Rfalconcam Forum

Good or bad? What some studies suggest...

http://blog.nature.org/science/2015/01/05/winter-bird-feeding-good-or-bad-for-birds (http://blog.nature.org/science/2015/01/05/winter-bird-feeding-good-or-bad-for-birds)

Ahhh, just feed em, help our lil Dees and Junkies to survive!!! The problem I have with feeding is that darn Coop!! :)

I feed them too!   :happy:

 

Interesting findings-we've always been told that feeding birds was just a supplement and only made up a small percentage of what they eat. Looks like it's a bigger percentage than we thought and it's NOT a good thing.  :rolleyes:

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/01/04/coping-with-cold-food/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/01/04/coping-with-cold-food/) Kate's blog!

I try to not feed them all the time even in the winter. I let it run out every few days and they go find natural food. It sometimes takes a day for them to get the word out that I refilled the feeders. And I really only feed sunflower seeds. I'll get a bag of peanuts if they're on sale, but not very often.

They seem to do well and I haven't noticed any real change in the number of birds.

I feed the birds too!  But I don't know who gets more birds or squirrels !!

I feed them too with black sunflowers seeds and I'm sure this morning with -37 C they were happy to keep their energy to survive and not search food.

True-when it's this brutal out I make sure to keep it full. They got the last of the peanuts yesterday.

Oh heck, I go through over 10 lbs of peanuts a week! Sometimes more. They hide most and come right back for more, the Blue Jays, Squirrels and now the BIG black Crows are out there every morning......waiting! I won't get into sunflower seeds!! Yikes!

Donna I consider the hawks as still feeding the birds just on another level. But I do have a big old fashioned rose bush not three feet from the feeder for the little ones to dive into, seems to work the hawk doesn't stay long.

We have a privet hedge right near the feeder that the little birds dive into to hide from our Coop, although Coop will fly through it to try and flush the birds out.

We have lots of bushes for them to escape to and sometimes the Coop goes over and flushes them out. I only saw him with one Sparrow, so far. Yes, Coops must eat too but not in my yard.

We feed them too, but after that Coop chased my CAT, we have been filling them less often and haven't seen that bad boy since!  I can't say all the years I have been feeding birds and living here, I have ever spotted a hawk before-what with houses pretty close together & small yards! But I guess there is first for everything!

Another good article from Kate St. John

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2015/01/16/make-the-best-suet/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2015/01/16/make-the-best-suet/)

Sounds like a good mix to try! And I liked the idea of filling holes in wood with the suet! :2thumbsup: