Backyard Birds

[CrappieJohn]

Rennenberg...I don't know if that will work on sqirrels...I usually give them a high-velocity leaded headache. Jim...You may have an albino of some sort or a snow bunting, but I not sure whether they frequent feeders. They are found along road shoulders and gravel roadways and most of the time have some dark on them. Renn...we still need to hit the water some day, but me thinks it has to warm up a little first. I haven't forgot ya bud!

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Plastics...making better fishermen without bait! Good Fishing Guys! CrappieTom
[email protected]

[deadeye]

I am not much of a bird feeder but I can say that the story i saw about gray jays makes me laugh. I was up in the b-dub a few weeks ago on a fishing trip and we ran into a bunch of them. I have a couple of pictures of them, one with the bird standing on top of my head eating a bread crumb and another eating some bread out of my hand. they were super nice and good company in the wilderness.
><>deadeye

[ladylikestofish]

I feed the birds AND the squirrels. As a matter of fact, I have a squirrel feeder in my front yard; the little critters come ever morning to fill up on the sunflower seeds I put in there. Why does everyone hate the squirrels? I haven't ever understood that.

[MT Net]

Squirrells are our dog's favorite playmate. The dog chases the squirrells off the deck bird feeders, then the squirrels taunt him on the cedar fence. Both have fun and get plenty of exercise. When he has one squirrel treed, another squirrel scurries back to the feeder, kind of a tag team match. LOL

[MT Net]

Jim W,
In theMinnesota Volunteer, they have an article on the snow bunting. Could this be the bird?

[MT Net]

Jim W,
In theMinnesota Volunteer, they have an article on the snow bunting. Could this be the bird?

[Daze Off]

I wish I could figure out where all our birds went - up until snow fell we had nuthatches, sparrows of various kinds, blue jays, cardinals, chickadees, etc. on our regular feeder, thistle feeder and sunflower seed feeder and woodpeckers on the suet but nothing for the last month or two except the occasional woodpecker.

Any suggestions on what happened? We live in the outer NW Metro.

[DARK30]

I've noticed a drop in the frequency of certain ones....mostly the Cardinals. Sadly, There are less and less song birds around these days and a lot more of other species including the English sparrow. I'm not a big birding whiz but I would venture to say that some of the native birds are in big trouble. Habitat alterations, Invasive species, and Predators aren't helping the little guys at all!Maybe its got to do with the weather too...Its another easy winter for them so maybe they just aren't concentrated near food sources as much.

This year for the first time, I have a high count of sparrows and it seems they take over an area.

Ladylikestofish, I like the squirrels too. I got a bunch of big fat grays and a few reds. I just have to thin them out once in a while.

Hey Jim, Could it have been a little Pelican?

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cast,cast,cast,cast......

[This message has been edited by DARK30 (edited 01-15-2004).]

[MT Net]

Cats. they're all over, always killing the birds. We had some nice green tall plants around our birdbath. Watched a cat jump up and nab one. Only wish I had my pellet gun.

[Jim W]

MT,

I didn't see the bird so I will have to send this to my wife.

I am familiar with buntings, but never thought they would be this far south, feeding on a feeder.

Thanks!!

Jim W

[woodyjdh]

I too feed the birds. As the wife has a daycare, it is an added bonus to them when they see different birds at the feeders. Too much junk on TV, and this will hopefully get them a little more interested in nature. Earlier this fall, I had filled one tube with mixed birdseed, and the other with Sunflower seed. The mixed when immediately, I almost couldn't keep up with the lil buggers. Then sometime in Dec. they switched over to the Sunflower seed (black)and now I can't hardly keep up with them on that! They don't even touch the mixed. Mostly I have nuthatches and chickadees, don't have a problem with the squirrels. Speaking of them...on KARE11 the other night they showed a new toy for them called a "SQUNGEE". Someone in the TC's came up with it. And like the name sounds it is a bungee cord for squirrels with corn cobs on the end. They pretty much leave the feeders alone. But my dad will always stick to his favorite squirrel feeder...one of those high dollar German made pellet guns. I too have seen the video of the pigeon thrower rigged with a squirrel feeding on it. Was pretty funny.

