Birders' Nest

[VonStupp]

Last winter, we hung seed bells on our Crab Apple tree out front to watch the local birds come and go.

This winter, my wife had me buy this suction cup bird feeder (pictured) to affix to the front window so the girls could really watch the birds up close.

They seem to be enjoying it so far. 

VS

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Last winter, we hung seed bells on our Crab Apple tree out front to watch the local birds come and go.

This winter, my wife had me buy this suction cup bird feeder (pictured) to affix to the front window so the girls could really watch the birds up close.

They seem to be enjoying it so far. 

VS

Oh, nice!  A win-win for everybody then.    Are the suction cups working well?

PD

[VonStupp]

Oh, nice!  A win-win for everybody then.    Are the suction cups working well?

PD

So far, so good. Of course, it hasn't been very wet yet, so we will see how the season works.

VS

[Pohjolas Daughter]

So far, so good. Of course, it hasn't been very wet yet, so we will see how the season works.

VS

What room do you have it attached to?  Would be fun to attach one to a kitchen window...as I'm in there a lot.  One possible setback here:  we have a ton of squirrels around here.  I suspect that they would try to get into it.

PD

[VonStupp]

What room do you have it attached to?  Would be fun to attach one to a kitchen window...as I'm in there a lot.  One possible setback here:  we have a ton of squirrels around here.  I suspect that they would try to get into it.

PD

Currently, it resides at our main living area, where we spend the most amount of our time. When the spring and summer seasons come round, I may move it to the kitchen window. It creates a bit of a mess for being at the front of the house.

Yes, on the Amazon product page, reviewers mention this doesn't keep squirrels out, but that aspect doesn't seem to have blighted their reviews. Instead there are a ton of amusing customer pictures of rascal squirrels (and many birds of course).

https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Hangout-Weatherproof-Feeders-Watching/dp/B00YSU3WG2

[Szykneij]

Yes, on the Amazon product page, reviewers mention this doesn't keep squirrels out, but that aspect doesn't seem to have blighted their reviews. Instead their are a ton of amusing customer pictures of rascal squirrels (and many birds of course).

I've found that squirrels are amazingly resourceful and will manage to figure out how to access even supposedly squirrel-proof feeders. My solution is to put feeders on one side of the property that are easy for them to get at, away from the feeders specifically for the birds. The squirrels will take the path of least resistance (and they need to eat, too, anyway.) Also, they don't seem to have any interest in Nyjer seed, so thistle feeders are good options if squirrels are a concern.

[mabuse]

It reminds me of this drawing by Gary Larson 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Currently, it resides at our main living area, where we spend the most amount of our time. When the spring and summer seasons come round, I may move it to the kitchen window. It creates a bit of a mess for being at the front of the house.

Yes, on the Amazon product page, reviewers mention this doesn't keep squirrels out, but that aspect doesn't seem to have blighted their reviews. Instead there are a ton of amusing customer pictures of rascal squirrels (and many birds of course).

https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Hangout-Weatherproof-Feeders-Watching/dp/B00YSU3WG2

Well, please keep us updated.    And good luck!  By the way, I love the second photo on the website--of a little girl and a cat next to her watching the feeder! 

I've found that squirrels are amazingly resourceful and will manage to figure out how to access even supposedly squirrel-proof feeders. My solution is to put feeders on one side of the property that are easy for them to get at, away from the feeders specifically for the birds. The squirrels will take the path of least resistance (and they need to eat, too, anyway.) Also, they don't seem to have any interest in niger seed, so thistle feeders are good options if squirrels are a concern.

Yes, they are clever and stubborn little creatures Tony.  I've seen on numerous occasions squirrels either getting into or stuffing their faces on the seeds that fall onto the ground.

It reminds me of this drawing by Gary Larson 

Very funny! 

PD

[mabuse]

By my home, in France, red squirrels don't proliferate so much and they are often quite fearful...
I always try to give them something to eat (walnuts, sunflower seeds...) but it is birds that come to loot their feeder... 

Here is one that I coaxed three years ago... 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

By my home, in France, red squirrels don't proliferate so much and they are often quite fearful...
I always try to give them something to eat (walnuts, sunflower seeds...) but it is birds that come to loot their feeder... 

Here is one that I coaxed three years ago... 

I believe that I remember reading that their numbers have dwindled to the point that they have become much less common (perhaps not endangered though??  Not certain.).  Grey squirrels are dominant here.  Fat and happy!

PD

[Szykneij]

I believe that I remember reading that their numbers have dwindled to the point that they have become much less common (perhaps not endangered though??  Not certain.).  Grey squirrels are dominant here.  Fat and happy!

PD

... Huge in numbers with much bushier tails!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

... Huge in numbers with much bushier tails!

Confused here...which ones are you referring to in your neck of the woods?

PD

[Szykneij]

Confused here...which ones are you referring to in your neck of the woods?

PD

Gray squirrels around here, and lots of them.

[Szykneij]

Research tells me that it's not unusual for Robins to overwinter in my area, but I was caught off guard this morning to find at least ten of them foraging in the backyard. The Massachusetts Audobon website says:

Most birds that regularly winter in New England are well suited to withstand cold temperatures. In the fall, many birds grow additional feathers for insulation. To keep warm while roosting, birds fluff their feathers. Because of the way their feathers are layered, this behavior traps pockets of warm air next to the skin.

