Mark I have learned so much watching your programs. I even ordered a goldfinch feeder from your store shipped to us in Ohio. Currently I have 5 feeders each with a specific feed, and a specific types of birds I want to attract. I started out 15 years ago when I was given $50 by my father-in-law to buy a bird feeder as a house warming gift for our first home. Just like you he told me to fill it with black oil sunflower seed. So now we have: - Brome Squirrel Buster Plus (15 years old) with pure Black Oil Sunflower seed = Most birds - Brome Nut Feeder ( 12 years old) with C&S Peanut Suet Nuggets = Woodpeckers + others - Amish made Bluebird Feeder (5 years old) with dried Meal Worms = Bluebirds + others - Aspects Large Finch tube (bought from ya'll 2 years ago) with Nyjer seed = Gold Finches - Amish made open Seed Tray (1 year ago) with only Safflower = Cardinals + Others (your idea) I added an API heated bird bath on a stand for water (another great idea from your channel) Thank you for all the education and great videos! 😊👍
I have spent 100s of dollars testing out seed and such. Millet is cheap and sucks. Fruit and nut mix is meh, and expensive, chickadees and nuthatches like it somewhat. Peanuts are fine for Jays and squirrels and sometimes woodpeckers. Safflower seed sucks. Corn is fine for jays and squirrels and sometimes dark eyed juncos. Black oil sunflower seeds are by far the best but...I started giving them sunflower hearts and I have never seen so many finches show up. These eating machines go bananas for the sunflower chips. And I am seeing more birds with broken beaks or deformed beaks so I am going to keep feeding the chips as I know it helps them by not breaking the sunflower seeds apart.
hey Mark! it's currently December 20. Yesterday, December 19, I noticed a female or immature male Baltimore Oriole at my feeders and it's returned again this morning. I live in Connecticut and it's currently 33°F. Shouldn't the Orioles have migrated south during the fall? Why do you think this one is this one is still here? What type of seed or food would be best to put out to help it? It was eating off the ground, the tray feeder, and my vertical woodpecker peanut pieces feeder yesterday and today. I wonder if the color of the bright orange pumpkins I put out last week for the birds and squirrels to pick at attracted the Oriole... I'd love to hear your thoughts! I also do have water out -- no de-icer yet, but am currently just adding hot water in the mornings to de-ice. thanks!
Yours is not the only oriole being seen this winter. Yes, they should be in Mexico or Central Mexico this time of year. Often the birds that are still here linger because they were not healthy enough to make the migration. Helping them survive is tough but unfrozen water is key. They naturally eat a lot of fruit, so orange haves, cranberries, grapes, etc. We had a Bullock's Oriole here in Kansas City a few winters back that was coming to a suet feeder and currently have a Scott's Oriole feeding on a peanut feeder. I hope he/she makes it.
Wonderful content you consistently provide. I'm new to feeding more than just hummingbirds and I have a question about the two types of safflower. Do the birds that like the white kind also like the golden kind equally well? Are the shell leftovers as prolific with the golden as with the white? I hear the shell of the golden is thinner and I wonder if it would solve the issue I have with my Tufted Titmice hammering away at the white safflower on the rail of my deck. I love these little birds but I'm about to replace my deck and wonder about the risk of damage from all that seed hammering! 🥰
Thank you. I’m glad you like the channel. The NutraSaff is more widely accepted than the white for sure. It does have a much softer seed coat so birds can open it much easier. I hardly notice the shells.
Mark, I’ve really enjoyed your videos. I’ve noticed the audio is getting out of sync with the picture on the last few I’ve watched. No big deal. I just ignore it. Keep up the good work.
hey Mark! how should we select a bath de-icer? i see there are multiple wattage choices on your site. what factors should we consider? I want to get one ASAP. until then, I'm manually adding hot water to my bath during the day
To curb seed tossing, you can also use seed logs. Depending on the mix and "compression", you can also discourage some birds, like the house sparrows. I put out a safflower log, and the cardinals, chickadees, house finches, and occasional downy woodpecker love it, and no mess!
You are correct. The seed blocks/cylinders are very clean ways to feed. They do favor certain species but others tend to learn how to take advantage of them.
