Ever-Clever Wrens

During the "Grackle Blackout" I have let the feeders empty themselves, although one suet feeder remained full.  And that's because the birds didn't get the concept behind this suet feeder that is only accessible to birds which do not mind hanging upside down.  Eventually, I figured, one of them would clue in and the feast would begin.  And today I caught a quick shot of a wren doing exactly that.  Around here, once one bird gets a good idea others follow.  But this feeder will remain off limits to a cadre of birds.  Grackles, for one.   So perhaps the wrens will enjoy their success for a long time!

New Strategy is Indicated

This is a time of year when suet is in high demand.  It is also a time of year when we're most likely to see Common Grackles at the feeders.  And grackles love suet.  This is a bad formula.  And it means suet is disappearing.  Not just to voracious woodpeckers and catbirds, but also to the grackles.  I believe I need to improve my odds.  I am thinking of replacing one of the cakes with an upside down suet feeder which should resist all but the gymnastic birds.  The woodpeckers can get in, but the grackles will have a tough time.  Will this work?  It was a dubious experiment last year.  But I need to try again.

Strange Days

The past week at the suet feeder has seen some truly odd visits.  We had, of course, as reported earlier, the young Hairy Woodpecker.  And its parent.  But I am also seeing a surge of Robins and Cardinals -- a departure from pattern.  And there are House Finches (!) and now, a Chipping Sparrow.  These characters usually avoid feeders and work the areas under them, if they come out of the brush at all.  There are multiple photos so the bird must be very interested in suet cakes.  I don't get it.  Heck, I don't get birds.  They can do the oddest darn things at the oddest darn times.  A lesson to all of us: keep watching.  The surprising and unexpected just might happen!

A Second Sign of High Summer

Here's another sign that the breeding season is pretty much done.  Not the Catbird! the suet!  Suet consumption has dropped noticeably in the past two weeks.  I was surprised to replace but one cake today and that was it for the week.  At one point within the late spring I put out five in just one week.  Clearly there are fewer mouths to feed: young birds are well on their own and may be eating other things, elsewhere.  The catbirds may not mind at all as there will be more for them.  High summer continues to show itself.  The next act?  hummingbirds everywhere, of course!

Suet Going Fast

Year after year it seems the top months for suet are May and June.  Not midwinter!  Not only are all kinds of birds charged up for protein-heavy meals but there are so many young birds from the same species needing energy as well.  I'm having problems keeping up with demand now.  And it does not help that the grackles have entered the picture with their formidable appetites.  At present I have three suet stations available with a maximum potential of five cakes---and I have feeders sufficient to raise that total to eight if I so choose.  But I am not sure I need to go that far.  Just keep things replenished for the time being.   The bluebirds, catbirds, wrens, woodpeckers, Blue Jay, warblers, and so many more will appreciate the service!

Thwarting Grackles

Every bird feeder confronts occasional pests.  Obviously this includes our friends the squirrels but also birds like Blue Jays, Common Grackles, and Red Winged Blackbirds.  All of them have vexed me from time to time.  This month I have been forced to match wits with a pair of grackles.  They've taken a shine to the suet feeders and with their prodigious appetites can clean out a cake in no time.  I've decided to fight back with my squirrel-proof cages.  Two of the suet feeders are shielded from the pests and the small birds can still get in.  Many have experience with these cages already.  Unfortunately the blue birds and catbirds are locked out right now but I've left one suet feeder cage-free to see what happens.  At least two cakes will be off limits to the grackles!  We shall see if this strategy helps at all.

Feeder #8: Basic Suet Basket

One of the least expensive feeders on the market is the basic suet basket.  It may be an entry level tool, but it's well worth keeping in the fleet.  I have two in active service at my north and southwest stations, and they are quite popular.  Suet moves briskly in each.  Many birds like this Red Breasted Nuthatch have no problems with a swinging perch.  And if the suet cake is a hot pepper product, the squirrels will stay away,  Admittedly this is not a great product for the longer tailed woodpeckers, but they will adapt if pressed.  Mine are used to a different model so the basket generally draws the smaller birds like Downy Woodpeckers, Carolina Chickadees, and Eastern Bluebirds.  I definitely recommend these as part of a birdfeeding station.  They're cheap and do the job!

