tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post474557275805811574..comments2024-03-04T08:15:23.887-06:00Comments on JOYFUL REFLECTIONS: Bird Questions and ThoughtsBetsy Banks Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223591156634767330noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-40220759881454640412009-03-14T20:18:00.000-05:002009-03-14T20:18:00.000-05:00I really should have Hubster (my husband) read thi...I really should have Hubster (my husband) read this post - he LOVES birds! In fact, he buys this very special bird seed that has dried cherries and dried cranberries, and all sorts of special seeds in in. He also makes sure to sprinkle plenty on the ground so the "groundlings" (as he calls them) - squirrels, chipmunks, etc. - get food too. <BR/><BR/>I must say, I've never considered myself an ornithologist, but I have really enjoyed sitting on the deck with my binoculars in the early morning hours watching our fine feathered visitors. There are some really BEAUTIFUL birds that God has populated the skies with, aren't there?HWHLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07294913024458099382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-40467809042809117102009-03-07T15:01:00.000-06:002009-03-07T15:01:00.000-06:00The siskins are eating sunflower seeds at my feede...The siskins are eating sunflower seeds at my feeders. I think they'll eat anything.EG CameraGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12803759124643467711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-36531424902516303912009-03-07T14:05:00.000-06:002009-03-07T14:05:00.000-06:00I love Birds but am not very experienced. We do fe...I love Birds but am not very experienced. We do feed them but have not put any out in a few days We are clenaing everything and will begin again in a few days....Have great fun this week...m..Mary Isabella and Kiley too!https://www.blogger.com/profile/03370938632028789596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-52333225912204141512009-03-07T07:41:00.000-06:002009-03-07T07:41:00.000-06:00I have flocks of redpolls and siskins, probably ov...I have flocks of redpolls and siskins, probably over three hundred and they are here all day. We use a fify pound bad of black oil sunflower seed a week which is very expensive but I figure they are only doing what they were put here to do which is to eat and survive the best way they can. We also have evening and pine grosbeaks, crossbills, rose breasted grosbeaks just one or two, many of the usual winter birds, chickadees, white and red breasted nuthatches and downy and hairy woodpeckers.<BR/>I will be glad when the redpolls and siskins leave for the arctid because of the expense but I do enjoy watching them. I keep the feeders clean with a bleach solution to try to avoid salmonella but as for the seed hull, we just leave them and they compost back in to the earth. we do get a lot of sunflowers from uneaten seed as wellameliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17380296569508243613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-77487542983040593272009-03-07T07:25:00.000-06:002009-03-07T07:25:00.000-06:00Ok,... my feeders are empty here right now,...rath...Ok,... my feeders are empty here right now,...rather than fill I will leave them empty for a few days. The weather here is milder now and snow is melting,.... I won't feel too guilty. But I want the siskens that are here to move along too. Let's compare notes in a week or so....Cedar ...https://www.blogger.com/profile/18179231224253338673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-19848848897811968032009-03-06T22:52:00.000-06:002009-03-06T22:52:00.000-06:00Thanks SO SO much for all of your comments. And t...Thanks SO SO much for all of your comments. And to you non-birders, I hope you at least enjoyed the photos.<BR/><BR/>I've spent most of the day reading your comments, searching the internet and reading about Pine Siskins. Apparently, there is ALOT of Pine Siskin sickness this year--and much of it is in Tennessee. It is Salmonella. We have only seen one dead siskin--and I thought it had hit my window. But I don't know that. <BR/><BR/>SO---after fretting about this all day long, I have decided to err on the side of caution --and put all of my bird feeders inside while we are gone next week. That way, hopefully all of the siskins will LEAVE. AND--from what I've read, the other birds WILL come back... (I hope!)<BR/><BR/>I know that even if I only leave the Sunflower seeds out, the siskins will eat them also. SO---my problem won't be solved. <BR/><BR/>I pray that I'm doing the correct thing. BUT--I would be SO upset if any bird got sick because a sick bird had been at my feeders.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again SO MUCH.. You all are the BEST.<BR/>Hugs to all,<BR/>BetsyBetsy Banks Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16223591156634767330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-51940738224622824662009-03-06T22:04:00.000-06:002009-03-06T22:04:00.000-06:00Betsy, sorry I don't know enough about the Siskins...Betsy, sorry I don't know enough about the Siskins to advice you, but after reading all these comments, a lot of people DO know the answer to your questions. <BR/>I love the variety of birds that visit my feeders everyday, my problem is the squirrels...they are such greedy beggars, and literally destroy the bird feeders, getting to the food.