Any ornithologists out there? Or a plain old bird-watcher will do. This is the first winter NO birds are coming to my bird feeder. I've checked the feeder and it seems OK. But after a few weeks of no feather friends, I'm wondering if there's something I could do to encourage them back. Any ideas? And is anyone else noticing the same thing? --Puzzled
You might check out this site for tips: http://www.wbu.com/edu/ Our feeders have been fairly busy this winter, but I have noticed that it varies from day to day. Some days we are mobbed, and other days (today, for example) there are hardly any birds at all. Do you have a bird bath (heated, of course, for winter)? I am guessing that our bird bath has been a prime attraction during the severe freezing weather that we have been having lately. It also helps if your feeder is near trees or bushes (or even a brush pile) where the birds can gather and/or hide. Regards, Bill Ghrist ozzieink@comcast.net wrote:
Any ornithologists out there? Or a plain old bird-watcher will do. This is the first winter NO birds are coming to my bird feeder. I've checked the feeder and it seems OK. But after a few weeks of no feather friends, I'm wondering if there's something I could do to encourage them back. Any ideas? And is anyone else noticing the same thing? --Puzzled
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I'm not an ornithologist, but I am an ecologist so maybe I can help. Here are some thoughts: -stale/old seed in the feeder. Or the feeder may need a thorough cleaning. -stray or outside roaming cats may have figured out that your feeder makes a good hunting site and the birds are now avoiding your feeder. -most birds scatter when hawks are in the area (but they should return pretty quickly) -There may be plenty of alternative food supplies around due to the warmer winter we were having. On a related note, there was a bald eagle circling around Winterton and Heberton Streets just before 6pm today. On 2/19/07, ozzieink@comcast.net <ozzieink@comcast.net> wrote:
Any ornithologists out there? Or a plain old bird-watcher will do. This is the first winter NO birds are coming to my bird feeder. I've checked the feeder and it seems OK. But after a few weeks of no feather friends, I'm wondering if there's something I could do to encourage them back. Any ideas? And is anyone else noticing the same thing? --Puzzled
participants (3)
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Christopher Tracey
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ozzieink＠comcast.net
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William Ghrist