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Post by fouram on Jun 16, 2007 18:06:18 GMT -8
I have spoken to Gord on this subject--perhaps at "short length"-- ;D--about introducing a subject that I --(and He agrees--) would call "The Urban Feeder". I am shamelessly calling it this, in the hopes that I can "LURE" some of "our" visitors into joining and posting!---There it is "The hidden agenda"-- ;D ;D-- The reason for this is; First--I need all the help I can get in "rounding out" as it were my "education" as relates to "The Bird Feeder", as well as to introduce the possibility of "ownership" of this ability to others.--I know there are lots and lots of instances where "others" may NOT be able to feed birds in their circumstances--but bear with me---there are always exceptions!--With the amount and diversity of those reading --("VISITORS") there have to be many and different ways to accomplish what I call "Sedentary Actively Bird Watching"--Yes I know it is mostly contradictory--however--what better way to accomplish both? It may even get ME ---OUT to look and see. For now I would like any and all who view this thread--comment on the idea, and give a short synopsis --ie: reaction to the thread--who knows--it MAY become a topic in and of itself ;D To begin--I started to feed birds off of my 3rd floor balcony patio--with a single hopper feeder, that proved WAAAAY too messy--especially attracting the "English"--(now "House") Sparrows--who are very, very discerning in what they want--at that particular moment, to eat---all else falls on the deck---or--in my case --on the ground floor where the neighbor feels someone is playing a "joke" on them. --After I had assured her that it was only myself feeding birds, and the simple act of washing my deck with a cleaner/bleach compound--and my "lower" neighbor gaining the benefit of that cleaning, did she deem that it was, after all, acceptable, did I get into "full swing". I added a Hummingbird Feeder, stopped using the "Chilliwack Mix" and substituted that with the "chopped sunflower seeds" ?( Cliff--of the Backyard Birder) where are you--is that the right term?--Anyway I obtained some patio "fence hangers"--in order to hang the feeders--or conversely hanging baskets, and went from there. --I can---will continue this short "dissertation" if there is any interest, I would also appreciate any and ALL input!--I will ---later include some photos--that have been posted elsewhere, that shows the progression---and what I have now---Later---Al
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Post by Gord on Jun 18, 2007 7:49:13 GMT -8
Ill find this topic very interesting. I moved from the country to a subdivision. Between family, lower budget and I must admit, a bit of a discouraged idea of doing much for birds in a place like this I havnt done anything.
Ive always enjoyed hearing about what you've done Al in a similar 'habitat'. Youve done very well and moved quickly from the 3rd floor hopper feeder to a larger feeding station that attracts things I might not have expected to hear about in town. Obviously they're meeting a need!
Please share as Im eager to hear and possibly apply some ideas to my place or even have some ideas to share too.
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Post by fouram on Jun 19, 2007 7:36:17 GMT -8
Thanks, Gord. There is a lot to describe, and I think I certainly hit most of the pitfalls that one would encounter feeding birds. I finally decided to hang up a Hummingbird feeder while I was on the third floor, and was pleasantly surprised to get, at that time, more than one variety of "Hummer", however, being without a proper field-guide, and no camera, (at that time) I thought that perhaps I had been entertaining a Costa's, and a Rufous--however, the birds never stayed longer than a day or two. When the opportunity came, I moved to the ground floor of the building, and was able to use the overhang for adding a couple more feeders, both tube feeder, as well as a Nijer feeder. I also hung up a suet feeder--which would later prove an interesting addition. I moved to the ground floor in September, and although the area did not "seem"--"birdy", (there was an apartment building behind mine--approximately 50 feet with a very few smallish trees in this greeen space) I feel I had established a regular source of food for local, as well as, perhaps, a place to draw some migrants, and soon had a regular "clientele". The regulars were of course, the House Finches, with, I believe a Purple Finch or two, as a fly-by visitor. Goldfinches, Chickadees, Oregon Junco's, the ever present House Sparrows, Stellars- and during the worst of the bad weather, Bushtits! During the bad weather, I also had --for a short time, Spotted Towee's, as well as Varied Thrush. Now,--I travel-long distance--and I would be away for sometimes as much as a week, and when I returned home, the feeders would be low, however I arrived only once to find the feeders empty, and I believe that the "culprits" were Starlings. There is good reason to believe that as I have recently been faced with the same scenario. I have not kept very much in the way of records, however I did find that--in town any feed with the addition of cracked corn--or any kind of corn is a waste, and quite messy, as the smaller songbirds will throw it out. I have also found that during cold weather, the addition of the larger sunflower seeds will also be thrown out---only to create another mess when they begin to sprout on the ground under the feeder. The addition of the suet cage and the use of never melt suet with insects, helped to draw the chickadee's as well as the bushtits, created no mess, also drew starlings---which were scared off, as well as (what I believe was) a Yellow Shafted Flicker. During the worst of the weather--again they were there for perhaps an hour--no more--I had either Brewers, or Rusty Blackbirds visit! So--there are birds here, but you have to have something to get their attention---in my case, the movement of other birds, on the feeders, I believe, was a draw for them. I have once again moved--which has prompted me to begin this "new" thread---to hope to sort of amalgamate, and perhaps expand the "Apartment Feeder" thread to try to include others who may not feel as if they "fit" into that particular category. I will add,--later some photo's of the set-up that I will be trying here, just to show that even in a small "isolated" area--there are opportunities---Al
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Post by Gord on Jun 22, 2007 20:15:08 GMT -8
Al, I enjoyed reading what I might call a saga in getting to where you were and seem to be quickly getting to again.
