question for u smart people

[mnguy152]

I just started feeding this year i have sunflower seeds out and thistle. It seems that the thistle isnt getting touched at all any more. isit becuase they change to something diffent . it seams like i still have the same birds around.

[IcePro]

How old is the thistle. If the thistle is old for some reason my feeders do not attract as many birds.

[eyeguy 54]

I use only oil sunflower year round in all the feeders. I put a thistle sock out if the red polls come in the winter. I keep 2 or 3 suet feeders up also. Nectar for those that like it. Hummers were here for a few days in May and none since. Strange. Finches and Orioles and Chickadees love the nectar. Used to always have the thistle out but rarely did it get used.

[Dotch]

Depends on the year, time of year and what happens to be around here. I have 3 thistle feeders. One screen and one tube feeder are getting hit on by the goldfinches, and one screen feeder is not. Earlier in the year goldfinches were cleaning them out daily then suddenly slowed to a snail's pace. Recently their activity has picked up again. Over the winter there were lots of redpolls and thistle was their seed of choice here. Most winters we don't see many redpolls but we routinely have large groups of goldfinches that eat sunflower and thistle seed. The sunflower is universally accepted by our seed consuming birds. However we have a population of house sparrows that seem to think it's fun to monopolize and empty the sunflower feeders so they can eat it off the ground. I make sure the thistle remains part of the equation and snuff as many house sparrows as I can.

[Susieq]

I have thistle which went untouched for quite awhile and now the finches are abundant! I had suet for the woodpeckers but that really attracted the grackles and cowbirds. I have nectar for the hummingbirds and orioles. I only see a hummingbird once in awhile but not like last year. Still quite a few orioles though.

I also have sunflower seeds that the grosbeaks and nuthatches eat.

[h8go4s]

Thistle seed will go rancid and the birds won't touch it. Clean the feeder out and put fresh seed in it and they'll be back.

[IA4PATS]

Their natural food is strong right now. I have had a lot of luck with peanut rejects.

[mnguy152]

ok i did that month ago with dump out the old seed and put in new. I do have sunflower out with and a song bird mix in the other but no millet. thanks for the help.

[eyeguy 54]

good luck!

[boxcar]

WHATS GOING ON WITH BIRD FEEDER I FILLED IT AND HAVEN'T SEEN A BIRD IN IT THERE WAS Alot of BIRDS BEFORE OR DURING THE HIGH DEW POINTS.DID THEY LEAVE TO A COOLER AREA,WHERE DID THEY GO?

BAT