(Part 4 Peanut-Feeder) BACK-STORY of TLLG's Rain or Shine Feeders
Welcome to Part 4 of my series of follow-ups to the Rain or Shine bird-feeders "story," which I posted here on HT on June 28th 2013. In parts one and two of this particular series, I covered two hanging bird-feeders, the Droll tube as well as the dome, and in part three I covered The Fauna House.
All of the aforementioned feeders are marketed as hanging feeders; however, I got more "feathered-customers" at the each of these feeders when I placed them atop a given surface in my garden. And, as I've stated in my past entries here on HT, it seems that the wild birds which visit my garden are not ones who like to perch while they are eating.
In this post I will cover my visiting birds' reactions to my first "peanut feeder." This feeder is also advertised as a hanging feeder but the difference with this one is it had a tray beneath it. The tray was designed to catch seeds as well as provide a place for birds to sit.
As was the case with my Droll tube, dome and FAUNA HOUSE, at the time, the only place I had to hang the peanut-feeder was from a bracket which is adhered to a wall close to the door leading from my apartment to my garden, and that location is a bit too close for my visiting birds' comfort level, as you might surmise from photo-one and photo-two in the series of images accompanying this post.
This time when I placed yet another feeder atop a table in my garden (to make it easier for visiting birds to access), we were in the month of October and my visiting Halloween Jack-O-Lantern, got a big laugh out of the situation! Was he laughing at how amusing my visiting birds' antics can be?
OR was he laughing at yours truly's attempts to accommodate visiting wild birds? (Check out images three though eight below showing my amused Jack-O-Lantern getting his jollies observing the mourning doves and a lone tufted titmouse, and let me know your answer to this question)!
The house finches preferred not to eat under the scrutiny of "The Jack" as evidenced in images nine and ten!
BTW, one problem with placing a light-weighted bird-feeder atop a garden surface as I have done with the feeders discussed in parts one through three of these series as well as the peanut feeder which I am discussing here, is that it can blow over in high winds!
It was in my prep for Hurricane Sandy that I devised a way to secure the feeder during a storm, which is a time a bird needs the feeder if he/she has not gotten out of town for inclement weather.
My strategy was to "secure" the feeders under a plant holder (formerly a fire-place fixture) which under normal weather conditions is atop a ledge at the north end of my garden. The result can be seen in images eleven through eighteen.
After the hurricane passed I had to place the feeder on the garden's floor as a nor'easter hit NYC! Some of my birds' reaction my feeder placement can be seen in images nineteen through twenty-one.
Thankfully, neither Hurricane Sandy, nor the nor'easter, damaged the array of "flora" in my garden! And it seems that my visiting birds (as far as I know) were not harmed by the aforementioned weather storms.
Once all indication of inclement weather passed, I placed the peanut-feeder atop a plant stand, and I was thrilled to see my doing so brought forth a chickadee! (Images 22-24,) And thankfully. most of my usual "cast of characters" returned to nosh as well. (Images 25-28.) Additionally a camera-shy downy woodpecker checked out the situation (Images 29-30.)
Having the peanut-feeder atop the plant stand worked well in the winter too, as a common grackle was quick to discover and he/she stared at house finches to "learn" how to eat from this feeder! (Images 31-34).
Ultimately in the winter, the peanut-feeder had to be "secured" with my "fire-place" planter in the same manner that I had used for Hurricane Sandy, and a number of dark-eyed juncoes enjoyed themselves, including the one featured in the final image of this posting!
In a weak moment, I gave my peanut-feeder to a woman that works at my parish as she expressed interest in having it! I even filled it with the favorite seeds of wild birds! But, alas, when they had eaten everything, she refused to replenish it, saying the birds made too much of a mess, but she wanted to keep the feeder for decoration!
This brings me to the conclusion of part four with more to come on my feeder saga! Please stay tuned for a few more bird-feeder follow ups before I move on to other topics!
All of the aforementioned feeders are marketed as hanging feeders; however, I got more "feathered-customers" at the each of these feeders when I placed them atop a given surface in my garden. And, as I've stated in my past entries here on HT, it seems that the wild birds which visit my garden are not ones who like to perch while they are eating.
In this post I will cover my visiting birds' reactions to my first "peanut feeder." This feeder is also advertised as a hanging feeder but the difference with this one is it had a tray beneath it. The tray was designed to catch seeds as well as provide a place for birds to sit.
