Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Backyard Birding => Topic started by: Andreas Jonsson on October 13, 2010, 03:36:50 PM

Title: Where to buy feeders and seed?
Post by: Andreas Jonsson on October 13, 2010, 03:36:50 PM: Hi,

I haven't been following the discussing in here, so I apologize if this has been asked before. I had a quick look and couldn't find anything

So, I live near Trinity Bellwoods Park, and I want to get my hands on some bird seed (and nuts and stuff like that) and a feeder or two (as squirrel proof as possible). I don't drive, so I am hoping these things can be found somewhere accessible by bike or public transit. Any advice would be very appreciated. Thanks.
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Post by: DarylG on October 13, 2010, 07:11:51 PM: You can get on the Dundas St. streetcar and go to Dundas and Bay to the Canadian Tire store and they should have bird seed and feeders. If you buy $100 worth of product they will deliver in TO for $10.

Daryl G.
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Post by: jayzie1 on October 13, 2010, 08:31:20 PM: I'd avoid Canadian Tire for feeders and seed - neither will be of particularly good quality and certainly not squirrel proof.

You can go to either the Urban Nature Store or Wild Birds Unlimited (locations throughout the city) to buy something along the lines of the Squirrel Buster Plus (which I use to good success in my squirrel infested backyard). They both also sell good quality seed and are very knowledgeable about bird feeding.

http://maps.wbu.com/find.php

http://www.urbannaturestore.ca/shop/pc/viewContent.asp?idpage=2
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Post by: Andreas Jonsson on October 14, 2010, 02:14:39 AM: Thanks for the advice. The Urban Nature Store and the Wild Birds Unlimited stores look great, however, I was hoping for something a little closer to downtown. Did anybody hear about the "Birders Nature Store" west of High Park on Bloor St.? They don't appear to have a web site.

Thanks for the tip on the Squirrel Buster!
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Post by: Leslie on October 14, 2010, 02:17:54 PM: Hi Andreas,

I just dropped in to Global Pet Foods, 2100 Bloor Street West (N side of Bloor between High Park & Runnymede subway stations on the Bloor line).
They have Nyger seed, white millet seed, & other (A helpful sales clerk told me, but I wan't paying attention.). Also bird feeders for Nyger seed, suet feeders, hummingbird feeders, & others. Some of the packages looked a little large, (not huge, just a little large) so consider bringing a backpack or plan to work your upper arms on the subway.
Half the store used to be devoted to birds, but I guess we dog owners (& some cat owners, but I won't mention cat owners on a birding site) have taken over most of their territory. There's a possibility this is the Birder's Nature Store you referred to.
Ph 416-604-9272 if you want to call before you set out. Open 9-9 except Saturday 9-6 & Sunday 11-5. No web site listed.

Hope this helps,

Leslie
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Post by: Andreas Jonsson on October 14, 2010, 02:29:14 PM: Thanks Leslie. Yes, 2100 Bloor St, that rings a bell, probably same place I was referred to.
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Post by: Axeman on October 14, 2010, 02:29:25 PM: I use the PC brand of wild bird seed...and it really attracts a large and varied crowd...
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Post by: jayzie1 on October 15, 2010, 10:59:02 PM: Lee Valley Tools carries the Squirrel Buster Plus feeders and they have a location downtown at King & Portland.

If you ever find yourself at the Brickworks, the "garden centre" there sells bird seed in bulk (organic nyjer, black oil sunflower and their own blend).
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Post by: Andreas Jonsson on October 17, 2010, 05:43:07 PM: Thanks again for the advice. I have purchased a Squirrel buster mini ($100 for the buster plus is too expensive for me), some cylindrical metal feeders for nuts and some squirrel baffles, and lots of seeds. Now the fun starts. I still have to figure out how hang these things up though. I'm thinking about using fishing line or steel wire to hang the feeders below branches or between trunks. I already lost a few "nut-balls" (hehe, that's the most descriptive word I can think of) to the squirrels--they gnawed off the thin cotton ropes that I hanged them in. Any body tried fishing lines?
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Post by: Andreas Jonsson on October 18, 2010, 01:10:48 AM: These guys are clever!

http://www.maniacworld.com/squirrel-obs ... ourse.html (http://www.maniacworld.com/squirrel-obstacle-course.html)
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Post by: birderinontario on October 25, 2010, 09:50:24 PM: I go straight to birdfeeders.com They ship quick and usually cost free and they have a TON of stuff to choose from. I've had a couple of bags of seed come back opened up inside, and sent an email to let them know. They offered to send some new seed, which I declined (I could still use all of it, it was just everywhere!) Anyways, they are really nice and FAST
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Post by: Andreas Jonsson on November 03, 2010, 02:00:04 AM: "Birdfeeders.com ships to the contiguous 48 connecting states as well as to Alaska, Puerto Rico and Hawaii". How did you manage get them to ship to Canada?
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Post by: Matthew Strimas-Mackey on November 03, 2010, 10:59:16 AM: @Andreas: It does say Indiana for his location. This does beg the question, why is his nickname birderinontario?
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Post by: Andreas Jonsson on November 03, 2010, 12:27:41 PM: Thanks Matthew. I've resorted to buying seeds from Canadian Tire. They don't have a good assortment of squirrel proof feeders though, so I am looking for an online store, where shipping wouldn't be too expensive.
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Post by: Brian Bailey on November 03, 2010, 12:54:43 PM: Quote from: "Andreas Jonsson"
... I still have to figure out how hang these things up though. I'm thinking about using fishing line or steel wire to hang the feeders below branches or between trunks...

I'm a bit late to the conversation, but I would not recommend fishing line unless it's the really heavy duty steel trolling line. I think anything less than steel wire will be quickly destroyed. I have had squirrels chew through aluminum flashing to make a nest hole. They're not always the brightest creatures, but they're persistent and chewing things is high on their list of strategies.

BB
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Post by: Andreas Jonsson on November 03, 2010, 01:41:49 PM: Yes Brian, I've noticed fishing lines are not thick enough (at least not my 40 lb variety). The squirrels have cut them on several occasions. I also tried aluminium wire, but it is too soft, as you say. Steel wire might do it, but it is very in flexible, and so not easy to throw over branches. Maybe a thin metal chain would do it, but I need the wire/chain too slide fairly frictionless over the branch, since I pull the feeders down and up when refilling seeds.
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Post by: bluejay55 on November 03, 2010, 03:16:38 PM: Have you tried a small bungee cord. I have quite a bit of luck with these. Hooks on each end. Worth a try.
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Post by: Andreas Jonsson on November 03, 2010, 03:40:26 PM: Thanks for the tip. Haven't tried that. But the squirrels will be quite able to climb those, wont they?