During winter days, many birds feed almost continually, storing up fat that they burn off at night to keep warm. There isn't much one can feed robins in the winter. They're very adept at finding their preferred food and rarely visit feeding stations.

During severe weather, robins may eat raisins, berries, or pieces of apples placed on the ground.

I've left the pokeweed and other plants that have died back standing so the birds have seed and berry options other than my feeders. I also have have snowberry and winterberry bushes that the mockingbirds seem to be enjoying. I'll have to look into having berries and raisins on hand for those days of snowfall ahead.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Research tells me that it's not unusual for Robins to overwinter in my area, but I was caught off guard this morning to find at least ten of them foraging in the backyard. The Massachusetts Audobon website says:

Most birds that regularly winter in New England are well suited to withstand cold temperatures. In the fall, many birds grow additional feathers for insulation. To keep warm while roosting, birds fluff their feathers. Because of the way their feathers are layered, this behavior traps pockets of warm air next to the skin.

During winter days, many birds feed almost continually, storing up fat that they burn off at night to keep warm. There isn't much one can feed robins in the winter. They're very adept at finding their preferred food and rarely visit feeding stations.

During severe weather, robins may eat raisins, berries, or pieces of apples placed on the ground.

I've left the pokeweed and other plants that have died back standing so the birds have seed and berry options other than my feeders. I also have have snowberry and winterberry bushes that the mockingbirds seem to be enjoying. I'll have to look into having berries and raisins on hand for those days of snowfall ahead.

Interesting information Tony.  Thank you for sharing it!

I had fun yesterday making a "nest" for a fake bird decoration that I have.  It's a red bird with red and black tail feathers..the body is approximately 5 inches long.  It has some wires next to its feet, but it doesn't stay well on my Christmas tree.  Last year, with the cooperation of my *neighbors, I cut off some short and thin branches (mostly yew) and used some wire to hold them together.  With some finagling, I managed to get the bird to sit upright in the nest.  He/she is on one of my mantlepieces. 

*I was given a special dispensation to create a nest for said bird ad infinitum. 

PD

[Irons]

Robin being a nuisance. 

https://youtu.be/mkR1Nkvyrvg

Start at 1.52.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Robin being a nuisance. 

https://youtu.be/mkR1Nkvyrvg

Start at 1.52.

A very friendly little bird!  Certainly not shy!  Love how he feeds it some worms. 

PD

[Szykneij]

Robin being a nuisance. 

https://youtu.be/mkR1Nkvyrvg

Start at 1.52.

That is one cool little bird!

I found the leaf mold part interesting. I think it's more of a British thing because I really wasn't aware of it until fairly recently and it's not something I think is taken advantage of here like it should be.

I've always mulched the dead leaves on my lawn and open areas to let them return into the soil. (The leaves along the borders and edge areas I leave alone until the spring after all of the native bees and other pollinators have emerged.) But now I collect a lot of the mulched leaves and have filled two barrels with them to use as leaf mold for my garden. Makes more sense than bagging them up like others do to be collected by the city on specified days.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

That is one cool little bird!

I found the leaf mold part interesting. I think it's more of a British thing because I really wasn't aware of it until fairly recently and it's not something I think is taken advantage of here like it should be.

I've always mulched the dead leaves on my lawn and open areas to let them return into the soil. (The leaves along the borders and edge areas I leave alone until the spring after all of the native bees and other pollinators have emerged.) But now I collect a lot of the mulched leaves and have filled two barrels with them to use as leaf mold for my garden. Makes more sense than bagging them up like others do to be collected by the city on specified days.

The earthworms certainly love them!  Sometimes I'll make a big pile of them and then use my lawnmower with the mulching blade on them to help them break down quicker (takes up less room too).

Had a wonderful treat tonight.  Woke up to the sound of one (guessing probably two) barred owl hooting outside my window!  So tempted to go outside to see if I could see it, but it's so cold outside!  Boy, he/she/they were very noisy tonight!  I suspect that they were busy calling and replying to each other. 

In any event, what a treat!

PD

[Irons]

That is one cool little bird!

I found the leaf mold part interesting. I think it's more of a British thing because I really wasn't aware of it until fairly recently and it's not something I think is taken advantage of here like it should be.

I've always mulched the dead leaves on my lawn and open areas to let them return into the soil. (The leaves along the borders and edge areas I leave alone until the spring after all of the native bees and other pollinators have emerged.) But now I collect a lot of the mulched leaves and have filled two barrels with them to use as leaf mold for my garden. Makes more sense than bagging them up like others do to be collected by the city on specified days.

The chap in the video trawls the streets for fallen leaves and fills twenty odd builders bags of them.
I don't go that far! Just filling one builders bag a season - though I must admit, making sure no one looking, I did scoop some up from a pavement last week. It is surprising how far they compost down to leaf mould. Starting with a huge amount, a year later less then a quarter. Lovely sweet smelling stuff though.

He also picks up compost dumped at the roadside by cannabis growers. Growing cannabis must be a thriving industry in the West Midlands.