4Real Forums: Are bird feeders built the same?

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Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
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Topic: Are bird feeders built the same?

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Genevieve
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Posted: Dec 14 2005 at 12:34pm \| IP Logged

I want to buy some bird feeders for our new place. I was checking out Best Nest and although the selection of bird feeders are impressive, I was wondering whether these are any different than those found at Walmart/Lowes etc? The price and description seems to indicate that they are superior...

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Genevieve
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MacBeth
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Posted: Dec 14 2005 at 1:57pm \| IP Logged

Birdfeeders have to be maintained, like anything that sits outside. I don't really find much difference between those sold at discount stores and those sold at boutiques. I do prefer wood to plastic, since you can always hammer a few nails into a new piece of wood if a squirrel gnaws one down, but fixing plastic is impossible. Metal is fine, too, but I get the feeling that little feet will get cold

. The Yankee Flipper is an all-time favorite (I see it on the link you sent). My mother has one, and the squirrels are quite discouraged.

I do like feeders that the kids can make themselves. These tend to be well-cared for here, as the builders take a personal interest.

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MacBeth in NY
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Genevieve
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Posted: Dec 14 2005 at 2:54pm \| IP Logged

Thanks for your feedback, Macbeth. If I decide to build them (my eldest is three

), where would you recommend I get the plans from?

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Genevieve
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MacBeth
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Posted: Dec 14 2005 at 3:04pm \| IP Logged

Genevieve wrote:

Thanks for your feedback, Macbeth. If I decide to build them (my eldest is three

), where would you recommend I get the plans from?

Goodness, Genevieve...if your youngest is three, you have time

. There are several online plans

here, and there are easy kits to buy at Home Depot and Lowes or maybe Sears.

BUT...your oldest can join the fun now by coating a pine cone (or a simple piece of wood) with peanut butter (or Crisco, if he is allergic) and rolling it in seeds. Tie it up and wait fo the birds. To make it more festive, add dried cranberries to the grease.

Another fun and easy project is to take an onion bag and fill it with suet scraps from your butcher. Hang it in a tree, and wait for woodpeckers.

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MacBeth in NY
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Genevieve
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Posted: Dec 14 2005 at 3:17pm \| IP Logged

Thanks for the fantastic ideas... I must admit I'm the novice woodworker who is itching to try some *useful* projects. The most my son does is hand me my tools or bang on my projects with his plastic hammer.

Didn't you talk about bird feeders and recommended book(s) on your website? I can't seem to find them now....

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Genevieve
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MacBeth
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Posted: Dec 14 2005 at 3:32pm \| IP Logged

Genevieve wrote:

Didn't you talk about bird feeders and recommended book(s) on your website? I can't seem to find them now....

Yup. It's on my autumn page.

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JennGM
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Posted: Dec 14 2005 at 3:35pm \| IP Logged

All this talk of bird feeders....My mil has one or two and loves to have the birds for the winter. The problem in her area of Central PA is that bears were coming into her neighborhood. So the Wildlife commission or whoever they are were discouraging people to do feeders. Anyone else have this problem?

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Genevieve
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Posted: Dec 14 2005 at 7:21pm \| IP Logged

MacBeth wrote:

Genevieve wrote:

Didn't you talk about bird feeders and recommended book(s) on your website? I can't seem to find them now....

Yup. It's on my autumn page.

Great! Now all I need are some birds....

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Donna
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Posted: Dec 15 2005 at 5:35am \| IP Logged

Genevieve wrote:

Great! Now all I need are some birds....

If you build it...they will come !!!

I'm always soooo disappointed in September when our hummingbirds head south. This year, my bird enthusiast, Jackson, set out some feeders with many types of seeds. One is filled with sunflower seeds...and oh my !! the birds that we've seen !!! The first day we had chickadees, nuthatches, a tufted titmouse, cardinals, bluejays, a downy woodpecker, many juncos, sparrows of all sorts, goldfinch, house finch, mourning doves, and of course...a squirrel.

Instead of the kids wandering off from the school table....it's me doing the wandering. Whenever I get a chance, I sit by the window waiting for the unusual to show up.

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Genevieve
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Posted: Dec 15 2005 at 6:04am \| IP Logged

Question.... I'll moving to Mississippi. Should I get the Eastern birds or Western birds? *laughs*

Thanks for the encouragement, Donna. I have never done this before so I'm excited!

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Genevieve
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MacBeth
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Posted: Dec 15 2005 at 9:17am \| IP Logged

Genevieve wrote:

Question.... I'll moving to Mississippi. Should I get the Eastern birds or Western birds? *laughs*

The dividing line is the Rockies, so get eastern. I'm with Donna. birding is great fun, and very easy. I do it inside all winter, with my feeder hanging in the bushes right in front of my window. I can just peek over my monitor, and there they are! I even have a friend with whom we have a friendly competition (he's a famous scientist, and an avid birder...but I have seen a certain warbler that he has not!!

). Join us!

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MacBeth in NY
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MacBeth
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Posted: Dec 15 2005 at 9:21am \| IP Logged

jenngm67 wrote:

Are they coming for the seeds, or for the birds?

I would try limiting the foods I feed--definitely no suet or peanut butter!!

Thistle seed (this is a guess) would seem like it would not attract bears. Sunflower probably would attract bears...but I think I would try to grow things that attract birds, like holly, amaranth, millet, etc., in my garden. And keep a small brush pile, too, as many birds will come for shelter.

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MacBeth in NY
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MacBeth
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Posted: Dec 15 2005 at 4:06pm \| IP Logged

Found this article:

Top Ten bird Foods. Thought you all might find this interesting.

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MacBeth in NY
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Genevieve
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Posted: Dec 15 2005 at 6:32pm \| IP Logged

This is so cool! Things I never knew as a city gal!

MacBeth wrote:

Found this article:

Top Ten bird Foods. Thought you all might find this interesting.

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Genevieve
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