Hello From Sarnia!!

[BackyardSarnia]

Hey everyone!

Brand new here at the forum, and a also a brand new bird watcher.  I've always thought birds were interesting but never really took the time to pay closer attention to them.  This spring, I decided that I'd buy a bird feeder and get started.  I work at our local Lowe's store, so on break one day I went down the seasonal aisle and picked out a Squirrel Buster Classic.  Seemed like a decent, midrange (price wise) feeder and also a bag of wild bird mix.  Got home that day and hung the feeder on my tree in the back yard.  Within a few days I was seeing sparrows, House Finches, Dark Eyed Juncos, and some Common Grackles.  

As a person brand new to the hobby, I had no way of identifying birds I didn't already know so I downloaded an app that has been of great assistance.  I'm learning a great deal about what birds are around my ne k of the woods and am looking forward to seeing several new birds at the feeder.

Was wondering what you guys think of the feeder I purchased?  Do any of you have the same feeder?  Thoughts?  Also, is the wild bird mix a suitable feed or is there something a little better that I could offer?

Also, if anyone here is in Sarnia, I'd love to exchange emails and perhaps meet for coffee -- I really want to learn all I can.

Lastly, at work the back of our building backs onto hiway 402.  There are loads of Killdeer back there as well as Red Winged Black Birds.  Lots of Common Grackles in our garden center too.

Cheers, and thanks for having me!

BYS

[winz]

Welcome to the forum BYS.
I have had a similar product for a number of years and found that it works very well for keeping the squirrels at bay.  I use black oil sunflower seeds, and have had lots of House Sparrow, House Finch, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, European Starling, Common Grackle, Blue Jay and even Downy Woodpecker feeding from it.  I have never had any Dark-eyed Junco feed from it, they usually feed on the ground.

** forgot.. I've also had Common Redpoll feeding from it a few years ago when the was an irruption.

[BackyardSarnia]

Hey Winz!

I've noticed that the Dark Eyed Juncos eat from the ground too, they pick spilled and/or discarded seed from below the feeder.  It would seem that the Grackles do the same.

I have seen a pair of Cardinals in my bushes around the feeder, but not eating at or below it.

I've been considering hanging a second feeder filled with the black sunflower seed to see if perhaps that might be a little more appealing to some other birds.  Any thoughts on this?

--BYS

[winz]

If there is Black Oil Sunflower seeds, trust me the Cardinals will come out for it.  I usually have mixed seeds on the ground and the sunflower seeds in the tube feeder.

[BackyardSarnia]

I this it's decided then -- I'm going to get another feeder and strictly offer oiled sunflower seeds in it.

Thanks for the advice.

--BYS.

[Pat Hodgson]

I have had this feeder for a few years and have found it to be excellent.  It is well made and durable.  Mine comes under considerable assault from squirrels and they have never truly beaten it.  Occasionally a squirrel is able to make a crazy leap on to it, in this event a few seeds will spill on the ground from the hit, but the squirrels don't seem to learn to do this over and over, they keep trying to get in, which they absolutely cannot while they hang from it.  If it is not well attached, they will knock it to the ground, mine got a bit dinged up from that once or twice but that is more the fault of the way I hang it than the feeder itself, which has done well to survive a few of these impacts.  So do try to hang it where the squirrels cannot jump on to it.  Birds as big as hairy woodpeckers and blue jays can use it, a bit awkwardly, without the mechanism closing.

The seed mixes often include some things that few birds like, or tend to attract more nuisance species like starlings.  I use sunflower seeds in the main feeder.  I get the hulled ones since using normal seeds leaves much more mess on the ground, but they are more expensive and I get them more due to conditions in my yard than what the birds need.  For a second feeder I would recommend a thistle/niger seed feeder.  This is much preferred by finches.  And on that note, are you sure about seeing lots of purple finches?  In most urban or suburban situations they would be absent or dominated in number by house finches.

[winz]

 And on that note, are you sure about seeing lots of purple finches?  In most urban or suburban situations they would be absent or dominated in number by house finches.

Hi Pat, BYS did not indicate that he had any Purple Finch at his feeder.  I mentioned that I have had Purple Finch at my feeder here in Mississauga.  Actually the first ones that I have seen, arrived early November last year.  Six one day and two the next, none since.

[Pat Hodgson]

oops, you are correct, obviously

[BackyardSarnia]

Hey Pat --

Winz cleared that up.  No Purple Finches here, just some lovely house House Finches.  So nice to look at.

