Does anyone know who sells a bird feeder (seed block type) that is shaped like a bird (not a block)?
coyote eats bird seed block
A coyote comes into our yard 20 feet away from a window and has been eating the bird seed blocks for about three weeks now.
To feed or not to feed the wild birds in winter
Bird seed is cheap and the act makes us feel like we’re really doing some good. Heck, with all those poor birdies we’re feeding we should be exempt from other do-good deeds like opening the door for people or donating to charity.
Despite the warm fuzziness that comes from feeding our shivering feathered friends, some say feeding wild birds can actually border on animal cruelty.
Two camps stand strong on the issue:
YES, feed the wild birds:
Bird watching provides hours, or at least several minutes, of enjoyment. Besides, it gives the dogs something to do in between barking at passing motorcycles and pawing at the doorwall.
When done right, birds receive a healthy diet to supplement the winter’s slim pickings.
The poor, fragile things may otherwise starve, no?
NO, don’t feed the wild birds:
Birds in the yard means bird poop all over. More birds will also see the area as a feeding ground and start to flock there. Problems can arise if the food source stops coming and they are left to fend for themselves.
Baking for the Birds
In addition to a caged, triple-tube seed feeder that's stocked all winter long with black oil sunflower seeds, I also maintain a caged suet feeder using commercially-made suet cakes I buy at rock bottom prices (.50 a cake). But you may enjoy making your own version of wild bird cakes that invite inspired improvisation, depending on what you've got on hand in the kitchen. And, if there are children afoot, you can bet they'll be clamoring to help you out, too. When you're ready to hang your bird cake(s) outside, pop it out of the tray and insert in your suet feeder, if you have one. If you don't have a caged suet feeder (preferably double-caged to deter squirrels), you can put your creations into those green plastic berry baskets, the kind that strawberries are sold in, or even onion bags. You can also send the children on a pine cone hunt around the yard and then slather the pine cones with the peanut butter mix you've prepared. Thread a string through the pine cones and hang from trees you can easily view from indoors. Grab the binoculars and watch the action. You can also save your old toilet paper rolls and stuff them with your seed mixture to make Peanut Butter Bird Burritos, minus the hot sauce. *Depending on what you've got on hand, you can also incorporate the grease from cooking bacon into your bird cakes, along with stale breakfast cereal, bread or waffles torn into pieces, cat or dog food (dry or canned), cooked rice, oatmeal and apple cores. Aim for a consistency that's not as wet as pancake batter but moist enough to spread like butter. If you're a gardener who enjoys reading this blog, chances are you're already aware of the many health benefits of eating homegrown fruits and vegetables, particularly if they're organic. By growing your own food, you've cultivated more than string beans; you've also cultivated a keen sense for how the foods you eat support optimum health and keep illness at bay. Keep abreast of the latest research on food, diet...
Bird Seed Blocks - News
To feed or not to feed the wild birds in winter
Bird seed is cheap and the act makes us feel like we're really doing some good. Heck, with all those poor birdies we're feeding we should be exempt from and more »
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You can help wild birds survive snow and ice Miss Warner said she believed bird lovers in Swindon had already responded to the plight of wild birds as sales of wild birdseed were significantly up. |
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Feed the birds; it takes chill off their winter Standard suet blocks often include added peanuts, raisins and insects, while new products on the market include suet pellets, seed and suet cylinders, |
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Field Notes: Old lumber cleared for new Futral's in Fort Myers Field Notes: Old lumber cleared for new Futral's in Fort Myers rose the brand new Futral's Feed Store, bustling as it usually does around lunchtime, with customers buying hay, hog feed and bird seed. and more » |
Hawks miss opportunity to turn 'Big Three' into 'Fantastic Four'
Hawks miss opportunity to turn 'Big Three' into 'Fantastic Four'Makes you wonder if they're all getting paid in birdseed. Tuesday night saw two of the top-5 teams in the league, record-wise, matched against each other and more »
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Holiday plans take back seat to storm He also loaded the tailgate of his truck with hundreds of pounds of weights: A 50-pound bag of bird seed and several 10-pound tire weights, and more » |
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Christmas trees have many uses following the holidays The limbs make ideal spots to hold bird seed containers and peanut butter spread on pinecones, he said. An orange cut in half and hung on the tree with and more » |