Mark I have learned so much watching your programs. I even ordered a goldfinch feeder from your store shipped to us in Ohio. Currently I have 5 feeders each with a specific feed, and a specific types of birds I want to attract. I started out 15 years ago when I was given $50 by my father-in-law to buy a bird feeder as a house warming gift for our first home. Just like you he told me to fill it with black oil sunflower seed. So now we have:
- Brome Squirrel Buster Plus (15 years old) with pure Black Oil Sunflower seed = Most birds
- Brome Nut Feeder ( 12 years old) with C&S Peanut Suet Nuggets = Woodpeckers + others
- Amish made Bluebird Feeder (5 years old) with dried Meal Worms = Bluebirds + others
- Aspects Large Finch tube (bought from ya'll 2 years ago) with Nyjer seed = Gold Finches
- Amish made open Seed Tray (1 year ago) with only Safflower = Cardinals + Others (your idea)
I added an API heated bird bath on a stand for water (another great idea from your channel)
Thank you for all the education and great videos! 😊👍
Thank you so much for the kind words and support. Your feeder station sounds awesome. You are doing it correctly no doubt!
I have spent 100s of dollars testing out seed and such. Millet is cheap and sucks. Fruit and nut mix is meh, and expensive, chickadees and nuthatches like it somewhat. Peanuts are fine for Jays and squirrels and sometimes woodpeckers. Safflower seed sucks. Corn is fine for jays and squirrels and sometimes dark eyed juncos. Black oil sunflower seeds are by far the best but...I started giving them sunflower hearts and I have never seen so many finches show up. These eating machines go bananas for the sunflower chips. And I am seeing more birds with broken beaks or deformed beaks so I am going to keep feeding the chips as I know it helps them by not breaking the sunflower seeds apart.
Not to mention that chips are 100% food. Your not paying for any hulls in that bag.
over time, I've arranged my feeders so that each type serves a purpose for each type of seed
That is a good plan.
hey Mark! it's currently December 20. Yesterday, December 19, I noticed a female or immature male Baltimore Oriole at my feeders and it's returned again this morning. I live in Connecticut and it's currently 33°F. Shouldn't the Orioles have migrated south during the fall? Why do you think this one is this one is still here? What type of seed or food would be best to put out to help it? It was eating off the ground, the tray feeder, and my vertical woodpecker peanut pieces feeder yesterday and today. I wonder if the color of the bright orange pumpkins I put out last week for the birds and squirrels to pick at attracted the Oriole... I'd love to hear your thoughts! I also do have water out -- no de-icer yet, but am currently just adding hot water in the mornings to de-ice. thanks!
Yours is not the only oriole being seen this winter. Yes, they should be in Mexico or Central Mexico this time of year. Often the birds that are still here linger because they were not healthy enough to make the migration. Helping them survive is tough but unfrozen water is key. They naturally eat a lot of fruit, so orange haves, cranberries, grapes, etc. We had a Bullock's Oriole here in Kansas City a few winters back that was coming to a suet feeder and currently have a Scott's Oriole feeding on a peanut feeder. I hope he/she makes it.
@@MarksBackyardBirds thank you! I'll put out some oranges tomorrow!
Wonderful content you consistently provide. I'm new to feeding more than just hummingbirds and I have a question about the two types of safflower. Do the birds that like the white kind also like the golden kind equally well? Are the shell leftovers as prolific with the golden as with the white? I hear the shell of the golden is thinner and I wonder if it would solve the issue I have with my Tufted Titmice hammering away at the white safflower on the rail of my deck. I love these little birds but I'm about to replace my deck and wonder about the risk of damage from all that seed hammering! 🥰
Thank you. I’m glad you like the channel. The NutraSaff is more widely accepted than the white for sure. It does have a much softer seed coat so birds can open it much easier. I hardly notice the shells.
Mark, I’ve really enjoyed your videos. I’ve noticed the audio is getting out of sync with the picture on the last few I’ve watched. No big deal. I just ignore it. Keep up the good work.
Thanks. I am searching for a fix. It drives me crazy.
hey Mark! how should we select a bath de-icer? i see there are multiple wattage choices on your site. what factors should we consider? I want to get one ASAP. until then, I'm manually adding hot water to my bath during the day
I wouldn't buy anything less than 150 watts. They are guaranteed to 20 below zero.
I heard "go"! 😉
Audio is excellent. Great video, thanks!!! 👍🏻👍🏻
We are truly amateurs. Glad you enjoy your the video!
just got some black oil sunflower seeds for my tray feeder today!
Great advice!! Thank you!!!
You are so welcome!
To curb seed tossing, you can also use seed logs. Depending on the mix and "compression", you can also discourage some birds, like the house sparrows. I put out a safflower log, and the cardinals, chickadees, house finches, and occasional downy woodpecker love it, and no mess!
You are correct. The seed blocks/cylinders are very clean ways to feed. They do favor certain species but others tend to learn how to take advantage of them.
I need to simply. I was just thinking about this today.
I totally understand.
Great video, thanks!🐦
Thank you!