Changing the feeders around

[hazelrunmama]

We've had such a wet winter and spring that the winter finches took a terrible hit from conjunctivitis.  The largest flock I saw all winter was 195 Pine siskins and we've had over 20 sick and dying siskins, so more than 10% mortality.    Very sad. 

Our options were to close down the feeders entirely or find a drier spot for the feeders.  After a lot of discussion, we decided to try moving the feeders out to the front slope.  There's no standing water out there and we can easily see the area from the kitchen window (which makes doing dishes much nicer! )--and, as an added bonus, the migratory sparrows and year-round residents seem to love the new locations.  The feeders are set up in an area bordered by balsam and spruce trees, so there's a fair amount of natural cover.

Some of the evergreens are trimmed up a few feet from the ground, which means that there is sheltered space under them to throw seed.  That came in handy this morning--snow squalls and about 2 inches of new snow on the ground overnight, but some nice dry, snowless areas under the trees. 

The real test will come next winter and spring--we'll see if rearranging the feeders cuts down on the incidence of conjunctivitis next year.  Crossing my fingers because I really don't want to shut the feeders down entirely...

[BarbK]

Hazel, that's so sad about the conjunctivitis. I'm so glad you didn't have to close your feeders down. Looking out at my feeders is so important to me as I know it is to you, too. I still marvel at the numbers of birds you see. Although we have a 1/2 acre of property, we don't get a variety of birds. Maybe it's because we don't have too many bushes. We still have trees, but they've been reduced due to Sandy and age, I guess. But I still love my regular birds. However, I am getting a lot of house sparrows which, at one time, we rarely saw. Good luck!

[downylover]

So sad about the sick birds. I'm happy the new location is working out. Definitely will make washing dishes much better!
BarbK, same issues here. Less trees since Sandy and subsequent storms. I don't have a huge variety of birds but my numbers are pretty good. I have more blue hays than I've ever had. I'm actually a little worried about keeping them well fed during baby season. If they all stay and have babies - holy moly its going to be loud and they're going to need to find some other diners to eat at. Last year I had 2 pairs and each had 6 or 7 babies. This year I have counted 14 jays. I'll need Excedrin.

I also have a good amount of cardinals. I have such a soft spot for female cardinals. I love watching the cardinals just before dark. Its so peaceful. There's hardly any birds around then.

I've seen a pair of mockingbirds in the front, more in the neighbor's yard. I hope they nest there. They don't come to the feeders often but will show up for a drink or bath on occasion.

The neighbor in the back lost a huge tree 2 days ago. I'm really bummed because I think woodpeckers used that tree. Better now before nesting season though. At least they have some time.

[BarbK]

downylover, I get a decent variety of birds, but not that many in each species. I only get one pair of cardinals who are around the feeders all the time. I, too, have a soft spot for the female cardinal. In fact, she's my favorite bird.

I also get one mockingbird. He or she shows up every now and then for the suet and the bird bath and jelly. I also see four blue jays and think they nest in my backyard. I love seeing the babies at the feeders when their mother's bring them.

[downylover]

I went to my sister's over the weekend and there was her spoiled mockingbirds. They fly to the porch as soon as my sister steps out. She buys the dried worms and they wait there. They now started making noise if they want worms. Its really quite funny - they beg. She wants them to build a nest in her shrubs again (they did a few years in a row but not the past 2). LOL when she's leaving for work she brings all her stuff, a treat to give her dog on her way out and worms for the mockingbirds.

[hazelrunmama]

That's really sad about the trees. We live in a forest, so trees are plentiful. But there's also a meadow just behind us and a wetland just to the south, so we have a lot of different habitats--and that's probably why we get so many birds. The downside is that there are so many trees, spotting nests can be problematic... To this day I have still NEVER found a hummingbird nest, even though I know the area they nest in and watch them flitting in and out of the trees every summer.

We only have one cardinal pair, too, BarbK--it's the same female every year (she distinctive white coloration above her nares so we know it's the same fem) and I'm assuming it's the same male. They've been here for maybe 3 years. When we first moved in there was a different pair. After they died, we didn't see another cardinal for about 3 years. Seemed strange to me that it took a new pair so long to find us, since we have pretty good cardinal habitat here.

