Trying my hand at a bird feeder

[clovishound]

Here's a Carolina Chickadee waiting for me to get further away from the feeder before going for the goodies.

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[markiver54]

Great shots!

[clovishound]

This cardinal, or one just like her, seems to hang around a lot.

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[markiver54]

You are getting some Audubon quality pics!

[clovishound]

Another update.

Well the squirrels are beginning to be a problem. There is one female who has managed to get herself pregnant. I'm pretty sure she isn't married. Anyway she has figured out how to get to the feeder, even with a few makeshift baffles in place. She no longer fears the "Henry" word.

I put up a suet block and now have a downy woodpecker visiting often. Even had a hummingbird come to look at the red plates I was using for baffles.

I may have to invest in a "squirrel proof" feeder.

[clovishound]

Well, got the squirrel resistant feeder. So far it seems to be working. Here's one trying to make his way down the wire to the goodies, and wondering what the heck is going on. Probably just a matter of time until they figure out the work around.

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[Cowboy Gun Fan]

We feed the birds with sunflower seeds daily. After many experiments through the years, we eventually produced a way to feed the birds without any squirrels interfering. But lately we are having a racoon problem. Only shows up at night, never get to see him. Instead of filling the special feeder once a week, I've been just giving enough for the birds to get through the day. This way the raccoon gets very little and is getting discouraged.

We have humming bird feeders as well. Interesting little fellers.

[BrokenolMarine]

I am really enjoying your photo album. As for your squirrel issues, you could go with a pump type pellet rifle. The more (or less) you pump, controls how hard it hits. You can sting them every time they appear, or put them on the "permanent trespassed" list. It's been a while for me, but I am thinking of adding a 177 or 22 back to our collection.

[cooperhawk]

I feed the birdies a lot of the time but twice I've had bears tear down my feeders and destroy them.
We normally don't have bears in this area but once in a while.

[clovishound]

I am really enjoying your photo album. As for your squirrel issues, you could go with a pump type pellet rifle. The more (or less) you pump, controls how hard it hits. You can sting them every time they appear, or put them on the "permanent trespassed" list. It's been a while for me, but I am thinking of adding a 177 or 22 back to our collection.

As much as I might like to thin the population of tree rats, I don't think it would be too smart where I live. It is a typical suburban neighborhood, with houses on all sides, and behind me. I actually have 6 houses that border my property. I'd rather deal with a few freeloaders than have a stray pellet hit someone's precious Fifi, or, heaven forbid, little Johnny. I'm a decent shot, and it would be a rather short distance shot, but stuff happens.

If I lived in the boonies, I'd be having squirrel perloo for lunch.

[BrokenolMarine]

I didn't know your layout... Thought perhaps you had a fence. When I worked with fish and game, believe it or not, in your position, two words: paintball gun.


But seriously... If they get a bear to leave your back yard...
They might deter a few squirrels. Plus, if you get pink paintballs, they'll embarrass them with the other squirrels.

[clovishound]

I do have a fence, but one side is a chainlink. Irregardless, I don't know a couple of the neighbors well enough to know whether they would call the police if they saw me shooting some type of rifle in the back yard. Not worth the hassles. Plus, I tend to regard modern air rifles as a firearm, and treat them with the same rules. I wouldn't have an issue with a neighbor responsibly shooting a low powered air rifle in their back yard, but I will err on the side of caution.

I like the idea of a paint ball. I wonder if they make hot sauce paintballs?

[markiver54]

I like the idea of a paint ball. I wonder if they make hot sauce paintballs?

Now there's a thought!

[clovishound]

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So, Gladys, I'm not one to gossip, but have you heard the latest about Lavinia?

[BrokenolMarine]

I do have a fence, but one side is a chainlink. Irregardless, I don't know a couple of the neighbors well enough to know whether they would call the police if they saw me shooting some type of rifle in the back yard. Not worth the hassles. Plus, I tend to regard modern air rifles as a firearm, and treat them with the same rules. I wouldn't have an issue with a neighbor responsibly shooting a low powered air rifle in their back yard, but I will err on the side of caution.

I like the idea of a paint ball. I wonder if they make hot sauce paintballs?

They make pepper spray paint balls...

... but I don't know if they are available to the general public.
I know that they are nasty.
(Well, they were years ago when "I" was working in patrol operations, but we were driving dinosaurs for patrol.)

[BrokenolMarine]

Well, here is the answer:

Can Civilians shoot pepper spray paint balls?

NON LETHAL SELF DEFENSE: The PepperBall TCP is designed to defend lives, while saving lives. USED AROUND THE WORLD: For over 20 years, PepperBall has been the choice of leading law enforcement agencies and the military. Now civilians can have that same level of quality and experience.

[clovishound]

I am really enjoying your photo album.

You asked for it. Wife was unlikely to need me for a while, and there was a house finch perched on the feeder. Thought I'd try my hand at sitting quietly near the feeder and see if I could get some closer ups.

Finch didn't like me near, but with some patience, a Carolina Chickadee and a tufted titmouse showed up and didn't seem to mind my presence too much.

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After a few minutes a downy woodpecker came up and sat on a branch eyeing me.

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Finally, he decided I wasn't that much of a threat and landed on the suet block.

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[BrokenolMarine]

I loved sitting in the flower garden in VA and waiting. Now I'd have to wait for Tina to help me up.

[clovishound]

Here's a red bellied woodpecker trying to decide whether or not to brave the crazy photographer and snack on the suet block

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The bluebird never did get the courage to approach the feeder.

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[North Country Gal]

Hey, just to remind you. I am REALLY enjoying all the bird pics. Fantastic.