Peanut Pieces Off The Summer Menu

Since I first attempted peanut pieces at Cary BirdCam, in 2008, I have learned a great deal about when, where and why the foodstuff is accepted by the local birds. I’m only now beginning to develop solid ideas about the product. (1) This is really only a cold weather food. I had very good traffic at my peanut piece feeders both this past winter and the one before, but almost none in the warmer months--and not even until January did I get good results this winter. Almost overnight I saw visits go to nothing. (2) Peanut pieces work better than peanut hearts, but even the latter were taken in the coldest weather. (3) This food attracts a good variety of species when it's taken. I’ve photographed 13 different species working these feeders, most often Carolina Wrens, Eastern Bluebirds, and House Finches, but also Red Breasted Nuthatches, Pine Warblers, and others. (4) It must be treated with anti-squirrel repellent unless there are well stocked sunflower seed feeders around that the squirrels can get at. Now that traffic is neglegible, my feeder is about to come down for the summer. We had a good run and obtained great photos. When the next freeze hits in October, I’ll be ready to put out this food again—I am well stocked, and learned much from experience.