Feeder #2: Long Tailed Suet Holder

I've gone through several types of suet feeders over the year, but none has been quite so satisfying as this model, obtained from the good people at Duncraft.  This product holds two suet cakes, making space for more diners, and it has a long wooden tail ideal for woodpeckers needing to brace themselves with their tail feathers.  Yet, it is accepted by other species as well.  The interesting thing was that the woodpeckers actually needed some time to figure this feature out.  But once one or two did, the rest followed suit and all of them---flickers, Red Bellieds, Hairys---use the tail prop as they should.  I keep this feeder on the main station so I can watch it easily and enjoy all of the guests: and there are many!  This is a great feeder that justifies its slightly higher premium cost.

Occasional Raider

There are suburban properties that are dominated by Blue Jays, or at least constantly subject to their visits, whether aggressive or not.  This is not one of them.  Blue Jays do come here and pick from the suet feeders.  But they're surprisingly infrequent in their custom.  And like the Red Wing Blackbirds and Common Grackles, just occasional raiders of whatever is there to be had.  At that level of visitation I can't even get worked up at the sight of these birds, and even welcome their appearance.  And can you blame me? what a marvelously handsome bird is the Jay!  

Bluebird Habitat is Critical

Who doesn't like bluebirds?  It seems that bluebirds of all kinds---ours being the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia Sialis)---are coveted in the backyard environment.  And not everyone is fortunate.  Evidently we did it right here.  We've had bluebirds year round for years.  Perhaps it's the food options.  Suet is a ready pick, but we have plenty of insects in our non-sterilized natural area.  Or perhaps it is the open space.  We have just enough to keep the bluebirds interested.  And we have a nest box that bluebirds responded to, even once.  Don't have bluebirds?  work on that critical habitat!  Maintain open space, make sure protein is easy to find, and be patient.  You may become as fortunate!

The Suet Philosophy

I had a conversation today with an acquaintance who developed the idea to put out suet in her back yard.  And she asked me for "a good recipe."  Which I couldn't do.  I definitely encourage anyone who wants to prepare their own homemade suet using fat scraps and grains and whatever else the birds might consume.  It's just that I am not one of those hardy souls.  I'm a devotee of prepared product, specifically one cooked up by the good people of C&S.  Their stuff is squirrel-proof (bathed in hot pepper!) and formulated to handle temperatures even in the peak of our southern summers.  The homemade stuff is just too messy, nasty, and subject to melt for me.  Nor do I have the time to boil fat in the kitchen.  What's the right philosophy?  do what strikes you as the best.  The birds will care less which product shows up. 

Bluebirds, Still

Eastern Bluebirds can be finicky birds, with specialized habitat and feeding requirements that don't often make the grade in some of our fine suburban neighborhoods.  Fortunately, we attracted them fairly early on and offer them enough to stay interested.  I've provided good enough nesting locations, and certainly the right food.  They do favor suet and I see them often working it over.  Presumably they also find the insects they prefer, and I don't mind the attractive bluebirds putting a dent in that population!  I'm pretty sure I have them as visitors for another winter.  Hooray!

Reliable Woodpeckers

Most of the suet eating birds seem to be taking a break for the fall.  Oh, sure, there is the occasional Bluebird, Mockingbird, White Breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, and Carolina Wren.  But in October Ol' Reliable would be my buddies from Team Red Bellied Woodpecker.  The photos I extract from BirdCam show RBW after RBW after RBW.  I'd almost believe one or two of them live there if it weren't for the timestamps.  It is curious how attached these birds are to this one food product every season of the year.  They never tire of hot pepper suet!  Must be even tastier than insects.  I imagine we'll see this sight straight for another month.  Then it will get interesting on the suet feeder!

