Post by Gord on Jan 11, 2018 22:34:06 GMT -8
While I was feeding the birds over the holidays I was thinking about the Varied Thrushes and robins. They would soon be around looking for food especially if we get some snow on the ground. Usually we offer half apples and raisins soaked in water for these guys because they don't like to eat seeds. The giant squirrels that lurk around the yard complicates this process however. It's not uncommon to see one bounding joyfully off to its lair with half an apple in its mouth. Apples are not cheap (but then not much is cheap in my opinion). A solution needed to be discovered.
Then suddenly, exactly how all bad ideas and sometimes even some good ones come to mind, I had a thought. I considered using a piece of dowel or stick through a board that could hold the apple in place. But underestimating squirrels isn't a wise idea, and, to be honest, I was hoping to add an element of gimmick to my idea. Simply using a stick would fall a bit short of achieving a wow effect. Duct tape was surprisingly not a tool needed for this project I mused as I thoughtfully pawed around in big coffee can that holds my screws and bolts. The outcome from a short rummage in the coffee can resulted in this little unit which met both outcomes of keeping the apple in place and also looking rather clever on my part.
Steps to build my Thrush Apple Feeder:
Get a plank and drill some holes in the bottom just big enough to allow the bolts to fit through. I used a 3/4" thick piece of ceder about 5" x 18" in size.
Image13 by Gord G, on Flickr
Find some bolts about 4" in length and run them through from the bottom.
Image14 by Gord G, on Flickr
Impale half an apple through and use a small washer and nut to hold the apple in place. Nothing is more impressive to answer the query "how do you keep the apple on the peg?" than by proudly saying "I bolt it down".
Image15 by Gord G, on Flickr
Lay out near the bushes where the thrushes like to hang around.
Image11 by Gord G, on Flickr
You can even spread some leaves over it to help it blend in a bit
Image12 by Gord G, on Flickr
It works great!
Dsc_0645 by Gord G, on Flickr
I suppose there's really no limit on how big this feeder is. While possibly a bit excessive a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood could be used with bolts spaced about 10" apart to feed large flocks especially if robins come around. That set up would be quite the sight and also maybe a bit unsightly. Sure to be met with disapproval by spouses and neighbours.
I also impaled some smaller extra pieces of apple in a tree which also was quite popular.
Dsc_0749 by Gord G, on Flickr
Some background on the thrushes and robins as I often get a few questions about them
Varied Thrushes are year-round residents but prefer the mountains and forested areas. During snow and cold weather they will come to lower elevations and explore looking for food. We leave our leaves in the garden rather than rake them up. The thrushes like to paw around in the leaves looking for worms and other food sources. The apples and raisins are appreciated during the snow that covers the ground. I have seen them eating pieces of suet that fall from the feeder when the woodpeckers are hammering away at it. The odd one will try to feed on the suet block as well. American Robins are similar to the thrushes in terms of offering food for them. Most robins will migrate for the winter but it's common to see flocks that are overwintering in the Lower Mainland. In milder winters they have no problem finding food but will struggle a bit when we get ice and snow.
Male Varied Thrush
Dsc_0769 by Gord G, on Flickr
Female Varied Thrush
Dsc_0811 by Gord G, on Flickr
Then suddenly, exactly how all bad ideas and sometimes even some good ones come to mind, I had a thought. I considered using a piece of dowel or stick through a board that could hold the apple in place. But underestimating squirrels isn't a wise idea, and, to be honest, I was hoping to add an element of gimmick to my idea. Simply using a stick would fall a bit short of achieving a wow effect. Duct tape was surprisingly not a tool needed for this project I mused as I thoughtfully pawed around in big coffee can that holds my screws and bolts. The outcome from a short rummage in the coffee can resulted in this little unit which met both outcomes of keeping the apple in place and also looking rather clever on my part.
Steps to build my Thrush Apple Feeder:
Get a plank and drill some holes in the bottom just big enough to allow the bolts to fit through. I used a 3/4" thick piece of ceder about 5" x 18" in size.
Image13 by Gord G, on Flickr
Find some bolts about 4" in length and run them through from the bottom.
Image14 by Gord G, on Flickr
Impale half an apple through and use a small washer and nut to hold the apple in place. Nothing is more impressive to answer the query "how do you keep the apple on the peg?" than by proudly saying "I bolt it down".
Image15 by Gord G, on Flickr
Lay out near the bushes where the thrushes like to hang around.
Image11 by Gord G, on Flickr
You can even spread some leaves over it to help it blend in a bit
Image12 by Gord G, on Flickr
It works great!
Dsc_0645 by Gord G, on Flickr
I suppose there's really no limit on how big this feeder is. While possibly a bit excessive a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood could be used with bolts spaced about 10" apart to feed large flocks especially if robins come around. That set up would be quite the sight and also maybe a bit unsightly. Sure to be met with disapproval by spouses and neighbours.
I also impaled some smaller extra pieces of apple in a tree which also was quite popular.
Dsc_0749 by Gord G, on Flickr
Some background on the thrushes and robins as I often get a few questions about them
Varied Thrushes are year-round residents but prefer the mountains and forested areas. During snow and cold weather they will come to lower elevations and explore looking for food. We leave our leaves in the garden rather than rake them up. The thrushes like to paw around in the leaves looking for worms and other food sources. The apples and raisins are appreciated during the snow that covers the ground. I have seen them eating pieces of suet that fall from the feeder when the woodpeckers are hammering away at it. The odd one will try to feed on the suet block as well. American Robins are similar to the thrushes in terms of offering food for them. Most robins will migrate for the winter but it's common to see flocks that are overwintering in the Lower Mainland. In milder winters they have no problem finding food but will struggle a bit when we get ice and snow.
Male Varied Thrush
Dsc_0769 by Gord G, on Flickr
Female Varied Thrush
Dsc_0811 by Gord G, on Flickr