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Author Topic: Bird Feeders and Backyard Critters  (Read 146717 times)

Offline aygart

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #80 on: May 05, 2020, 09:37:38 PM »
LOL, that's literally in the post you quoted ;D.

Another resource for me, especially for birds I just glimpsed or got a blurry picture of, is https://www.facebook.com/groups/whatsthisbird/. Post any bird there and you'd get an ID in seconds, literally.
I was agreeing and added the link to the app
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #81 on: May 05, 2020, 09:39:45 PM »
I was agreeing and added the link to the app

Ah, lol. Thanks.
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Offline good sam

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #82 on: May 05, 2020, 10:39:47 PM »

After seeing @Something Fishy 's post, I "quickly" dug through the pictures that I had handy and came up with the following compilation of most of the birds that I identified in my backyard.
Obviously #IamNotFishy so my pictures aren't nearly as good as what he posted, but hopefully some of you enjoy them either way.

Can you post a picture of your whole setup?
« Last Edit: May 05, 2020, 10:41:47 PM by Something Fishy »
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Offline lfas25

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #83 on: May 05, 2020, 10:47:04 PM »
Can you post a picture of your whole setup?
I'll try to remember to take a picture tomorrow.
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Offline good sam

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #84 on: May 05, 2020, 11:18:12 PM »
I'll try to remember to take a picture tomorrow.
Thanks! Ordered a bunch of gear today. Any advice for a beginner?
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Offline lfas25

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #85 on: May 06, 2020, 11:03:22 AM »
Can you post a picture of your whole setup?



This is what I have. The stand is not cheap but works great at keeping the squirrels away.

As @Something Fishy said go to your local Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's and see what they have for feeders and food as they will probably be cheaper then amazon.

IIRC I bought the blue feeder in Walmart or Lowe's.

The Finch feeder (yellow) was much cheaper on Amazon when I purchased it, but there are many options available such as this, or you could opt to get a "sock" which would be similar to this

The red hummingbird feeder I bought at Lowe's when they had a clearance. Amazon does have options such as this & this.

This is the orange feeder which has a cup for grape jelly and posts for a slices Orange, @Something Fishy managed to loose the cup, and ordered replacements I am sure he would gladly show how he rigged it now so it shouldn't disappear again (I haven't have this issue)

The brown feeder I also purchased from Amazon, I like this one as if its a heavy bird or squirrel it will close so they can't get to the food.

In case you missed the app conversation this is a great app to help you identify the birds you are seeing. Also as @Something Fishy mentioned this book is great, and being that I live in NJ I like this book as well.

Regarding seeds for the feeder you could get seed in the above mentioned stores, try some and see how it goes, you could always get something more expensive like this if you want to "treat" the birds or test and see if it attracts other birds.

Keep in mind it could take a week or 2 until your yard get added to the "waze" of birds and you start noticing visitors.

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Offline good sam

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #86 on: May 06, 2020, 11:45:21 AM »


This is what I have. The stand is not cheap but works great at keeping the squirrels away.

As @Something Fishy said go to your local Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's and see what they have for feeders and food as they will probably be cheaper then amazon.

IIRC I bought the blue feeder in Walmart or Lowe's.

The Finch feeder (yellow) was much cheaper on Amazon when I purchased it, but there are many options available such as this, or you could opt to get a "sock" which would be similar to this

The red hummingbird feeder I bought at Lowe's when they had a clearance. Amazon does have options such as this & this.

This is the orange feeder which has a cup for grape jelly and posts for a slices Orange, @Something Fishy managed to loose the cup, and ordered replacements I am sure he would gladly show how he rigged it now so it shouldn't disappear again (I haven't have this issue)

The brown feeder I also purchased from Amazon, I like this one as if its a heavy bird or squirrel it will close so they can't get to the food.

In case you missed the app conversation this is a great app to help you identify the birds you are seeing. Also as @Something Fishy mentioned this book is great, and being that I live in NJ I like this book as well.