[Renneberg]

Now here is a pic of the flying squirrles that come to my backyard.

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"Study to be quiet"

[This message has been edited by Renneberg (edited 01-27-2004).]

[woodyjdh]

Thanks! I never actually seen any flying squirrels. I don't have enough trees here to have hardly any squirrels at all.

[This message has been edited by woodyjdh (edited 01-27-2004).]

[Renneberg]

Now I got it.

[ladylikestofish]

I asked the lady from the Lowry Nature Center (she's now retired, but a GREAT source of info!) why I haven't seen flying squirrels around my home (in the west Metro) like I do when I visit my sister in Fargo (she has red squirrels, gray squirrels, AND flying squirrels). She said she thinks it's due to our healthy owl population.
I only have gray squirrels; my parents, only five miles away, however, have some big, fat, healthy fox squirrels that are fun to watch.

[Renneberg]

I live in the west metro and see a ton of flying squirrels. Their out there every night. We don't get many fox squirrels or red squirrels.

[M.T. Bucket]

Think some of you guys have squirrel problems? I have 6 gray squirrels on my deck every morning--which is fine. My wife took to giving them corn and peanuts--which is fine. When she started giving them mixed nuts and expensive, locally made granola , I got a chip on my shoulder about squirrels. Such matters have been rationally discussed and the squirrels enjoy a slightly more modest diet as of late

I know it's cold out there, but I have a hard time feeling sorry for a corpulent rodent that eats better than I do most days...

The only birds I get in the winter are chickadees and pigeons

[fishface5]

Is there anything I could put out to attract flying squirls? I have Red and White oaks in my yard. I put out sunflower seeds, suet, thistle, and whole corn (on the ground). Tons of grays but thats all I've noticed. Could I just not be noticeing them? Do they come out at dusk, or just after dark? I live in Big Lake, I would think they'd be around.

[Mark Christianson]

I am curious about these flying squirrels too. I live in Big Lake as well, and I have grey squirrels coming out of my ears.
I have never seen a flying squirrel.

[Renneberg]

Flying squirrels are night time animals. We have a feeder that is on a tree for them. They will come down the tree to the feeder at night. They only seem to like black sunflower seeds. We fill the feeder after sunset. That way we know the flying squirrels are getting more of the food then the grays.

They seem to not fear people because we get close enofe to grap one.

If you have a feeder on a tree you may already have flying squirrels just never noticed them before.

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"Study to be quiet"

[fishface5]

Do they come out at a certain time? Just after dark, etc.? I've had dark Sunflower seeds out for a long time but they are in a hanging tube feeder with a metal cage around it, and a metal feeder. I don't think they could get into it. The grays can't, partly due to thier wieght, and partly due to the slippery metal surface. I'll put one out that is easyer for them to get at. Do you see them in the winter, or do they hibernate, like chipmunks?

[Renneberg]

I see them all winter and all night. One night during the summer I stayed outside until midnight and counted over 20 squirrels that landed on the tree.

The feeder I have is called a Munch 'N View squirrel feeder. You nail it to the tree. Ours is about eye level.

[fishface5]

Thank you for the help. I put a small feeder on the Red oak that is less than ten yards from the kitchen window. I hope it doesn't take them long to find it. I like the one you have pictured. Do you need to have them a certain hight?

[Mark Christianson]

Does a snare work?

I just can't believe these things are around. I honestly have never heard of them around here. I better get to the saw, and make some squirrel houses.
I never thought I would say that.

FF5,
I bet I get pics of a flying squirrel before you!!!!!

[fishface5]

Yea, but I only go for trophys! Ready set go.