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Ozarks Gardening

Attract more birds

14 years ago

Every year in early December, I put out a heated dog water bowl. When the temp drops below freezing I turn it on. I put a rock and a stick in it for the birds to perch on. Sometimes I'll have 2 or 3 doves sitting on the rock like it is their own little spa.

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Comments (3)

ceresone
14 years ago
Another good idea, is to put your feeders where the little birds can find cover in a hurry. Like evergreens, etc.
One year, I got to see the neatest thing-I had hurt my leg, so had a woodpile just outside the door-and a picture window. The bird feeder was close too. The little birds scattered as a hawk sat down at the feeder. He flew to the woodpile, and due to the window having see out-not in, film on it--I could see the hawk, on the top of the pile--and the little birds hiding inside it.!! Really nice, I could see him listening, turning his head this way and that--and little ones being careful.
A few minutes I wont forget.
gldno1
14 years ago
I thought I responded to this earlier....probably didn't hit send. I think I will look for a a heated waterer.

I have spent the morning trying to get one of the three chicken waterers going. Now out of electrical tape (actually DH has misplaced it! but he won't admit it.)

The birds still haven't found the new tube feeder.
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Last Sept was the first time we had ever seen "swarms" of hummingbirds on our feeders. We have 7 feeders and the 3 that hang in front of our sunroom windows would be completely full--a hummer at EACH opening -- with others hovering above waiting their turn!! It was a sight to behold! At the same time, some would be zooming across the yard to the other feeders that would have 1 or 2 on each of them. All feeders are in our small backyard. The 3 feeders at the windows are about 20 ft apart. We estimated 30 hummers but it was only an estimate. They would zoom over the roof, then back into the yard, then into the trees. We would sit in our lawn furniture facing the windows and just watch the show. My sister would make it a point to come by as soon as she got off work so we could watch together. Needless to say, we are just counting the days until Sept to see if it happens again! I have had 3 hummingbirds for awhile this summer. Can't wait to see what Sept will bring.
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I would definately go for a variety over a larger feeder. My hopper style feeder is actually the least favorite of all my feeders. It is always the last to be emptied. The tube feeders are the finches favorite. Everybody else seems to prefer the open tray style feeders or feeding off of the ground. Suet feeders and peanut feeders will help you attract that woodpecker, they really like the sunflower too. Black oiled sunflower is the best feed for attracting the most and largest variety of birds by far. I do buy cracked corn and a mix too because they are cheaper and I have a large population of doves, and in the spring, summer, redwinged blackbirds and grackles. They will eat the cheaper seed and it helps cut the cost a bit. Otherwise they'd be perfectly happy to fill up on black oiled sunflower too! LOL
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maybe it's just me but i prefer my feeders close to a tree or shrubs. when anything scares the birds they head to the nearest cover into a tree or bush. also when they fly in to the yard they land in a tree or bush and then to the feeder. The easiest way to squirrel proof in to have a pole far enough from the tree or fence ect. so the squirrels can not jump across to the pole. there are lots of different plans for baffles or squirrel guards to keep them from climbing the pole. if you have a pvc pole you can get fittings to put cross arms with shepards hooks to hang or mount a platform or tray or box. you can make your own of most bird supplys have a lot of different ones. anything from a wooden tray to a metal pan to a baking dish. It depends on what birds you want to feed most. the jays or chickadees or cardinals or tit mouse grab nuts or peanuts or sunflower seeds. Some of the song birds like dried berrys or fruit pieces or jelly in a glsss bowl or saucer or bowl. you can put a three way or four way fitting on the pole and have 3 or more arms to hang tube feeders or suet cages or hopper feeders or mount the platform.
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mulberryknob
14 years ago
I need one of those. Ceresone, loved your hawk story. Don't you wish you'd had a video camera. I saw something I remember a few years ago--2 somethings really. A Suet feeder attracted a titmouse and a redbellied woodpecker at the same time. They landed on opposite sides of teh feeder. The woodpecker didn't want to share and feinted at the titmouse to run it off. The titmouse left but returned just a few seconds later. The woodpecker feinted again. Titmouse left again. Titmouse returned in few seconds. The woodpecker grabbed the titmouse's beak in his beak, jerked him off the feeder, shook him a couple times and slung him over his shoulder. I laughed so hard inside the window only five ft away that I startled the woodpecker and he flew away.

On another occasion I watched a squirrel come down a tree to drink out of the dog's water dish at the base of a tree. It is an old large skillet and a sparrow landed on the rim of it and began to drink while the squirrel was there. Sparrow at 3 oclock, squirrel at 6 oclock. Without looking up or making any indication that it was even aware of the little bird, the squirrel arched his tail over and whacked the sparrow on top of the head, knocking it off the rim. The sparrow left and again, I burst out laughing and startled the squirrel, which headed back up the tree.

Sure wish I'd had a video camera.

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