I, myself, have looked at my backyard in hopes of doing something. Sadly, my backyard is pretty barren with grass, two 12" ceder shrublings, a 6' ceder shrub, a dead Chinese maple and a small butterfly bush. While I get robins, starlings and crows I dont get much else and with the lack of cover. A few houses over there is more greens and the lady does have a small feeding station which seems to get some birds. We're also hoping to move soon to what I hope might offer a bit more. I also worry about cats which are rampant around here. Have you had much of a problem where you are Al? I know cats are everywhere, even in my rural area where I grew up we had a few.
Id put up a hummingbird feeder but the direct sunlight in the backyard (cooks our house all day long!) Doesnt make it a good idea. I do have a feeder in the garage though, so I think Ill put it up in the front and not be a stick in the mud and not try something!
I look forward to seeing pictures of your set up and hope it encourages others to give it a try too!
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Post by fouram on Jun 23, 2007 9:59:54 GMT -8
Hi, Gord. Yes, cats are (seemingly) everpresent, and I'll not go into what I feel are the responsibilities of pet owners in general, or, conversely cat owners in particular--they can be a very deadly predator, especially at this time of year with fledglings popping up all over the place. I do not believe that they have carved out a niche in our environment, as anything more than an occasional predator, with no need to ingest what they kill.
A feeding station can be a couple of sections of 2X4 with hooks to attach feeders to, an overhang to attach a hook to for a hummer feeder, or even a Niger-tube feeder which will draw all types of interesting things including American Goldfinches, Pine Siskens , the odd Chickadee, Bushtits (occasionally) and they really create no mess to speak of--as they have very small openings so that the finer beaked birds get to extract seeds pretty much one at a time. This also adds to "our" enjoyment, as the smaller birds work to get their fill, and have to stay longer to do so.
I have added Bee Balm, as well as Coral Bells, ( a suggestion, I think, from Pat--one of our active members) I have used planters to soften the concrete patio that I have---there are also lots of plants, trees--close to the patio, which also serves as a green "buffer" between the patio and the road.
Ants were presenting a problem for me when they found the Hummer feeder, until I went and got an "Ant Buster"? cup---which goes between the feeder and the hanging mechanism. I have to be careful what I put out for feed, in order to maintain the "cleanliness" integrity---which prompted me to use sunflower chips--almost exclusively.
At this point in time, I have no idea how this will impact the variety, range of birds that I may get.--Would be interesting to hear "others" views about feeders, etc. I will TRY to begin making notes about visitors, however this will be subject to my home time, as well as the season.
I am going to try and post some pics-today with a couple of views of the patio, may give others some ideas for their use.---Al
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Post by fouram on Jun 23, 2007 10:22:50 GMT -8
Let's see if I can D/L these photo's, with a short description of each as a separate post This is a photo of hanging baskets, and hummer feeder, bushes, and the distance to the road--ground floor
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Post by fouram on Jun 23, 2007 10:26:45 GMT -8
The next is a photo ofthe "hummer Feeder" as well as the street-(other direction) and the hopper feeder/Niger feeding station
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Post by fouram on Jun 23, 2007 10:28:02 GMT -8
The next photo will show the small bird bath, as well as a few plants for a "modified" green space
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Post by fouram on Jun 23, 2007 10:29:12 GMT -8
Here is one of the same--different perspective
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Post by fouram on Jun 23, 2007 10:30:20 GMT -8
This picture shows a bit more of the ground space/patio and some of the plants--to-gether
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Post by fouram on Jun 23, 2007 10:31:18 GMT -8
A picture of the "overhanf" with a better view of the hummingbird feeder
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Post by fouram on Jun 23, 2007 10:33:02 GMT -8
Coming to the end--this picture is just another view--one of the hopper feeder, under the overhang
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Post by fouram on Jun 23, 2007 10:37:40 GMT -8
Hope this may clarify what I have done. In one photo--of the Hopper/Niger feeder, I used this "plant stand" that you would normally stick in the ground, and attached it to the wooden "log" retaining wall, there I used copper pipe hangers, (in order to forstall rusting--with brass screws) I have done the same with the other "hangers"--although--during the summer--they may be a bit too close to the ground--I think they will work better during Fall/Winter--also I will put the suet cage back close to the niger feeder in the Fall, I think---Al
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Post by Gord on Jun 24, 2007 12:25:44 GMT -8
Al, that's really beautiful what you've done. You've certainly shown you can do quite a bit with a patio!
I like coral bells and should get some. They are a perennial right? Good call on the plant stands to hang feeders on. I always tried to find a good branch at home and would have loved to use those instead. Might have made it easier to place feeders in locations that provided easier cleanup and a nicer view from the window.
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Post by fouram on Jun 24, 2007 12:47:17 GMT -8
Gord, Not sure if they are perrenials, or not. I believe it was Pat that mentioned them to me?--on Hummere Feeder"?--Nonetheless, they certainly are large--even for the big pot they are in---Al
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