OT Bird Lovers

[ABM]

We have a number of bird feeders and mostly use sunflower seed as it's one of the lesser expensive options. We get inundated by blackbirds, which sucks. Not a real pretty variety to watch. I just learned that safflower seed is the way to go if we don't want them hanging around. Problem is, safflower seed is rather expensive.

Anyway, was curious about other options out there.

 

[barfo]

<insert image of shotgun here>

barfo

 

[SlyPokerCat]

I love birds




For dinner!

 

[ABM]

<insert image of shotgun here>

barfo

<insert image of shotgun here>

 

[jonnyboy]

Not sure about feed. But those blackbirds might be grackles. They’re assholes. They fly into our place every few years and cause havoc. Pick on the other birds, throw food around, swing from the feeders…they’re like drunks. It’s seriously worth popping a few with a BB gun to get them to go away. They will scare away the nicer birds permanently.

 

[barfo]

A grackle shit on my head once on my way in to work. I hate grackles.

barfo

 

[SlyPokerDog]

We have a number of bird feeders and mostly use sunflower seed as it's one of the lesser expensive options. We get inundated by blackbirds, which sucks. Not a real pretty variety to watch. I just learned that safflower seed is the way to go if we don't want them hanging around. Problem is, safflower seed is rather expensive.

Anyway, was curious about other options out there.

https://www.chewy.com/b/food-942?gc...g2DTzN59IPIRbQnfpWchMiWAGm_8HepUaAtVPEALw_wcB

 

[ABM]

https://www.chewy.com/b/food-942?gc...g2DTzN59IPIRbQnfpWchMiWAGm_8HepUaAtVPEALw_wcB

Garsh, you're so swift on the accommodations. What a find.

 

[ABM]

Not sure about feed. But those blackbirds might be grackles. They’re assholes. They fly into our place every few years and cause havoc. Pick on the other birds, throw food around, swing from the feeders…they’re like drunks. It’s seriously worth popping a few with a BB gun to get them to go away. They will scare away the nicer birds permanently.

May have to pull out the ol' Red Ryder.

 

[crandc]

Plant a garden, get birds. Lucia likes birds. I wish she would go after rats.

 

[Haakzilla]

I like getting birdies and all, but I love eagles so much more!!

 

[Lanny]

We have a number of bird feeders and mostly use sunflower seed as it's one of the lesser expensive options. We get inundated by blackbirds, which sucks. Not a real pretty variety to watch. I just learned that safflower seed is the way to go if we don't want them hanging around. Problem is, safflower seed is rather expensive.

Anyway, was curious about other options out there.

I hate black birds.
Stick to humming bird feeders or tiny seed, but be prepared for bird poop.

 

[ABM]

Plant a garden, get birds. Lucia likes birds. I wish she would go after rats.

We could certainly do that. The area is conducive for it.

 

[Lanny]

We could certainly do that. The area is conducive for it.

View attachment 39123 View attachment 39124

I would move that hummingbird feeder away from that bird feeder next to it. Every bird is larger than a hummingbird and thus makes the already flighty hummingbird even more nervous. Our humming birds take off like bats out of hell whenever even the smallest song bird comes near.

 

[ABM]

I would move that hummingbird feeder away from that bird feeder next to it. Every bird is larger than a hummingbird and thus makes the already flighty hummingbird even more nervous. Our humming birds take off like bats out of hell whenever even the smallest song bird comes near.

Love it! Thank you, Sir!

 

[crandc]

Lucia left half a bird on my bath mat. Generous cat.

Look, fams, I can't tell her not to be a cat.

 

[Lanny]

Lucia left half a bird on my bath mat. Generous cat.

Look, fams, I can't tell her not to be a cat.

You could tell her but she's gonna go her own way.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

We used to keep several feeders going but it got to be such a pain in the butt we quit filling them. No matter what kind of feed we used, it was always problematic in one way or another. Either it attracted the wrong kind of birds, or they picked through the stuff and sent it flying everywhere and/or it would germinate in the lawn or shrub beds, etc, etc. Now I just keep 3-4 Hot Lips salvias to attract hummingbirds and it has worked beyond our imaginations. Every summer our yard is a hummingbird highway. And I have found them to be surprisingly friendly and inquisitive. It’s interesting how long and close they will hover just to check us or the dog out. They really seem to like the dog…..and vice versa.

 

[ABM]

We used to keep several feeders going but it got to be such a pain in the butt we quit filling them. No matter what kind of feed we used, it was always problematic in one way or another. Either it attracted the wrong kind of birds, or they picked through the stuff and sent it flying everywhere and/or it would germinate in the lawn or shrub beds, etc, etc. Now I just keep 3-4 Hot Lips salvias to attract hummingbirds and it has worked beyond our imaginations. Every summer our yard is a hummingbird highway. And I have found them to be surprisingly friendly and inquisitive. It’s interesting how long and close they will hover just to check us or the dog out. They really seem to like the dog…..and vice versa.

