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Arkansas Granny

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9. I've been watching/feeding birds this year more than ever before.

Sat Jan 16, 2021, 12:42 PM

Jan 2021

It has become my primary Covid entertainment.

I put a squirrel baffle on my feeder pole to discourage possums. I had never seen a squirrel up there even after having it up for several months. The pole has several arms so it can accommodate different types of feeders.

I've been trying out new seeds and blends to see which ones are favorites. The finches and sparrows seem to prefer a blend of small seeds including nijer and canary millet. Blue Jays and woodpeckers like peanuts. Some of the jays seem to prefer peanuts in the shell. Suet cakes are popular with the smaller birds and woodpeckers.

I mix all the varieties I have to scatter on the sidewalk and that attracts the widest variety of birds. The squirrels like this and favor the black oil sunflower seed. Everyone seems to get along with very little argument.

This weekend I'm setting up a dedicated squirrel feeding station which will include ears of corn, sunflower seed and peanuts.

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Bird lovers I have questions [View all] Marthe48 Jan 2021 OP

Depends on what birds are around. Phoenix61 Jan 2021 #1

I have several kinds of birds and feeders Marthe48 Jan 2021 #4

I'll be interested to see what others say. It might be regional. Mike 03 Jan 2021 #2

Thank you Marthe48 Jan 2021 #5

Do you really want to help the birds? Botany Jan 2021 #3

we must be lucky - none of the birds you mentioned are in our area NRaleighLiberal Jan 2021 #7

I have come to like the blue jays ... they are native and very smart too. Botany Jan 2021 #11

I love the blue jays Marthe48 Jan 2021 #14

they are fun to watch, but are pretty pushy at the feeder with smaller birds NRaleighLiberal Jan 2021 #15

Years ago in Canada we had a Canadian Jay (Corvid too) who would come into camp and .... Botany Jan 2021 #20

I put seed out all year around Marthe48 Jan 2021 #8

My background is ecology ... do not feed year round if you can plant native plants and they will ... Botany Jan 2021 #12

My yard is overgrown with shrubs Marthe48 Jan 2021 #16

It depends what kind of shrubs they are ... native or non native. Botany Jan 2021 #19

Most of the plants and trees in the yard are original Marthe48 Jan 2021 #24

We've used the Wild Birds Unlimited Choice blend for years - brings all kinds of birds NRaleighLiberal Jan 2021 #6

I'll make a note Marthe48 Jan 2021 #10

I've been watching/feeding birds this year more than ever before. Arkansas Granny Jan 2021 #9

I got ears of calico corn near Halloween Marthe48 Jan 2021 #13

Squirrels and oranges. That's not a combination I would have thought of. Arkansas Granny Jan 2021 #21

I use a variety of different foods and feeders. MoonchildCA Jan 2021 #17

I keep water handy Marthe48 Jan 2021 #18

We have numerous feeders Bayard Jan 2021 #22

I feed them golden safflower. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2021 #23

I'll make a note of that Marthe48 Jan 2021 #26

This message was self-deleted by its author Donkees Jan 2021 #25

I want to be a bird in your yard! Marthe48 Jan 2021 #27