I agree with your review of the Squirrel Buster Classic.  I've watched a few squirrels attempt to 'break in' with no luck.  They often wind up wagging their tails in frustration and clearing up the mess underneath my feeder which I don't mind at all -- they have to eat too.

I ran out to Lowe's today and bought a Squirrel Buster Mini which I filled with shelled sunflower seeds and upon your recommendation, I bought a thistle tube style feeder and loaded it with nyjer seed.  I'll continue to load the Classic with a wild bird mix, and am hoping that I'll see a little more variety of our feathered friends by offering some specific choices.

I'll keep you guys posted regarding my two new feeders and will figure out how to upload some pictures.

--BYS

[BackyardSarnia]

Been keeping an eye on the two new feeders that I hung yesterday and have noticed that the House Finches are really attracted to the sunflower seeds and are ignoring the nyjer seed I'm offering.  They even stay away from the classic filled with mix and head straight for the sunflower seeds.  I'm sure some birds will be into the nyjer seed, I'll just have to wait and see who shows up!  Haven't seen any Gold Finches as of yet -- not sure if it's too early?  

Also, Pat -- you mentioned that some squirrels managed to get your feeder off and onto the ground.  I've zip-tied a stainless steel snap hook to the steel hanger that's screwed into my tree.  I just need to do the other two (forgot to pick a couple up yesterday).  The instructions that came with the Classic recommended doing it.  I've a large squirrel population around here and have watched a few of them try to get into the feeder but it works as advertised, that's for sure.

I'll keep you posted on the new feeders, I'm really hoping to get some cardinals shortly.

--BYS

[BackyardSarnia]

Little action on my feeders today, mind you the weather was really bad.  I usually start work  at 0500 so my lunch is around 0900 or so.  Saw some Sparrows on the classic with mixed seed during lunch and after work around 1400.  Other than that it's been pretty calm.

--BYS

[BackyardSarnia]

WOO!  Finally saw some American Gold Finches on  my nyjer seed feeder today!!

[Walter Fisher]

Here's a summary of what I've had come to my various feeders over this past winter here in the east end of Toronto...

Squirrel Buster 'Plus' (x2) filled with black oil sunflower seed
Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, European Starlings, Northern Cardinals, House Finches, American Goldfinches, and House Sparrows

Squirrel Buster 'Classic' filled with black oil sunflower seed
Downy Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Northern Cardinals, House Finches, American Goldfinches, and House Sparrows

Squirrel Buster 'Peanut' filled with shelled peanuts
Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, White-breasted Nuthatches, European Starlings, House Sparrows, and a brief visit by a Baltimore Oriole

Suet feeder (x3) filled with 'Sweet Apple' and 'Raisin Crunch' suet cakes
Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, White-breasted Nuthatches, European Starlings, House Sparrows, and a Baltimore Oriole (18 days in Dec/Jan)!

Homemade tube feeder filled with mixed songbird seed
Black-capped Chickadees

Nyjer feeder (x2) filled with nyjer seed
Not a single bird this winter!

On the ground for cleanup
Rock Pigeons, Mourning Dove, American Robins, European Starlings, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Juncos, Northern Cardinals, and House Sparrows

Happy birding!
Walter

[BackyardSarnia]

Hey Walter,

  That's a pretty impressive list.

   It took about five days or so after I hung the thistle feeder in order for the American Gold Finches to find it.  Now, anytime you look out my 5' back patio sliding door, that feeder is covered in them.  I've taken some pics and I'll upload them.

  My classic sees mostly house, song and tree sparrows although I swear the other day I saw a Chipping Sparrow but can't be 100% on that.  I've had a Downy Woodpecker come visit the classic too which was nice to see.  

  I have a third feeder which I keep filled with shelled sunflower seeds.  This one sees a lot of House Finches.  I think I've seen a few Purple Finches here and there but I'm still kind of new to the bird game so I can't be for sure although, given the amount of American Gold Finches I see on my thistle feeder it wouldn't surprise me if they were around and visiting.  I see a few Black-capped Chikadees here and there too but not as many as I thought would come around - maybe later in the spring?


  Surprisingly, I've yet to see any Cardinals or Blue Jays eating at any of my feeders.  I had a pair of Cardinals a while back but they stayed in the bushes near the feeders and never visited.  

  On the ground cleaning up I have: Common Grackles, Red Winged Black Birds, Brown Headed Cowbirds, Dark Eyed Juncos and Mourning Doves.  

--BYS

[BackyardSarnia]