Thanks, I'll check those out!

 

[Lanny]

We used to keep several feeders going but it got to be such a pain in the butt we quit filling them. No matter what kind of feed we used, it was always problematic in one way or another. Either it attracted the wrong kind of birds, or they picked through the stuff and sent it flying everywhere and/or it would germinate in the lawn or shrub beds, etc, etc. Now I just keep 3-4 Hot Lips salvias to attract hummingbirds and it has worked beyond our imaginations. Every summer our yard is a hummingbird highway. And I have found them to be surprisingly friendly and inquisitive. It’s interesting how long and close they will hover just to check us or the dog out. They really seem to like the dog…..and vice versa.

I was once watering our vegetable garden with a garden hose and an upward and then downward motion of the water in a sort of a loop, on a hot summer day. This humming bird came flying and looked me right in the eye for about ten minutes. He seemed fascinated by both me and the water.
By the way, you might want to try grass seed in your feeder.

 

[riverman]

I think God is trying to get you to finally eat your crow....! It's a test...locusts will be next...then frogs will fall from the sky..

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Thanks, I'll check those out!

When BG moved into his current house he asked me how I attracted the hummingbirds. When I told him, he immediately went to his local nursery and purchased several Hot Lips. Literally, within 30 minutes of planting them in his backyard he had his first hummingbird show up. The plant in general has a fairly strong and distinct odor that seems to draw them…..

 

[ABM]

I think God is trying to get you to finally eat your crow....! It's a test...locusts will be next...then frogs will fall from the sky..

Perhaps.

I wonder if that's why I heard him whisper, "Let my S2 people go!"

 

[riverman]

I feed the birds chicken scratch that I also feed my chickens...they love it...so do the chipmunks though ..chicken scratch is pretty cheap compared to wild bird seed...the hawks that populate my back acre keep the crows away...every once in awhile it's like watching WWII fighter planes go at it in the skies....hawks always win but crows are fearless and relentless..they keep trying

 

[ABM]

I feed the birds chicken scratch that I also feed my chickens...they love it...so do the chipmunks though ..chicken scratch is pretty cheap compared to wild bird seed...the hawks that populate my back acre keep the crows away...every once in awhile it's like watching WWII fighter planes go at it in the skies....hawks always win but crows are fearless and relentless..they keep trying

I'll check that out! I had to go to Tractor Supply anyway.

 

[Lanny]

When BG moved into his current house he asked me how I attracted the hummingbirds. When I told him, he immediately went to his local nursery and purchased several Hot Lips. Literally, within 30 minutes of planting them in his backyard he had his first hummingbird show up. The plant in general has a fairly strong and distinct odor that seems to draw them…..

Hot lips, eh, never heard of it.

 

[Natebishop3]

<insert image of shotgun here>

barfo

<insert caption "Hi PapaG" below>

 

[ABM]

I feed the birds chicken scratch that I also feed my chickens...they love it...so do the chipmunks though ..chicken scratch is pretty cheap compared to wild bird seed...the hawks that populate my back acre keep the crows away...every once in awhile it's like watching WWII fighter planes go at it in the skies....hawks always win but crows are fearless and relentless..they keep trying

Bought some corn scratch this morning. I'll let you know how that all works out. We're also going to purchase some Hot Lips Sage (Salvia) for the hummingbirds.

 

[ABM]

I would move that hummingbird feeder away from that bird feeder next to it. Every bird is larger than a hummingbird and thus makes the already flighty hummingbird even more nervous. Our humming birds take off like bats out of hell whenever even the smallest song bird comes near.

Good call. We moved the hummingbird feeder to the side of the screened porch, got rid of the green sunflower seed feeders, added safflower seeds to the main feeder (apparently, crows/blackbirds aren't fond of safflower seeds), added a bird house, and added some flowers flanking the hummingbird feeder. I'm wondering if hot lips (as @UncleCliffy'sDaddy had suggested) might be better off there instead(?)

Anyway, here's a before/after look.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Good call. We moved the hummingbird feeder to the side of the screened porch, got rid of the green sunflower seed feeders, added safflower seeds to the main feeder (apparently, crows/blackbirds aren't fond of safflower seeds), added a bird house, and added some flowers flanking the hummingbird feeder. I'm wondering if hot lips (as @UncleCliffy'sDaddy had suggested) might be better off there instead(?)

Anyway, here's a before/after look.

View attachment 39257 View attachment 39258

I’d put the hot lips as close to your windows or outdoor relaxation areas as possible so you can enjoy watching the humming birds do their thing…..