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Going Broke

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:24 pm
by retiredhappy
Now I know why I'm buying so much birdseed. The finches are here and eating one of these socks every three days or so. The sparrows are even better at emptying birdfeeders. I have two feeders and they manage to empty them every other day. Anyone who says animals don't communicate have never hung a bird feeder out. One bird finds it and the next thing you know, its empty. At least if they're here, can Spring be far behind?

Image

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:26 pm
by Dawn309
What a beautiful picture. I think the birds around our house used to watch for me to come out and fill the bird feeders. Them and the squirrels. I loved watching them. Sure do hope Spring is not too far out.

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:38 pm
by mitch5252
What a great picture!

Feeding birds is really a lot of fun. When G was alive, we had 8 or 10 feeders (keeping them filled was his job). I'm now down to 3.

I understand you going broke feeding the little guys!

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:47 pm
by Bethers
My bird feeder in AZ is always surrounded by tons of birds. And yes they do pass on the info, no doubt in my mind. Geest pic.

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 1:18 pm
by Carolinagal
What a great picture !!! Love the bird feeder, I have never seen one like that, my something new item, I have learned today, thanks Karen. So many birds, at a time, I know they all appreciate you lots, hoping for you and them that the budget allows their feedings for many moons ahead :D

CArol :)

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:44 pm
by WickedLady
You sure got that right! I have three sunflower feeders and am constantly filling them. The House Finches are the worst. They come in by the dozens! My little chickadees and nuthatches don't stand a chance.

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:58 pm
by bluepinecones
Good photo and yes they do eat a lot.
I've just about stopped feeding birds here mainly because it seems they are not the ones actually getting to eat. More going to squirrels and racoons than birds. At least I've learned not to fill feeder late in day. And yes it can get very expensive but worth it when you can watch them.

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 8:59 pm
by linann
I bought this pretty bird feeder, but never got to put it out because of our cat. A bowl of cat food was sitting on the table on our porch. A little bird flew in for a nibble, and became the treat. It was too much for the cat to resist. She grabbed the bird, plucked the feathers and ate the poor thing. It all happened right there on the porch. My sister tried to save the bird, but said there was no way the cat was giving it up. Now, we are reluctant to put anything out that will attract the birds.

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:40 pm
by snowball
I have two not counting the sock that I fill about every 24 hours
the sock takes longer so enjoy them
we get quail and doves along with the finches and a type of sparrow I believe
sheila

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:00 pm
by BarbaraRose
I have two feeders on my balcony. One has those little yellow round seeds but the birds don't like those. The other one I put sunflower seeds in and they loved that but made a big mess with the shells. Now it sits empty since I can't afford the food right now. I like the sock idea tho! Less mess!
I also put out one of those suet feeders which attracted the woodpeckers. Need to get more of those too.
Lola loves to watch the birds thru the window!

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:21 pm
by Acadianmom
I put up a bird feeder a few years ago and if a bird ever came I missed it. I finally emptied the seed on the ground and they still didn't want it. Must not have been food they liked. I put a hummingbird feeder outside a window. Thought the cats would like to watch the birds but hummingbirds don't seem to register on the cat's radar. I have never seen one of the outside cats try to get one. Hummingbirds must be too fast.

Martha

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 1:48 pm
by Sandersmr
One of the campgrounds that we stayed at in AZ had a sign - no bird feeders. The seed on the ground would attract rats and you know what rats attract? Rattlesnakes! So even if we would have had feeders, uh uh, no way!

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 4:45 pm
by Nasoosie
I used to have sock bird feeders back at home, too, until they atracted not only squirrels, but black bears! I came VERY close to walking into the back of one one night as I slid open the glass door to the deck! (That was before the front deck got roofed and closed in.) Great picture! Thanks for posting that!

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 7:53 pm
by retiredhappy
The socks are pretty specific for finches since they have thistle seed only in them. The only problem is if the seeds drop you get, yep, thistles. My other two feeders I use mixed wild bird seed with sunflower seeds. I also hang those seed balls and when Spring arrives, I'll put out hummingbird feeders which the Orieles love, too.

Re: Going Broke

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 9:02 pm
by AlmostThere
Had a bird feeder I kept filled for a few winters but more was wasted than eaten. The ground was covered with sunflower and other seeds which the little beggers won't touch and I had to clean up. And yes, bears are very attracted to bird feeders!