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Post by kastern on Dec 19, 2006 14:54:38 GMT -8
I'm just wondering if others are finding an increase in the numbers of Flickers at their feeders this season  In past years it's been normal for me to have one Flicker at the feeders and occasionally two. This year two at a time appears to be the norm, three at a time isn't unusual and I've even had four all at the same time. All males of the normal red shafted variety. The favored feeder is the peanut feeder, but an open tray with an offering of mixed seed is a close second and the 'Flicker Feeder' holding a suet block is a distant third. Usually I don't see Flickers in these numbers until mid March to mid April when they appear to migrate through here. That is when the females show up and also the interesting hybrids between the Red shafted and Yellow shafted.....and very rarely, a pure Yellow shafted. Kathy |
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Post by Gord on Dec 19, 2006 21:06:06 GMT -8
Hi Kathy, no feeder numbers to share, but on my bird count route I found 7 flickers together on the golf course. All feeding in about a 20 sq foot area! I dont think Ive ever seen that many together at one time before. Overall, the numbers were about right though for the whole route.
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Post by kastern on Jan 5, 2007 12:57:09 GMT -8
This seems a pretty pitiful message after having just read db's California birding report! Makes me want to hit the road!!!
Just wanted to say that I actually had a female red-shafted flicker in the yard this morning, along with 2 males.
Kathy
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Post by Gord on Jan 6, 2007 15:44:16 GMT -8
Interesting observation of the lack of females. Is this a trend every winter or just this winter?
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Post by kastern on Jan 6, 2007 17:37:55 GMT -8
Every winter. Very rare to see a female flicker over her in winter.
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Post by Flicker_Qs on Apr 12, 2007 21:23:42 GMT -8
Hi Kathy, "The favored feeder is the peanut feeder, but an open tray with an offering of mixed seed is a close second and the 'Flicker Feeder' holding a suet block is a distant third." Is there some sort of "selective" or "restrictive" feeder that Flickers will readily use - such as an upside down suet feeder or a suet sandwich feeder? Is there a selective peanut feeder for Flickers? I do not wish to encourage Starlings or squirrels. Thanks! |
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Post by kastern on Apr 13, 2007 8:01:12 GMT -8
Yes there is an upside down suet feeder you can get for flickers....Jason has them at the Wild Bird Habitat Shop.....The Steller's Jay here have figured out how to use it but the few Starlings I had during the winter never figured it out and neither have the Squirrels....I have Squirrels and Chipmunks as regular daily feeders in my yard as well as the birds. As for the Peanut feeder I don't know that there is one specifically for Flickers....Jason might know....mine is just the normal, perforated metal tube one and it attracts Chickadees and even a Sap Sucker last winter but I've never had a problem with Starlings at it. I did have one Squirrel try to figure it out but gave up.
Kathy
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Post by Flicker_Qs on Apr 13, 2007 16:00:36 GMT -8
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Post by kastern on Apr 13, 2007 16:48:20 GMT -8
The store I was referring to is in Chilliwack....8810C Young Road...their phone number is 604 792 1239. My upside down suet feeder is only holds one suet cake....the flickers have no problem using it....as for the suet sandwich feeder I don't see why Flickers wouldn't readily use it....I had never actually seen one until I looked at the site you referred to.
Hope this helps.
Kathy
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Post by Flicker_Qs on Apr 14, 2007 7:43:03 GMT -8
Hi Kathy,
The favored feeder is the peanut feeder ... the 'Flicker Feeder' holding a suet block is a distant third.
As for the Peanut feeder I don't know that there is one specifically for Flickers....Jason might know....mine is just the normal, perforated metal tube one and it attracts Chickadees and even a Sap Sucker last winter but I've never had a problem with Starlings at it. I did have one Squirrel try to figure it out but gave up.
My upside down suet feeder is only holds one suet cake....the flickers have no problem using it....as for the suet sandwich feeder I don't see why Flickers wouldn't readily use it....I had never actually seen one until I looked at the site you referred to.
Yes, the suet sandwich is truly Starling & squirrel proof. Based on your experience, and since we already offer suet in 2 different feeders ( upside down & sandwich), it may be that we need to offer peanuts - especially since Starlings & squirrels have not been a problem with your peanut feeder. Our suet feeders have attracted Downy Woodpeckers and Carolina Wrens but no flickers to date. |
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Post by Flicker_Qs on Apr 15, 2007 7:39:12 GMT -8
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Post by Gord on Apr 18, 2007 9:29:30 GMT -8
Cool idea! Might be worth building a couple and trying them out.
I built a kestrel box for a friend of mine some time ago. He mounted it on a 20 foot pole in his small field. Darn it if he didnt call me to excitedly tell me about a kestrel checking it out! Sadly, the starlings got into it and seemed to win the battle. That fall the flickers discovered it and he said they would roost in it at night. But once the starlings started to get interested in the spring the flickers left even though Im sure they might have nested.
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Post by Flicker_Qs on May 21, 2007 19:12:08 GMT -8
Thanks Gord.
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Post by Flicker_Qs on May 21, 2007 19:30:12 GMT -8
Hi Kathy, You wrote: As for the Peanut feeder I don't know that there is one specifically for Flickers....Jason might know....mine is just the normal, perforated metal tube one and it attracts Chickadees and even a Sap Sucker last winter but I've never had a problem with Starlings at it. I did have one Squirrel try to figure it out but gave up. Based on your experience, I bought a perforated stainless-steel tube peanut feeder*. Unfortunately, our experience was not the same as yours. This new feeder did attract: chickadees, titmice, Carolina Wrens, Catbirds, and a few Downy woodpeckers. We almost immediately had to purchase a baffle since the gray squirrels were relentless. Then came the almost never-ending raids by the Grackles. Most recently, the Starlings have started stop by each day. *Check out the Woodpecker Peanut Feeder poll:www.bcbirding.proboards3.com/index.cgi?board=feeding&action=display&n=1&thread=1064 |
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Post by Flicker_Qs on May 22, 2007 21:34:33 GMT -8
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