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red-bellied woodpecker

16 years ago

I've had a red-bellied woodpecker who has been visiting my feeder for several days. This morning, I stopped using the fruit and nut mixture and put in all BOSS, plus, I moved the feeder. A squirell had found it in it's original spot and has been climbing up the shephard's hook and hanging upside down eating the bird seed. I imagine he'll find it again eventually. It is now on the end of my clothesline pole.

I haven't seen many sparrows or finches around, and no grackles. As far as colorful birds, I have only seen one male goldfinch and a male house finch. I didn't want to move the feeder, but the squirrel was driving me nuts!! I used to think they were so cute until now.

Anyway, will the red-bellied woodpecker eat BOSS? Will he be back? I'd hate that I'd never see him again. Will other colorful birds eventually find the BOSS? Thanks

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Comments (7)

rachel_frome_ky
16 years ago
Our Red-bellied Woodpeckers only eat peanut butter suet, and only when they are feeding young
hawkeye_wx
16 years ago
When I have removed the suet for even a day or two(squirrel problems) my red-bellied woodpeckers have disappeared and not come back. I haven't seen one in about four months. Hopefully, I can attract another next autumn/winter.

I used to have squirrels climbing the shepherd hook, but a baffle put an end to that.

Here is a link that might be useful:
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donnas_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
hawkeye_wx, I like that baffle. Can you buy then in bird stores? I wonder if you can make your own somehow?? Now if I could just put something else on the hook to keep grackles from grabbing ahold of it to get to the seed. I do know I don't like where the feeder is now because I can't see the birds too well from my kitchen window.

rachel_frome_ky, he would cling to the bottom of the tube feeder and eat. I had the fruit and nut mixture and some sunflower seed that I mixed in with it. Don't know exactly what he was eating of that mix, but he liked it.
organic_bassetlvr
16 years ago
While my red-bellies prefer suet they also eat BOSS and will open peanuts in the shell & eat them, if they get to them before the jays. I run out of suet & everything else at times & they always come back. I try to provide lots of natural food in the form of insects (no pesticides) and berries, & seeds. That way if I run out of "store-bought " food the birds are still around. Providing cover for them to nest in & water to drink & bathe in is probably as important as food.
Susan
dzyg
16 years ago
My redbellied WP pretty much only eats the shelled peanuts that I put in my mixed seed feeder. I have suet out all the time too but as far as woodpeckers only the Hairys and Downeys eat that.

Donna
terrene
16 years ago
Mr. and Ms. Red Belly just love my peanut butter suet mixture, and I feed that year-round. In fact, the annoying male will fly to the gutter and rap loudly at 6 AM if the suet log is empty. Yes, he is definitely telling me that there is no suet. Then I yell at him out the window to cut it out (do you think he listens??). It's unfortunate but I am only filling the suet log once in the morning because it has been attracting too many House sparrows lately.

The Red Bellies also eat the raw suet, but I only feed that during the cold months.
donnas_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
When you all talk about suet, do you mean the packaged gooey stuff that goes in the square green wired baskets, or the bell-shaped thingy with seeds all over it? Or something enrirely different?? Terrene, what is a log? Can you post a picture of what you all are talking about?

Oh, and I did see the woodpecker yesterday evening, but not at my feeder. He (actually she) was flying from one tree to another. It was funny watching her. On the tree she stopped at, she landed on the trunk and hopped backwards (down the trunk) and then after a little pecking, hopped back upwards.

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