<BR/>I hate to stop feeding, then all the birds will leave for greener pastures..A Brit in Tennesseehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16080644141670903160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-85799754047337852132009-03-06T21:59:00.000-06:002009-03-06T21:59:00.000-06:00I'm sorry I have no advice for you about your sisk...I'm sorry I have no advice for you about your siskins, Betsy. I enjoyed your photos though. I especially like the bluebirds and goldfinches. :)Conniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03865193802444007545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-70338122101134798232009-03-06T21:51:00.000-06:002009-03-06T21:51:00.000-06:00Most of the birds you show love sunflower seeds, s...Most of the birds you show love sunflower seeds, so just feed that for awhile. I'm sure the siskins will move on eventually. I usually let the wind take care of a lot of the sunflower mess for me :-) I also have a leaf rake that you can adjust how far apart the prongs are and have used it to rake away the heavy mess areas. I'm a very messy feeder, so I'm a bad one to ask. I even let the sunflower seeds grow under the feeder in the summer. I've wondered if they could be vacumned with an outdoor vac, but haven't tried it. A lot of my mess gets cleaned up by the nighttime varmints...raccoon, possum, skunk.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02890796903959709429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-50962300983164955282009-03-06T21:03:00.000-06:002009-03-06T21:03:00.000-06:00Great pics Betsy. I don't know what to tell yo...Great pics Betsy. I don't know what to tell you. I have very few birds here. I love to see my cardinals return. And of course there are the doves. So what seed falls to the ground the ground feeders eat it. No problem there.<BR/>You & George have a wonderful & safe trip next week. Hope you take lots of pics to share.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-9401673381311423222009-03-06T20:18:00.000-06:002009-03-06T20:18:00.000-06:00Wow you sure got some great suggestions...let me k...Wow you sure got some great suggestions...let me know which ones worked...<BR/><BR/>i took down my thistle feeder..tooooo costly..will put it up again later.Tinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17717015543939819841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-51061049554963591572009-03-06T19:59:00.000-06:002009-03-06T19:59:00.000-06:00Betsy, I hereby present you with the Butterfly Awa...Betsy, I hereby present you with the Butterfly Award! Details are on my blog.Janiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06509431336916594990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-10335715711830072792009-03-06T19:58:00.000-06:002009-03-06T19:58:00.000-06:00You have some delightful bird photos and obviously...You have some delightful bird photos and obviously some wonderful bird information from some very important bird bloggers out there!!<BR/><BR/>I just want to say thank you for your wonderful comments and encouragement in my blogs. It means a lot to me.<BR/>It has been an exhausting life journey lately but your words have smoothed out the bumps somewhat and I do appreciate that...<BR/><BR/>Hugs to the both of you...♥Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02324458825591614167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-66709354035566384072009-03-06T19:17:00.000-06:002009-03-06T19:17:00.000-06:00The pine siskins will leave and it should be soon....The pine siskins will leave and it should be soon. I was talking to someone at my local nature center the other day and he said that some years you hardly see siskins at all and this year was the year of the invasion of them! We've had a lot too but not near as many as you've had.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure your other birds will come back. I've noticed that since the warmer weather has started to come and the snow has melted that my birds are not coming near as much to the feeders. <BR/><BR/>I've decided to change my direction with the birds this spring. I'm still going to feed my birds but I'm going to way scale down my seed feeders, maybe only have one or two still out (now I have 7 out) and instead concentrate on my bird houses (I really want to attract blue birds!!!). Also, I'll concentrate on my hummingbirds and orioles (I can't wait for the return of my orioles!!!). And I'm really excited that Craig is making me an owl house too. A friend of mine has an owl in her owl house and I am so envious, I want an owl! <BR/><BR/>Yea, I understand the seed hull mess. I have the same issue. For me that is the only bad thing about feeding them, it makes a mess. The best thing I can do is rake them up. I get a lot of dirt up when I do it but I can't figure a better way. I've read that some people lay down screen under the feeders and use that to lift it up but I've never tried it <BR/><BR/>Sounds like you are doing a fine job of keeping your feeders clean. As long as you have no mold or rotten seed they should be fine. I let mine run empty every few weeks and give them a good cleaning. <BR/><BR/>I'm a lot like you Betsy, in the fact that I just starting this fascination with birds in the last year and a half. I have taught myself so much in the last. It's amazing how much joy it brings!Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11757749865855698814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-31421489645686973182009-03-06T18:01:00.000-06:002009-03-06T18:01:00.000-06:00Maybe the Goldfinch are there, just mingled in wit...Maybe the Goldfinch are there, just mingled in with the Pine Siskins and you can't see them. I think just feeding the Sunflower and Safflower would be good for starters. Maybe while you are gone just put out Sunflower seeds. You think the Pine Siskins ran off my other birds?<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://leedrasphotosforfun.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Leedra’s Photos For Fun</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://photographybyleedra3.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Leedra’s Greeting Cards</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://photographybyleedra.