[Birdtalk] great yard birds & ?? regarding flickers

[Nicky Davis]

Hi Everyone,
We were very lucky this week.  We had 2 male and 1 female lazuli buntings, 2 male black headed Grosbeaks and 4 male Cassin's Finches show up at our feeders here in Draper.  I don't think we have ever had Cassin's at this house before. (There may be female Cassin's but I have a harder time I.D. ing them) We have a sharpie coming a couple of times a week also.  But he just ate one house finch and one starling, thank goodness. The more starlings he eats, the better as far as I'm concerned. I'll bet they taste pretty nasty.

?????One of the female flickers that comes here for suet has started pecking  grout from a brick wall.  I don't think that grout would be good for a bird since it has lime in it.  What do you all think???  I'm going to set out a tray of Ute-lite (which is crushed granite).  Do you all think that would be a better choice for her gizzard? She is nesting somewhere in this area (can't get her to accept the nest box we put up) and I don't want any baby flickers getting poisoned by grout. 

I would appreciate your advice. 

Nicky Davis
nicky-davis at earthlink.net
www.wildutah.us