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Thread: Who Here Likes To Feed Birds?
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08-14-2008, 10:12 AM #1
Who Here Likes To Feed Birds?
I'm not necessarily talking hand feeding, I'm talking bird feeders and such. I have the Hummers and they're great. My neighbors have bird houses and feeders up. I have a bird feeder up, attached to the kitchen window. It wasn't working out well next to the Hummers, the Hummers seemed pretty pissed.
Now, I have seen some pretty interesting birds from time to time. Some I cannot identify. I was thinking of Bluebird houses this year, but the little medical condition I had, put that on hold. One bird we have an overabundance of is that damn House Sparrow. Are you guys inundated with these things? I'm figuring these House Sparrows is why there aren't more numbers of other birds there size. The House Sparrows are pretty neat looking, but there are just too many of them. Any ideas on how to aggravate these things which will keep them from coming around?
I like to take pics of birds, I want more different varieties around. Some show up, just not in numbers or for long.
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08-14-2008 10:12 AM # ADS
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08-14-2008, 11:31 AM #2
Ya know what the best part of using a bird feeder is? The squirrels who like to raid it. First off, it's funny to watch them try and get to it, but even more so, squirrel meat is fantastic and goes GREAT with biscuits and squirrel gravy.
That's the one thing I really don't like about Utah. There's so few squirrels around here it's truly sad.
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08-14-2008, 12:17 PM #3Originally Posted by Gutpiler_Utahn
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08-14-2008, 12:19 PM #4
I do know that certain variaties of wild birds prefer different seeds/feed, ect.......maybe do a little more research about what foods will attract the different variety of birds in your region of the US. Possibly eliminating the seed that the housesparrow love will entice others to stop by and eat. Me on the other hand......bird girl. I own exotics and they get a warm breakfast everyday.......spolied little avian buddies. :) And I do have tons of feeders both bird and hummers outside......I love birdies.
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08-14-2008, 12:31 PM #5Originally Posted by abirken
House Sparrows in North America
The large North American population is descended from birds deliberately imported from Britain in the late 19th century. They were introduced independently in a number of American cities in the years between 1850 and 1875 as a means of pest control. The mistake was realized after they were well established and by 1883 they were already considered pestsand their introduction a disaster.[9]
While declining somewhat in their adopted homeland, House Sparrows are one of the most abundant birds in North America, with a population estimated at approximately 150 million.[10]
In the United States[11] and Canada, the House Sparrow is one of only three birds (the other two being the European Starling and the Rock Pigeon) not protected by law. As an invasive non-indigenous species, it is legal to kill House Sparrows and destroy their eggs at any time in most places in the United States. These three introduced species are now each more widespread and common on the continent than are any other birds. House Sparrows kill adult bluebirds and other native cavity nesters and their young, smash their eggs, and take over their nesting sites,[12] and as such are major factors in the decline of bluebirds and other native cavity nesters in North America.[13]
Because the House Sparrow is smaller than the less aggressive native birds with which it competes, it is impossible to keep them out of nest boxes built for many native birds. Attempts to counter the effects of the House Sparrow on native bird populations include the trapping and shooting of adults and the destruction of their nests and eggs.
Spoiled birds, I feel that way about the Hummers I have moved other feeders away because the Hummers appeared to be pissed off with their presence Get some pics of your Hummers I only have the Ruby's here. There are two other species here in Connecticut, but I haven't seen them yet.
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08-14-2008, 01:51 PM #6
I don't have any photos of my local hummers on this computer as I am at work. But I do have some photos of the guys I saw while in Costa Rica. I did get a pic of a Violet Sabrewing.......WHAT A BEAST of a hummer. He was the size of my cockatiel!!! But once again, that photo is at home on the PC............enjoy these little beauties though.
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08-14-2008, 02:41 PM #7
Nice pics...
I like this one
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08-14-2008, 06:55 PM #8Originally Posted by JP"Always look at the bright side of life"
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08-14-2008, 07:23 PM #9
Just read the bold print, the House Sparrow needs some cleansing
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08-14-2008, 07:27 PM #10Originally Posted by JP"Always look at the bright side of life"
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08-14-2008, 07:42 PM #11Originally Posted by KapitanSparrow
Sniping birds isn't my kind of entertainment.
JP one day you are going to be reincarnated into a Sparrow.
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08-14-2008, 07:48 PM #12
Dear Abirken I would never suspect you of suggesting such a crime. It's JP who's yearning for blood of the sparrows, heh. Consider catch and release JP
PS: Sniping frogs was my entertainment when I was a little kid. But no more."Always look at the bright side of life"
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08-14-2008, 08:15 PM #13Originally Posted by KapitanSparrow
Originally Posted by abirken
Originally Posted by KapitanSparrow
You killed frogs
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08-14-2008, 08:39 PM #14
JP I was young and stupid. That's the best excuse for killing things. Actually, we used slingshots with wire ammo, and stoning took place when they ran away from their clearly marked encampment. Gosh I feel terrible admitting this. But back to the sparrows, I am sure there are places where bluebirds flourish, where there are no sparrows, so maybe give them a chance. Because after all, isn't a bluebird a symbol of some Canadian province? It's not like we're talking killing of bald eagles ;-) Also,
Predators of young bluebirds in the nests can include snakes, cats and raccoons.
Good thing they don't puncture your tires, then they would be in real trouble, heh"Always look at the bright side of life"
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08-15-2008, 09:00 AM #15
I have a few Hummingbird feeders and 3 or 4 normal feeders- I do not feed much during the summer except the hummingbirds. The other birds don't need feed at this time and it can actually be detrimental to thier over all health to feed then. I feed through out the winter and spring. The species change through the year with migrations. In the winter I may have 4 or 5 different species at one time and then up to 11 or 12 in the spring.
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08-15-2008, 09:33 AM #16
My neighbor used to spread bird seed along the edge of her driveway every day. From my front porch I would watch those little tweeters hopping along happily eating and then.... BAM my cat would spring from the shrubbery and come running home with a tasty treat.
I love watching nature in action, so brutal
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08-15-2008, 11:03 AM #17
Cats are cool. So sweet, so cuddly, but vicious killing machines at the same time
"Always look at the bright side of life"
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08-15-2008, 12:22 PM #18
Two Saturdays ago we were taking care of a neighbour's house while they were away. On their front doorstep was a dead baby sparrow laying on its' back and covered in ants. I picked it up by a foot to discard it and it moved.
I dusted all the ants off and layed it on a hedge in hope the parents to rescue it. While I was napping that afternoon, my husband went and got the bird and put it in a shoebox and brought in home. (it had ants on it again)
After a couple of hours of no ants, the bird perked up a bit and I gave him some cooked ground turykey and moist bread with water. The next morning I fed him again. I noticed that there were bird dropping around the box. The parents found him on our patio and began to take care of him. That evening he jumped the shoebox and went to the flowerbox by the patio door.
Each morning and afternoon I checked on the little guy and he would be right there checking on me. The dog always had to have a look as well. The dog keeps all the stray cats out of our yard
Yseterday morning he flutterd around the patio and last night he was gone.
I guess I just added one more sparrow to the population.
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08-15-2008, 12:51 PM #19
You're a hero Felicia, at least in my eyes!
"Always look at the bright side of life"
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08-15-2008, 12:54 PM #20Originally Posted by Felicia
My hero too! I would and HAVE done the same thing. Right on Felicia!
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