As was the case with my Droll tube, dome and FAUNA HOUSE, at the time, the only place I had to hang the peanut-feeder was from a bracket which is adhered to a wall close to the door leading from my apartment to my garden, and that location is a bit too close for my visiting birds' comfort level, as you might surmise from photo-one and photo-two in the series of images accompanying this post.
This time when I placed yet another feeder atop a table in my garden (to make it easier for visiting birds to access), we were in the month of October and my visiting Halloween Jack-O-Lantern, got a big laugh out of the situation! Was he laughing at how amusing my visiting birds' antics can be?
OR was he laughing at yours truly's attempts to accommodate visiting wild birds? (Check out images three though eight below showing my amused Jack-O-Lantern getting his jollies observing the mourning doves and a lone tufted titmouse, and let me know your answer to this question)!
The house finches preferred not to eat under the scrutiny of "The Jack" as evidenced in images nine and ten!
BTW, one problem with placing a light-weighted bird-feeder atop a garden surface as I have done with the feeders discussed in parts one through three of these series as well as the peanut feeder which I am discussing here, is that it can blow over in high winds!
It was in my prep for Hurricane Sandy that I devised a way to secure the feeder during a storm, which is a time a bird needs the feeder if he/she has not gotten out of town for inclement weather.
My strategy was to "secure" the feeders under a plant holder (formerly a fire-place fixture) which under normal weather conditions is atop a ledge at the north end of my garden. The result can be seen in images eleven through eighteen.
After the hurricane passed I had to place the feeder on the garden's floor as a nor'easter hit NYC! Some of my birds' reaction my feeder placement can be seen in images nineteen through twenty-one.
Thankfully, neither Hurricane Sandy, nor the nor'easter, damaged the array of "flora" in my garden! And it seems that my visiting birds (as far as I know) were not harmed by the aforementioned weather storms.
Once all indication of inclement weather passed, I placed the peanut-feeder atop a plant stand, and I was thrilled to see my doing so brought forth a chickadee! (Images 22-24,) And thankfully. most of my usual "cast of characters" returned to nosh as well. (Images 25-28.) Additionally a camera-shy downy woodpecker checked out the situation (Images 29-30.)
Having the peanut-feeder atop the plant stand worked well in the winter too, as a common grackle was quick to discover and he/she stared at house finches to "learn" how to eat from this feeder! (Images 31-34).
Ultimately in the winter, the peanut-feeder had to be "secured" with my "fire-place" planter in the same manner that I had used for Hurricane Sandy, and a number of dark-eyed juncoes enjoyed themselves, including the one featured in the final image of this posting!
In a weak moment, I gave my peanut-feeder to a woman that works at my parish as she expressed interest in having it! I even filled it with the favorite seeds of wild birds! But, alas, when they had eaten everything, she refused to replenish it, saying the birds made too much of a mess, but she wanted to keep the feeder for decoration!
This brings me to the conclusion of part four with more to come on my feeder saga! Please stay tuned for a few more bird-feeder follow ups before I move on to other topics!
Female Finch at Peanut Feeder: This image appeared in a post (October 2012) on TLLG's Blogger Pages @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2012/10/if-its-tuesday-it-must-be-tumblr-week_9391.html
Male Finch at Peanut Feeder: This image appeared in a post (November 2012) on TLLG's Blogger Pages @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2012/11/god-gives-every-bird-its-food-but-he.html
A Jack-O-Lantern visiting for Halloween gets a laugh when it comes to birds at "their" feeders (especially mourning doves)! INFO ON MOURNING DOVES @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/search/label/Mourning%20Doves
Mourning Doves were the first responders to the peanut-feeder when it was atop the table (View One). And my Halloween Visitor got a big laugh! INFO ON MOURNING DOVES @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/search/label/Mourning%20Doves
Mourning Doves were the first responders to the peanut-feeder when it was atop the table (View One). This image appeared in a post (October 2012) on TLLG's Blogger Pages @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2012/10/at-my-jack-o-lantern
Mourning Doves were the first responders to the peanut-feeder when it was atop the table (View Three).