Definitely Out Of Luck

The last week has been a tough time for this Northern Mockingbird.  Not only is it enduring the post-breed molt, but it's not doing so well scoring at the feeders, either.  The mockers are among the greatest suet "hogs" and my little exercise in hanging a cake upside down is not working out for them.  Photo evidence shows them lunging upwards from below, but nothing I have seen convinces me that success was had.  And thus the resident alpha male is left, looking forlornly, as the smaller passerines enjoy the feast instead.  Maybe better luck in another week or so...

Fast Learner

Junior, the young Red Bellied Woodpecker, has turned out to be a fast learner.  Given a tough challenge with a tasty reward, this bird has pretty much mastered getting at suet from underneath.  Almost every photo taken the past two days shows Junior in the right position, and enjoying the food product.  This must be a young-dog issue as I have seen no adult birds pull off the trick, at least not yet.  I'm afraid this feeder needs to be up longer.  We need to fully discourage the grackles, and I am not persuaded that they've moved along.  Until then, Junior has the place more or less as often as it wants.

One Persistent Juvenile



One of the more entertaining aspects of the new stand-in suet feeder has been the reaction of the various species.  As has been reported here, the small birds (wrens, downeys, chickadees) immediately grasped the idea.  The big birds (grackles, Blue Jays) have been absolutely stymied.  (which was the plan all along).  That leaves the murky middle.  And I am keen to see if any are strong enough to take on the challenge.  This juvenile Red Bellied Woodpecker is trying its hardest to be a success story and get access to the tasty suet.  But it has been a struggle. In the past two days I have seen two apparent moments of triumph.  However, this is a very tough position for a woodpecker and it will take a lot of time for the young one to perfect the technique.  Will be interesting to watch.

The Hairy Returns in Style

We haven't seen a Hairy Woodpecker in some time, and when one shows up, he makes quite a splash.  This bird immediately grasped the concept of the anti-grackle suet feeder.  BirdCam took several photos of the Hairy today -- at different points in the day.  And with his arrival, and views of a chickadee, we have four confirmed species who've used this suet feeder.  It will be interesting to see if the Hairy hangs around (literally) and how many more species join this parade. 

Revenge of the Small

Bastille Day came early.  I decided to "free myself" from the grackles, and after they emptied the suet feeder in record time, I took action.  This meant pulling into the same spot this special feeder that's only accessible from below.   The small birds vindicated my faith in them: the Carolina Wrens and Downy Woodpeckers immediately grasped the approach and had a good day.  The grackles did not.  We'll let this go for some days, enough to discourage the big bullies.  The small birds had their revenge!

Feed Consumption at Half Year

We've now reached the halfway point of the calendar year, and according to the data I have collected on birdfeed consumption, it has been a great year for the wallet!  Safflower seed intake is down 46% compared with the same period last year, and sunflower seed is down 32%.  If we convert the savings into quantities, I have saved nearly two 25# sacks of safflower seed and one-and-a-half 50# sacks of black oil sunflower.  In contrast, suet cake consumption is nearly identical: just over 57 cakes consumed in the first six month period each.  Why the difference in seed take?  I suspect the single greatest reason is that we have gotten the squirrels out of those feeders.  And, just possibly, I've lost a little bird traffic especially in the winter months.  But I like the numbers.  Birds are out there, and I've kept a little green in the pocket!

Big and Bad

I have noted recently that the suet feeders are under heavy assault by some of the baddest dudes in the neighborhood: grackles and catbirds.  And they're being aided by a family group of especially hungry Red Bellied Woodpeckers.  But it looks like the rumble is being joined by another bad character.  I've been seeing this Blue Jay (or at least one jay) in recent days.  Evidently word has gotten around that there is quality suet being served here.  Well, as we have said we generally tolerate the "trash" birds and have had decent relations with the grackles for two years.  I'm hoping Mr./Ms. Blue Jay continues the good manners.  But here's the thing: suet might get cut off in June!  We shall see...