how do I attract mockingbirds and blue jays to my feeders
plantnut65
9 years ago
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lazy_gardens
9 years agobluegirl_gw
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Squirrel feeders and Blue Jay
Comments (3)Some birds like the ground or a platform to eat from. Some like Blue Jays will eat anything. Most of the fights the squirrels will not hurt each other except during the breeding season. You will notice that when you have a winter type storm or very deep freeze they will all eat without fighting. If you want to be mean put out two more saucers and place in a triangle. The piggie squirrels will run from one to the other trying to get the best food. After a while they will just sit there looking like they are lost. I don't worry about what the squirrels eat any more I just put food out first come first served. The wildlife I get other than the deer seem to know when others need food and let them eat in peace. You will see less fights as the stored food is depleted. When the number of squirrels reach a certain level they tend to pass diseases to each other. This is natures way of preventing over population. This year we have very few squirrels in this area but last year it seemed like every tree was full. Try to keep feeders for squirrels clean. It will not help prevent passing of diseases but at least you will have not caused it. Hubby was very upset this spring when the squirrels disappeared and thought he had done something....See MoreGetting Blues to return/Mockingbird
Comments (2)I also have a mockingbird that feeds at the mealworm feeder, but what my blues do is wait in the branches above until the mockingbird leaves, then they feed. It took my blues awhile to feed at the feeder, but now they are there a lot. The feeder is hanging on a tree branch near a nesting box, so I will probably have to move it when they start nesting, so that it doesn't attract other birds near the nesting box....See MoreAnother Great Feeder Day; Eye-popping blue jay shot
Comments (4)Wonderful! You sure are quick with your camera. And so lucky - it seems your birds trust you. :) I especially like the ones where the bluejay and the titmouse have a seed in the beak. And the song sparrow - there is something about a bird with his mouth open that moves me. ~JoAnn...See Morehow do i attract humming birds to my feeder?
Comments (18)Aside from all that lol, basically what everyone else said, many flowers work for hummers. Anything tubular with plenty of nectar is best but they can adapt to some others. Annuals: Zinnia (grow from seed), annual salvias, pentas, impatiens Perennials: Perennial salvias depending on region (Southeast= 'Black and Bloom' salvia & Salvia Amistad are favorites in my yard), Red Yucca, Penstemon/Beardtongue, Purple coneflower (wild type is best but cultivars White Swan, Cheyenne Spirit, & PowWow series are ok), coral bells, hosta, Agastache, Bee balm, columbines, Red hot poker, lilies (but only in addition to other plants) Shrubs: Butterfly bush, Firebush (zone 9+ only), Firespike (zone 8b+ only, not a shrub, herbaceous, but shrub sized), azaleas Small trees: Callistemon/Bottle brush (zone 9+, 'Woodlanders hardy' is zone 7+), Red Buckeye Vines: Trumpet honeysuckle (NOT invasive Japanese honeysuckle, the native kind)... possibly Trumpetvine and Crossvine but both can be aggressive Firebush is my (and my hummer's) absolute favorite btw and might be worth growing in a large container (low water needs) up North and overwintering by a window. Last tips: Minimize or eliminate pesticide use (a big part of hummingbird diets, and what their babies depend on especially, are small insects and spiders) and have feeders up by the time they arrive in spring when they're forming their territories. Hope that helps and I hope you get plenty of hummers next year, good luck!...See Moreplantnut65
9 years agobluegirl_gw
9 years agoambermolholm
9 years agopaulo_verde (San Antonio)
9 years agobigack
9 years agoalbert_135 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
9 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
9 years agoOlychick
3 years ago
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