[Birdtalk] yard birds and feeding stations

[Brenda Kidman]

Linda,

We have been using fabricated feeding stations for oranges and jelly and
they seem to work just fine.

For the oranges I hammered three small nails into the deck railing in a
triangle pattern and I just smash the orange half onto the nails.  I have as
many as four halves out when we have babies.  They are quite stable and
support the weight of the Orioles (and finches and Jays) just fine.  A pic
link in below.

As far as the jelly feeder I took a wooden peanut butter feeder (rectangle
piece of wood with grooves in it to smear peanut butter in and two pegs that
go all the way through the board) that I didn't care for as far as a peanut
butter feeder.  I took  thin wire and wrapped it around the two pegs after
hammering them almost completely through to one side of the board to ensure
stability.  I then took a pyrex ramekin and wired it onto the protroding
pegs using a wire coat hanger that I had cut and bent around.  It was then
too heavy so I had to take a wooden chopstick and stick down through the
middle of the contraption, leaving it protruding from the top so it wouldn't
tilt over too far with the weight.  Sound a bit too complicated?  They sell
them premade at the Wild Bird Store in Layton and on the internet.  ;)  If
you are wondering what the heck I am talking about there is a link to a pic
for that too.

They make oriole feeders but I don't like the combination
orange/jelly/nectar feeders because I easily go through 16 oz a day per
feeder in the summer and that would necessitate throwing away uneaten
jelly.  Our feeders are "hummingbird" feeders but with the pegs being
individual and not the kind that are a continuous circle the weight of the
oriole bends it down enough they eat with no problem.  The hummingbirds
(even Calliopes) are still able to perch and eat.  I don't like the "world's
best feeder" that looks like a flying saucer or the hummingbird feeders that
have fixed perches.

All pics are from this season and they are in full use.

Keep in mind that my husband and I do not follow the "rules" of how you are
"supposed" to feed the birds.  We spend more money on seed than most people
do and our hummingbird feeders are within site of each other, in the sun and
all hanging from the deck to make it easier to retrieve them for refilling.
We have "told" the birds that they are there for our enjoyment and if they
want us to feel justified spending the money, time and inconvenience that we
spend feeding them they have to get used to us. . .   They don't seem to
mind overly much.  ;)  I saw all nine males full breeeding plumage males,
two juvenile males and three new female orioles yesterday.  We have our
calliopes and the black chinned males are back with the females.
Incredible.

orange:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/SurprisingWoman/DSC_0377.jpg

grape jelly:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/SurprisingWoman/DSC_0594.jpg

Happy Birding!

Brenda
South Weber

On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 11:06 PM, Linda Butler <lindawriter at gmail.com> wrote:

>  I enjoy reading about all the birds that are visiting peoples' yards. A
> couple people mentioned serving jelly to the birds. How do you do that? (Is
> it as simple as sticking a spoonful on a pie tin?) I'd love to see photos of
> your feeders/feeding stations.
> thanks,
> Linda
> PS--I finally have had Lazuli Buntings come to my yard! (Pleasant
> Grove) Also I finally saw the hummingbird that I've heard for several days.
> I think it's a Broad-tailed Hummer. It didn't sit still long enough to get a
> good look.
>
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>



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been. ~ C. Hoppe
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