Paul set up the camera, and the "gee whiz" moment occurred. They were American goldfinches, and they were landing next to, grabbing onto, and sometimes hanging upside down from sweetgum-balls on the trees, busily extracting tiny seeds, one at a time.
A greenfinch asserts his dominance at the table. Others eat only if he allows.
There is something so relaxing and enjoyable watching them fly about, swooping down for seeds and catching the next wind powered thrill ride. It’s engaging noticing all the different species and colors and realizing the bird seed packaging was right after all; different seed varieties attract different types of birds.
State wildlife officials are asking people to take down their birdfeeders to avoid attracting bears. "We are receiving reports of bears getting into bird feeders," said Col. David LeCours, of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. "People can help now by removing any food sources that may tempt the bears. That includes taking down bird feeders and not feeding birds until late October."
Something has always puzzled me in my years working in the bird feeding industry: why don’t we offer more fresh fruit to birds in our yards?
The feeder has four legs and is about 6 feet high. It’s equipped with an expansive tray, a plastic roof to keep the seeds dry and a shield to ward off squirrels.
Feathered friends | Area residents offer tips on attracting birds
This video has some nice pictures of birds at the feeder. Check out how squirrel are deterred with his suspended feeder.
For most birds during this time of year, having a free handout goes a long way in keeping them healthy through the winter.
Here's an idea for building a bird feeder.
Building a bird feeder was far down that list of projects, but it was one thing I could do inside that would fulfill the urge to create during winter's dead grip.
"People who come in here to the store tell me, 'I don't care (about the recession). I'm still going to feed my birds,'" says Glass. "For them, it's pure enjoyment."
Here are some tips for setting up a bird feeder.
Here are some tips for attracting winter birds for your viewing pleasure.
This article shows how to build your own large open bird feeder.
There aren't any large open feeders to be purchased. You must make this type yourself.
A lovely post with some pretty pictures, too.
The seed heads of plants like Echinacea encourage birds to visit my garden, providing nutrition and sustenance for them.
Is it an end to an era in Prospect Park?
“Right now we ask people not to feed the wildlife, but there is no enforcement powers behind [it],” said Eugene Patron, a spokesman for Prospect Park. “
This sounds like an interesting food to feeder your birds.
This feeding trick involved toasted waffles and peanut butter. A perfect combination of winter warmth giving calories and soul-satisfying tastes for birds and humans alike.
Bird Feeding: Mohney's Waffle and Peanut Butter Advice Followed
This article has a few tips for setting up your bird feeder for the winter.
DeGraaf Nature Center director/naturalist Rob Venner shared five tips on how to prepare your back yard for bird watching in the colder months.