Regarding seeds for the feeder you could get seed in the above mentioned stores, try some and see how it goes, you could always get something more expensive like this if you want to "treat" the birds or test and see if it attracts other birds.

Keep in mind it could take a week or 2 until your yard get added to the "waze" of birds and you start noticing visitors.
This is excellent, thanks.

You didn't mention your suet feeder. I found one here for under $3.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000795Y64/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_pQTSEbT93BEQ4

I also ordered the AmazonBasics hopper feeder for around $15. It's in and out of stock.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HPM7M42/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_KRTSEb2H36YH4

Ordered some seed and some cake and hope to get something set up soon. I'll wait to decide how much I want to spend on the station.
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Offline lfas25

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #87 on: May 06, 2020, 12:01:44 PM »
This is excellent, thanks.

You didn't mention your suet feeder. I found one here for under $3.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000795Y64/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_pQTSEbT93BEQ4

I also ordered the AmazonBasics hopper feeder for around $15. It's in and out of stock.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HPM7M42/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_KRTSEb2H36YH4

Ordered some seed and some cake and hope to get something set up soon. I'll wait to decide how much I want to spend on the station.

Oops I forgot about that one...

I used to get the suet from The Christmas Tree Shops before they got shut down due to the current pandemic.
Now I pick up at any store that sells them, Walmart, Lowe's, home depot. I looked on Amazon but I haven't seen any reason to pay more then a $1.00 - $1.25 when I could just pick it up in store for that price.
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #88 on: May 06, 2020, 12:29:00 PM »
This is the orange feeder which has a cup for grape jelly and posts for a slices Orange, @Something Fishy managed to loose the cup, and ordered replacements I am sure he would gladly show how he rigged it now so it shouldn't disappear again (I haven't have this issue)

Your station is basically squirrel-proof, unlike mine. My squirrels kept on absconding with the jelly cup until I locked it down. I also had the manufacturer send me a couple spare cups, they say it's a known issue.
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #89 on: May 06, 2020, 12:30:22 PM »
Ordered some seed and some cake and hope to get something set up soon. I'll wait to decide how much I want to spend on the station.

Good luck and make sure to post pics!
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Online CountValentine

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #90 on: May 06, 2020, 12:43:44 PM »
My friend lives in the country and has a nice setup. A side benefit is he hunts squirrel from his basement window.  :)
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #91 on: May 06, 2020, 12:45:07 PM »
My friend lives in the country and has a nice setup. A side benefit is he hunts squirrel from his basement window.  :)

Oh what I won't give for a shotgun :P
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #92 on: May 06, 2020, 12:46:14 PM »
Keep in mind it could take a week or 2 until your yard get added to the "waze Twitter" of birds and you start noticing visitors.

FTFY

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Offline yitzgar

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #93 on: May 06, 2020, 01:01:50 PM »

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #94 on: May 06, 2020, 01:02:56 PM »
Oh what I won't give for a shotgun :P
You don't want to destroy the feeders. A nice .22 works great and is more challenging.
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Offline lfas25

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #95 on: May 06, 2020, 01:05:21 PM »
My friend lives in the country and has a nice setup. A side benefit is he hunts squirrel from his basement window.  :)

Dinner is served...

Oh what I won't give for a shotgun :P

Shouldn't be too hard to get one where you live... though you probably can't use it in your hood.

FTFY

I'll see myself out now, thanks.

 ::)  :P
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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #96 on: May 06, 2020, 01:08:21 PM »
Dinner is served...
He does eat them.  :-X
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Offline Yehuda57

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #98 on: May 06, 2020, 01:38:38 PM »
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half

Offline good sam

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Re: Bird Feeders and Backyard Birding
« Reply #99 on: May 06, 2020, 04:44:52 PM »
The Merlin app is not allowing me to download any bird pack, just says none available (in my area of any area). Anyone else have this issue?
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