Josh's Project Bird Feeder Watch

Jo, I have a bright orange feeder that has a cup in it that I put it in. The bright orange attracts them, then they find the grape jelly. I got the feeder at Wildbirds Unlimited. To get natural photos of them, I have several dead logs nailed to sawhorses and old tree branches that they will land on before they go to the feeder. I get in a hide and sit with my camera. :-)

Lee Anne

Two weeks ago I spotted a very bright yellow bird with black wings here in Southern California. I spoke to a bird watcher and he said it was a Hooded Oriole. Since then, I have seen it one more time. I would love to see it more often. Although it was on my neighbor's Silver Maple tree, I am wondering if it was looking for my hummingbird feeder which I had removed to clean it. Except I can't imagine it approaching the hummingbird feeder because how would it hang on? I am growing sunflowers but I'm afraid the squirrels will eventually get those. I would like to know how to set up the sunflower course hearts for the birds.

Roseinarosecity wrote:Two weeks ago I spotted a very bright yellow bird with black wings here in Southern California. I spoke to a bird watcher and he said it was a Hooded Oriole. Since then, I have seen it one more time. I would love to see it more often. Although it was on my neighbor's Silver Maple tree, I am wondering if it was looking for my hummingbird feeder which I had removed to clean it. Except I can't imagine it approaching the hummingbird feeder because how would it hang on? I am growing sunflowers but I'm afraid the squirrels will eventually get those. I would like to know how to set up the sunflower course hearts for the birds.

Orioles eat from our hummingbird feeders every summer. They hang on the feeders. My daughter gets the orange oriole feeding stuff for one of the feeders but they eat from both.

We haven't seen any orioles yet this year. We have seen a yellow headed blackbird like those in this picture from a couple of years ago.

I bought a big boston fern and hung it just outside my front door. A week later I went away for 2 weeks. (neighbor was watering) Came back to a house finch nesting in my fern, so have to be very careful watering and, unfortunately, momma bird flys off everytime I go in and out of the door.

Kay

I would like to know how to set up the sunflower course hearts for the birds.

I buy it from the bird store. It's just the shelled sunflower seed. It makes less mess and the birds not able to take the shell off will eat it, especially over winter when there aren't many bugs to snack on. :-)

Lee Anne

Last year the wife saw a couple of orioles so I took an old small plastic planter from a long since dead African violet came In bought a small bottle of bright orange paint from michael's. An fill'ed with grape jelly. The easiest thing was jus cutting an orange in half an wiring to the sheppards hook.

LeeAnne12 wrote:The next few weeks are exciting times for the bird photographer, because there are a lot of migrants coming through. Josh, you may know this, but if you put grape jelly out, you might get some Baltimore Orioles coming into your feeders...if they come through your neck of the woods. They LOVE it! Happy birding!!!

Lee Anne

I've not seen the Baltimore Orioles before so I'm putting the grape jelly out and keeping an eye out. We have had more birds this year at the feeders than before...or maybe I've just been paying more attention. I've been reading all the post and really find the info interesting!

For the past 4 years each spring I attend bird classes from a lady who is a member of the Bluebird Society, and one year we made bluebird houses. She said to always have at least 2 houses, because the male picks the nesting place, and then she looks it over and decides if it's ok, if she doesn't like it he has to go look for another one, so if you don't have another one close by for him to choose, he will leave to go find a nesting place somewhere else. Ours are pretty close by about 15 feet away form the house, we have 3 in a row 10 feet apart, the bluebirds always pick the one in the middle.

The bird watch count is over now, but I'm going to keep watching them.

Josh, the Baltimore Orioles have just arrived in TN, so you should be watching since you're in the zone above me. It won't be long before they get to you. Be sure and put the grape jelly in something BRiGHT orange. The orange color attracts them. LMK if you see any. :-)

Lee Anne

walshevak wrote:I bought a big boston fern and hung it just outside my front door. A week later I went away for 2 weeks. (neighbor was watering) Came back to a house finch nesting in my fern, so have to be very careful watering and, unfortunately, momma bird flys off everytime I go in and out of the door.

Kay

All 5 eggs hatched. Posted pic in senseless banter.

LeeAnne12 wrote:Josh, the Baltimore Orioles have just arrived in TN, so you should be watching since you're in the zone above me. It won't be long before they get to you. Be sure and put the grape jelly in something BRiGHT orange. The orange color attracts them. LMK if you see any. :-)

Lee Anne

Thanks Lee Anne! I'm watching for them

Saw this before I left for work today red breasted grosebeak



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Wifee swears she seen an ingigo bunting taday along with a couple of eastern bluebirds. I caught sight of the bluebirds She ran
To the store an bought Nigel seed and mealie worms for them.

My husband and I love watching the birds so far this year we have....

The norms: tufted titmouse, junco, nuthatches, black capped chickadee (two pairs in nest boxes), morning doves, and the hates house sparrow AUGH!!!!

Others: a bluejay, red winged blackbird, red breasted grossbeak, evening grossbeak, female baltimore oriole, yellow and purple finches, a kingbird, hairy and downy woodpeckers.

I can't wait for the hummers to arrive!!

Hruten, the humming birds are here, I got buzzed by one on Sunday.

I'll have to get my feeder out then. Guess I'll be buying a hanging basket and tying ribbon as my flowers are not blooming yet.

Your basic flat/rounded syrup feeder has a red top and the hummers find it every year without any flowers or extras to attract them. Believe it's made by Perky Pet. Hummers can return annually to the same feeder along with other scout hummers heading north. Quite the amazing gps ability. Hummingbird.net is a fabulous resource for info.