bluebird lit on our window feeder recently and he was simply stunning. There is no blue on the finest artist’s pallet that could begin to duplicate his color. This is the time of year when birds strut their stuff. An early spring molt leads to spectacular colors which male birds use to attract females. The feathers don’t change colors, but new, brighter feathers take their place. Even … [Read more...]
Grackle Wars Continue
I have two pests to contend with as I feed my backyard birds – squirrels and grackles. Both can lay waste to expensive bird seed intended for bluebirds and other songbirds. I have more or less stopped the squirrels with a baffle on my primary feeder. But baffles don’t stop grackles. They fly in and have figured out that if they stand on the side of the spring-loaded perch, they can still snatch … [Read more...]
Grackle Wars
They are back already. Grackles. There are not many, just 4 or 5 in my backyard, but soon they will come in swarms and eat me out of house and home as I attempt to feed my songbirds and toss some critter food to the squirrels. But I am prepared for battle. Here is my plan to at least discourage the big, black freeloaders. First, I will switch my primary feeder to Safflower Seeds. Neither … [Read more...]
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