[BarbK]

Hazel, I would imagine a hummingbird nest would be so small it couldn't be seen with the naked eye. Only kidding, though, but I guess it's true that they're tiny.

I wish there was a way to really tell my cardinal couple apart from other couples. Maybe someday someone will invent glasses that can pick out discrepancies in birds. Years ago, my cardinal couple were always swimming, especially the male. I never see this couple in the bird bath, only to drink. They are such a joy to me.

[hazelrunmama]

I'd buy a pair of those glasses, Barb! I wish I could give all the birds little name tags! LOL

I finally bit the bullet and cleaned out the hummingbird garden this morning.  I hang the thistle feeders in there in winter and by spring there can be quite a buildup of thistle melting out of the snow.  It's been so wet that I couldn't get in there to clean it up.  It's now down to bare soil and all the old stalks are pulled (except a few volunteer elderberry plants that I think are going to have to be exterminated because they want to take over the garden )--I discovered the lilies and the phlox are beginning to come up, along with some milkweed!  Yay!  I just hope we aren't going to have another rash of sick finches because they can get to the wet ground, now. 

I have two more gardens to get into (both are too wet right now) and we want to put in two new ones this year.  If it doesn't dry up soon, though, it'll be well into July before we can even get started on the blasted things!  LOL  Still, I'm feeling sorta accomplished at having done the hummingbird garden this morning.  Now to clean the nectar feeders and I'll be ready for the hummers! 

[downylover]

Put me down for a pair of those glasses too! I'm excited for your hummingbirds, hazel. I love your pictures because you always get birds I don't have (including the hummingbirds).

I think all the cardinals in the yard are descendants of my girl Shirley. I don't remember why she got that name, lol. She was easy to differentiate because she had a weird beak. I was so sad late last winter/last spring when I couldn't find her. She was around for about 8 years. I'd look for her every day, after every storm, hawk sighting, etc and was always so happy when she popped up. I have about 10 cardinals here every day, the numbers have built year to year. Hopefully Shirley's great-great-great grandkids will have a good long life here too. I think she had a pretty good run for a wild bird.

I don't think any birds nest in the backyard. I know there's jays between the neighbor on the left and me and cardinals in the front between the neighbor on the right and me. Close to the feeders but not too close seems to be the plan for most of them.

Update on my sister - she has had a pair of robins in the front flower bed for 2 days when she went to give her mockingbirds worms. Of course she gave some to them too. I told her she's going to have a line going soon.

[BarbK]

Wow, Hazel, how do you do all that outside work? I put all that under "gardening" which I have no desire to do. Most of my flowers are in pots. But your birds are lucky they have you.

[hazelrunmama]

Well, you'll notice that I only have one garden done so far! LOL And they're pretty small gardens....if they were vegetable gardens, there wouldn't be enough food to feed just us! I just keep plugging away on dry days and eventually I get them all done...or they grow up so far that it hides the mess and doesn't matter any more! heheh

[hutchgigi]

I used to find that gardening was not planned.  I would be out and upon getting home see a weed go to pull it, get mad i did not put gloves on.  and two hours later I had done a good amount of work.  That was back in 2004-10.  Then when we moved away from the dream house, Al put a raised flower bed in for me.  If I want to visit a garden with flowers I look at all those photo's I took and still can't believe I did it.  We are almost at this house a year in May and I am getting to see trees and branches i did not identify last year.  Love the foythea all along the fence.  I know I have rose a sharon, not in a good spot but it is what it is.  I am hoping to add lots more butter fly bushes.  The squirrl ate most of my magnolia buds then the blooms.  Two small trees young ones.  We got our yard fenced in just an area for the dogs and finn.  He took a run into the trail when they came for the easter visit.  Pond was to his right scared the day lights out of us.  three adults took off after him.  He is so fast.  I love the fence but it is not keeping out the squirrels.  Keeping me busy trying to get them to not eat my seed and dump it.  I had one busy trying to figure out how to get to the covered worm feeder.  I had it on a long chain.  two days later he got into it.  Stayed for a long feed. Ginny H.