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Photography By Leedra</A>Leedrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04914177127665868671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-25466319045472172802009-03-06T16:56:00.000-06:002009-03-06T16:56:00.000-06:00Ahh, the selective feeder conundrum. Wait until t...Ahh, the selective feeder conundrum. Wait until the squirrels enter into the picture!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17989947946488835186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-51651854373694936752009-03-06T16:49:00.000-06:002009-03-06T16:49:00.000-06:00Betsy ~ I like your bird photos and your website. ...Betsy ~ I like your bird photos and your website. . . . . . P.S. 'Side Bar': I don't know how to make links yet and someday I will have to learn how to. -Ray.Raymontyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03802572231132314351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-39723308012351540582009-03-06T15:07:00.000-06:002009-03-06T15:07:00.000-06:00Hi Betsy,I'm glad you've gotten hooked on birds! ...Hi Betsy,<BR/>I'm glad you've gotten hooked on birds! Thanks for leaving a note on my blog. Bluebirds nesting... how wonderful! I lived in a rural area of east TN for nine years and enjoyed delightful bluebird families year round.<BR/><BR/>I have a slightly different perspective on feeding after my recent experience. First, our year round residents, which include goldfinches, titmice, chickadees and white-breasted nuthatches, will hang around whether you feed them or not. And they will return to your feeders when you fill them again. Your climate is much the same as mine in east TN and there is plenty of seed and berries around, as well as, with the recent warm spells, insects. <BR/><BR/>Since you are in one of the regions that has been reporting dead birds and you have found one dead bird, I would recommend that you take down all your feeders until you return from your trip. Then you can keep a close eye on them. All your local birds will return to feed when you offer food again and will be safer from disease.Vickiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11301484477954719161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-56688463935482276472009-03-06T14:51:00.000-06:002009-03-06T14:51:00.000-06:00I think your idea of selective feeding is good. Do...I think your idea of selective feeding is good. Don't leave an all-you-can-eat situation for the siskins. I clean my feeders once a season, and also if the seed get wet. Also stopped using platform feeders, as they let birds who "eat in place" (as opposed to birds like chickadees who take a seed and fly off to eat at another location) wade into the exposed food and then they defecate in it. Good way to spread comtanimation and disease. Hopper-type feeders are better, in my opinion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-26271601950680019492009-03-06T14:30:00.000-06:002009-03-06T14:30:00.000-06:00Haha! You "caught the bug"...I think you might be ...Haha! You "caught the bug"...I think you might be a birdie! <BR/>I can't speak intelligently about them...but my mother can! One day we were walking and I said to her that I was hearing a lot of semi-trucks down shifing ...that "waaahhh" sound...she said it was a BIRD. Finally I saw it too...these kind do this dive from the sky and their wings sound like a semi-truck!!! Was I ever shocked!ShabbyInTheCityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14091272622098491527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-68202865035618310142009-03-06T13:24:00.000-06:002009-03-06T13:24:00.000-06:00I too am relatively new at birding, so I have read...I too am relatively new at birding, so I have read all the advice you have gotten with much appreciation for the wisdom there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-45237040392989224262009-03-06T13:22:00.000-06:002009-03-06T13:22:00.000-06:00BOSS is black-oil sunflower seeds Betsy... Michell...BOSS is black-oil sunflower seeds Betsy... MichelleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-33817362225636723222009-03-06T13:20:00.000-06:002009-03-06T13:20:00.000-06:00I've only been putting out sunflower seeds, so I h...I've only been putting out sunflower seeds, so I haven't even noticed the Siskins. Of course, everything is welcome in my yard. And so far, I only have a platform feeder that I keep where the woods begin at the back of my yard, so the hull mess falls in the woods.(Thanks to cataract surgeries, I can see the birds back there.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-82660566451837009252009-03-06T13:08:00.000-06:002009-03-06T13:08:00.000-06:00I don't know much about birds, but I do love to wa...I don't know much about birds, but I do love to watch them and feed them! Good luck in finding answers to tour questions!<BR/><BR/>MandyMandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13186808429759584284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915113069723845995.post-4165897782907593802009-03-06T13:05:00.000-06:002009-03-06T13:05:00.000-06:00I would leave the seed out as this can be a challe...I would leave the seed out as this can be a challenging time to find any other food to eat. If you want take the thistle down and the siskins will eat the black-oil sunflower seed or BOSS. Most all of the birds except for house sparrows will eat BOSS.<BR/><BR/>It is important to clean up under the feeders to prevent disease. I use mulch and then clean up the old mulch and put down fresh. Some people do use a shop vac.<BR/><BR/>It is important to clean the feeders. I do it once a month or more often if I see illness with a 10% bleach solution. <BR/><BR/>Seed needs to be kept dry so that it doesn't mold and cause illness. I just posted some info on sick birds.<BR/><BR/>Cornell had lots of good info that you can google...MichelleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com