INFO ON MOURNING DOVES @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/search/label/Mourning%20Doves
A visiting Jack-O-Lantern appeared to enjoy watching the sweet tuft titmouse nosh from the peanut feeder as much as I did! DETALS RE THIS SWEET BIRD @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/search/label/Tufted%20Titmouse
Tuft Titmouse Enjoys A Game of PEEK-A-BOO with a visiting Jack-O-Lantern! Image included in posts on TLLG's Blogger Pages including one @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/01/another-year-over-and-new-one-just_18.html
A lone female (and shy) house finch preferred to nosh when she was not under the scrutiny of "the Jack." Image featured in a post on Blogger @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2012/10/if-its-tuesday-it-must-be-tumblr-week_9391.html#m
Male Finches like their female comrade preferred to nosh when she was not under the scrutiny of "the Jack." Image featured in a post on Blogger @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2012/10/if-its-tuesday-it-must-be-tumblr-week_9391.htm
The house finches acclimated quickly to the feeder's "storm" locale. This picture was featured in a November 2012 post on Blogger @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2012/11/god-gives-every-bird-its-food-but-he.html
Mourning Doves also acclimated quickly to the feeder's "storm" locale. INFO ON THIS RESILIENT BIRD IS @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/search/label/Mourning%20Doves
Eventually the mourning doves and house finches broke bread together at the feeder's storm locale. View One. This picture was featured in a November 2012 post on Blogger @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2012/11/god-gives-every-bird
Eventually the mourning doves and house finches broke bread together at the feeder's storm locale. View Two. INFO ON FINCHES @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/search/label/Finches AND INFO ON MOURNING DOVES @ http://www.thelastleafg
Mac enjoys a snack from my feeding arrangement! This picture was featured in an entry (November 2012) on Blogger @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2012/11/thoughts-for-all-souls-day.html
This image was included in a November post within TLLG's Blogger Pages @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2012/11/thank-god-its-friday-tgif-and-for-many.html
As seen on TLLG's FB Page @ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=428722647177114&set=pb.247917655257615.-2207520000.1373216251.&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Fsphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ash3%2F390140_428722647177114_791008265_n.jpg&
Bluejays do ballet? INFO on this AMAZING BIRD @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/search/label/Blue%20Jays
Feeder Placement Allows Male Finches nosh during nor' easter! Image with narrative on TLLG's Blogger Pages (November 2012) @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2012/11/god-gives-every-bird-its-food-but-he.html
Feeder Placement Allows a lone bluejay to nosh during nor' easter! Image with narrative on TLLG's Blogger Pages (January 2013) @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/01/another-year-over-and-new-one-just_19.html
A resilient bluejay break bread together her at my feeder during nor'easter!
INFO ON BLUEJAYS @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/search/label/Blue%20Jays AND INFO ON MOURNING DOVES @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/search/label/M
This image of a chickadee was included in a post within TLLG's Blogger Pages (January 2013) @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/01/another-year-over-and-new-one-just_17.html
This image of a chickadee was included in a tribute to Starr Saphir (View One) @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/04/thinking-of-starr-saphir.html
This image of a chickadee was included in a tribute to Starr Saphir (View Two) @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/04/thinking-of-starr-saphir.html
The chickadee broke bread with a male house finch @ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=433488633367182&set=pb.247917655257615.-2207520000.1373216251.&type=3&theater
A house finch tries to make peace (center) between two other finches having a heated discussion! INFO on house finches @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/search/label/Finches AS WELL AS @ http://thelastleafgardener.tumblr.com/search/
A mourning dove bids a finch good-bye as she leaves the feeder @ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=433508286698550&set=pb.247917655257615.-2207520000.1373216251.&type=3&theater
I thought he/she was a hairy woodpecker at the time! I've since found out the true identity! VIEW ONE. He/she's a DOWNY @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/06/mistaken-identity-no-2.html
I thought he/she was a hairy woodpecker at the time! I've since found out the true identity! VIEW TWO. He/she's a DOWNY @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/06/mistaken-identity-no-2.html
Common Grackle Learns to "USE" Feeder by Observing Male House Finch! (View One.) Image seen @ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=459778524071526&set=pb.247917655257615.-2207520000.1373216234.&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos
Common Grackle Learns to "USE" Feeder by Observing Male House Finch! (View Two) Image Featured @ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=459778524071526&set=pb.247917655257615.-2207520000.1373216234.&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sp
Common Grackle relishes hi/her find from the peanut feeder! Details on this bird are @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/search/label/Common%20Grackle
White-Breasted Sparrow Discovers the Peanut-Feeer as a Lone Male House Finch is Quick to Observe @ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=467016170014428&set=pb.247917655257615.-2207520000.1373216234.&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sp
Info on the very sweet dark-eyed junco, the variety of bird pictured here is @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/03/waiting-for-spring.html
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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3 comments
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ive not had much luck with my peanut feeder, i will try to put mine on a table and see if it gets more visitors...:)
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absolutely fabulous pictures of birds!
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