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Dawn Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Oct 19 2007 at 7:37pm | IP Logged
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Oh, I am just so thrilled, I can barely say. I put a post up with a picture of said chickadee, plucking a seed right from my VERY palm. It was a thrill of my lifetime, to be sure, and for a moment there, I felt a bit like Snow White.
Btw, this occured at a local Audubon sanctuary where the chickadees are practically tame. I am now working on my own backyard chickadees, who so far are very happy to come thisclose to me as I fill feeders but as yet have not eaten from my hand ...
Has anyone had success with handfeeding birds? If so, please do share your tips!
__________________ Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
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chicken lady Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 27 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: Oct 19 2007 at 7:48pm | IP Logged
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Very cool!
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nissag Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 23 2006 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Oct 19 2007 at 10:04pm | IP Logged
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Those were great photos, Dawn! I've always wanted to do that. There was a book a few years back... I wonder if it's still available "Hand Feeding Backyard Birds" or something very like that.
What an extraordinary experience!
__________________ Nissa
Deacon's wife, mother of eleven, farmer, teacher, creator, cook.
At Home With the Gadbois Family
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Matilda Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007 Location: Texas
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Posted: Oct 19 2007 at 10:11pm | IP Logged
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Oh Dawn... I thought of saying something about Snow White when I left you a comment this morning because she seems to suit you, but I actually had a debate with myself over whether or not it was Snow White or Cinderella who fed the birds. Anyway... glad you had a great day!
As for tips, I have only ever hand fed a squirrel and it was in a park, not my backyard. Sorry!
__________________ Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
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Angie Mc Board Moderator
Joined: Jan 31 2005 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Oct 20 2007 at 12:20am | IP Logged
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I've always wanted to do this, Dawn. Happy day! If I remember correctly, MacBeth has had luck with handfeeding birds in her backyard...did she have the process listed somewhere...sigh, my memory fails me and no time to research.
Thanks for sharing.
Love,
__________________ Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
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Donna Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 25 2005 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Oct 20 2007 at 5:16am | IP Logged
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Dawn wrote:
Has anyone had success with handfeeding birds? If so, please do share your tips! |
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I did...last winter !!!
Patience is the key. I also made sure the feeders were empty so that the chickadees didn't have another food source other than my hand .
It took about an hour of standing as still as possible and calling them in with my hand held out with food.
You can do it, Dawn! Let us know how it goes.
__________________ Donna
DH, Keven
Jason, Stevie, Marie, Jackson, Clara, and Aaron
Jacob, Sam, and Regina with God
Grandbabies Leigha and Elsie
Moments Like These
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MacBeth Forum All-Star
Probably at the beach...
Joined: Jan 27 2005 Location: New York
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Posted: Oct 20 2007 at 9:24am | IP Logged
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It's pretty easy to do at home, with patience, as Donna says. And it's definitely one of the best activities for a "closer look".
One of the very nice things is that you only have to do it once. Young Chickadees learn from others. And that's not all! Other birds, like titmice, will also feed from your hand. Libby even had a cowbird land, just once. At a local refuge, the birds will follow you as you hike, so I like to keep a handful of black sunflower seed in my pocket.
Dawn, I'm pretty sure the butterfly that looks like a monarch is actually a monarch, not a viceroy. It lacks the tell-tale black stripe along the bottom wings. Google-image the viceroy and compare.
Beautiful photos on that blog! Looks like New England !
__________________ God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
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