Every winter I go through tons of bird seed as my feeders are always loaded full of birds. This year I have gone through a very limited amount of seed and the bird count is considerably less than years prior. This morning I have yet to see even a chickadee. Anyone else notice this?
Where did all the birds go?
- Thread starter moosehead
- Start date
G
G
Guest
Same thing here. Have not fillled for at least a month. No snowcover whatsoever. Are they able to find things to eat in the grass? I would think it would be a lot easier and safer for them to use the birdfeeders. Then again I am not a bird.
T
Team Elkhorn
Guest
I think they are all at my house, lol. If my wife forgets to fill the feeders, I swear they come knocking on the windows.
cobalt_502
Active member
We live on the Fox River just south of Green Bay and the wild bird activity this year has been like nothing we have ever seen before! The river has been like an interstate all day long with Pelicans, Eagles, Hawks, Geese and just about every other bird imaginable flying up and down it. The amount of geese this year has been the most shocking, the farm fields nearby are filled with them and you can hear a constant honking when the fly overhead too. It has been beautiful to say the least, it is as though they knew all along that it was going to be a mild winter and there was no reason to head south?
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anonomoose
New member
Actually I believe that birds that are "well fed" prefer to stay off in the thickets and cover areas which provide better protections from hawks and weather.
Birds that can stay in their area of protection, will survive better than having to hoof it over to a feeder which is a central point for hawks to work.
I have been feeding for years and enjoy it, but if you want to know the truth, bird feeders can spread diseases far better and they are a central point for hawks to work....sending them into "crazy flight" which can mean bumping into doorwalls and windows which make the stunned birds easy pick-offs for the hawks. I have seen this over and over....so this might be some of the reason.
I will say that feeding birds is a great winter pass time tho...and all things being equal, I do it more for me than them.
The geese need and want winter weather to move them along...which hasn't happened this year. They aren't stupid and won't go any futher than then need to to escape frozen water....feeding.
Birds that can stay in their area of protection, will survive better than having to hoof it over to a feeder which is a central point for hawks to work.
I have been feeding for years and enjoy it, but if you want to know the truth, bird feeders can spread diseases far better and they are a central point for hawks to work....sending them into "crazy flight" which can mean bumping into doorwalls and windows which make the stunned birds easy pick-offs for the hawks. I have seen this over and over....so this might be some of the reason.
I will say that feeding birds is a great winter pass time tho...and all things being equal, I do it more for me than them.
The geese need and want winter weather to move them along...which hasn't happened this year. They aren't stupid and won't go any futher than then need to to escape frozen water....feeding.
I have had more than one person think I was b.s.ing them, but we really do still have Robins.
michaeladams
New member
then it's settled. it's the robins fault. if they don't leave we can't have winter
yoopermike
New member
I had a Robin show up in my yard on friday afternoon. Seemed like a bad omen so I did the Heikki Lunta dance.
anonomoose
New member
Mike...all that did was make the bird head to someone else's yard...and made the neighbors confirm their original thoughts about your sanity. Before you cause the white patty wagon to show up, know that in recent years robins have been hunkering down ...not unlike geese and are waiting out the short winters in swamps and places that we would otherwise not look for them. They are changing their migration patterns and habitats.
i was wondering this as i was filling the feeders yesterday. We usually can wake up on a Saturday and see the birds in the bird bath and fighting over a spot on the feeders.
We have had more cardinals this year that the past 2 combined. Lots of bluejays also. Chickadee's and sparrows are really scarce. We also haven't had any junkco's at all. Junkco's are usually the most we see per year, but not a one?
We have had more cardinals this year that the past 2 combined. Lots of bluejays also. Chickadee's and sparrows are really scarce. We also haven't had any junkco's at all. Junkco's are usually the most we see per year, but not a one?
anonomoose
New member
The TYPE of feeders you have and the FOOD you put out will make a big difference in what birds will frequent the feeders.
Thistle seed attracts finches best; cardinals love oilers as do the squirrels; and mullet and cracked corn will bring Jay birds and nearly everything else.
Also some of these birds prefer a pretty good perch to sit on when they feed.
I found that a pipe flange attached to a 1/2 inch pipe and 15 inch platform screwed to the flange (flat feeder) seems to be the best tho you do have to broom it off from time to time. Oh, and don't forget the woodpeckers...they love the suet feeders....which attract hairy's and Downey's and red bellied and occasional flickers...but zero red headeds....they are becoming scarce.
I have had no problem attacking junkcos or chickadees or Jays...and up to 2 dozen cardinals which like to sit in the crab apple tree like orniments as the sun hits them and warms them up.
It is a great thing to pass the time...even if it does get expensive when you have to buy the thistle seeds at a buck a pound.
Thistle seed attracts finches best; cardinals love oilers as do the squirrels
; and mullet and cracked corn will bring Jay birds and nearly everything else.Also some of these birds prefer a pretty good perch to sit on when they feed.
I found that a pipe flange attached to a 1/2 inch pipe and 15 inch platform screwed to the flange (flat feeder) seems to be the best tho you do have to broom it off from time to time. Oh, and don't forget the woodpeckers...they love the suet feeders....which attract hairy's and Downey's and red bellied and occasional flickers...but zero red headeds....they are becoming scarce.
I have had no problem attacking junkcos or chickadees or Jays...and up to 2 dozen cardinals which like to sit in the crab apple tree like orniments as the sun hits them and warms them up.
It is a great thing to pass the time...even if it does get expensive when you have to buy the thistle seeds at a buck a pound.