There are fewer Grackles and Starlings at the feeders now. The squirrels are ever present. I read that Starlings prefer insects and berries, but if these are hard to find they will turn up at your bird feeder. Their beaks are not designed for cracking hard seed shells, so they go first to the softer suet cakes, peanut pieces and other foods without shells. If those aren't available they will even force themselves to eat hard-shelled seeds.
Recently I saw a mama Starling feeding two of her babies, so she's welcome just like all the others. I am trying to decide when to stop feeding them as I know any wandering bears will be passing through. They were in the area last year, as were the raccoons, and I even saw a fox one night. It sure has been fun but need to think of all this stuff now.
What are your thoughts? If you feed the birds, do you leave your bird seed out all year, or stop in the warmer months, when all their natural food is available?
Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what you think.
Have a great weekend and Happy Saturday!
We feed our birds all year round, but put out less in the warmer months. We get endless delight from our visitors too.
ReplyDeleteIf your birds came to our garden Sue, I would be oveer the moon :)
DeleteSuch a beautiful view!
ReplyDeleteThank you Angie :)
DeleteHere, it's all year 'round. I have noticed, tho, when Dove hunting season approaches, the doves disappear. And reappear when hunting season closes.
ReplyDeleteSmart doves! I remember a friend telling me that when he visited one town out in California, and he saw all these elks, the locals told him they came into town all the time because they knew they were safe in hunting season. Smart elk! Thanks Anni :)
DeleteI stopped feeding the birds, it seemed like the squirrels all the food I put out. Cute photo. Take care, have a happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the input Eileen, and I wish you the same :)
DeleteUm grande momento fotográfico.
ReplyDeleteUm abraço e tenha um bom fim-de-semana.
Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
Livros-Autografados
Obrigado :) Nossos pássaros e esquilos do jardim nos entretêm por horas! Um abraço e um bom fim de semana.
DeleteCool photo.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anne, I am happy you think so :)
DeleteI am always so happy to see what your cam grabs for us... that squirrel is so cute. we do not feed the birds except if i have something that is ok for them to eat, like cherries that I don't want the dog to eat, i toss them out. I had so much fun. i love sunflower seeds and had a bag of them frozen. if i eat them i get sick within and hour and bob can't eat nuts. i toss the frozen sunflower seeds in the front yard in frontof our living room window. later that day bob said why are there so many birds today. ha ha.. they LOVED those sunflower seeds. no need to feed birds here, there is plenty of food year round in Florida.
ReplyDeleteHi Sandra, and thanks for making me smile :) and also glad you enjoy the cam pics. Sorry you have issues with nuts. A lot of people seem to don't they?
DeleteI discourage starlings as they take up holes used by hole nesters. I cut down on summer feeding but don't stop altogether.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, that's not good is it? Thanks for the input Red :)
DeleteI have read that unless you are really committed, you should only feed them in the cold weather. We do not feed in warm weather, but will feed the ducks that wander by any time. We now have three ducks, two males and a female. The males have been brutally mating with the poor female, half killing her and fighting over her. Yet she continues to stay with them day after day!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ginny :) And oh dear, that poor lady duck!
DeleteI feed in the summer but I'm less worried about it if the feeder goes empty and I miss a day or two before I refill. They eat much more slowly in the warmer months, no doubt because natural food is better and more plentiful. But I do like to watch them -- so feeding is as much for me as them!
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting observation Jeanie. Thank you and thank you for giving me your views on feeding them :)
DeleteGreat capture of the squirrel. Love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Great-Granny G :)
DeleteI don't feed other than the flowers in the garden.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the input Christine :)
DeleteIt's probably best not to feed them after the bears come out.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly, thanks William :)
DeleteI stop feeding birds in mid-April. Several times I did not stop in time and a bear destroyed a feeder or two.
ReplyDeleteOh that's not good, thanks for telling me Linda :)
DeleteThat squirrel! What a trapeze artist. We only put food out when the ground is covered with snow. We do have a hummingbird feeder out right now.
ReplyDeleteI thought I would get a hummingbird feeder sometime. I think one came to the feeder a couple of weeks ago to check it out, but disappeared as fast as he appeared. Thanks Ellen :)
DeleteI do like your photograph.
ReplyDeleteI think birds still appreciate food during the warmer summer months, but perhaps do not need so much ...
All the best Jan
So glad Jan Jan and thank you for your advice. All the best to you too :)
DeleteTo answer your question.......I don't put bird feeder out cause I know that will attract the squirrels also, and I don't care for them. But here in the mountains, the birds seem to find a way to get food in nature. They are always visiting my lawn, and lately a mourning dove has been stopping by, gathering a few things and flying off. She repeatedly keeps doing this, so I think she may be making a nest? It's a wonderful sight. I don't like the woodpecker that keeps pecking on the power lines outside and shooo him away haha. It's so nice to hear you appreciate the birds as well, Denise.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Thank you Sheri, and it's nice to know you appreciate them too, and thank you so much for your input, much appreciated :)
Delete