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Through the Garden Gate: Backyard Birding

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Through the Garden Gate

Backyard Birding

by Judy Brinkerhoff

Fall Feeding Frenzies
I don't know if you're finding this to be true, but I have never seen my backyard birds hungrier than they are this fall. It started about a month ago with the arrival of a huge flock of Pine Siskins. I put out a new thistle feeder for them, and have now added a second large sunflower seed feeder that I fill daily with black sunflower seeds. The colony of nearby Acorn Woodpeckers are freely availing themselves of the seeds, as they too seem extra hungry. The Anna's Hummingbirds are ravenously emptying the sugar syrup-filled feeders.

In addition, the squirrels need to be fed. It appears to be a low acorn year; put out ears of dried corn and sunflower seeds on the ground, on a board or platform feeder...just for the squirrels! My devious plan of making squirrel food easily available to them actually keeps them out of the bird feeders.

Suet feeders: If you put out suet, keep it in a cool spot, out of the sun in order to lessen the chances of it going rancid. Replace it often. Christmas Fun For the Kids and the Kid in You: Melt 16 oz lard, one cup crunchy peanut butter over low heat. Stir in: 2 c. oatmeal, 2 c. yellow cornmeal, 1 c. flour, assorted chopped nuts and raisins, currants, dried cranberries. You may need to adjust the amount of lard. Line a cake pan with waxed paper and pour in the dough-like mixture. Refrigerate until solid, then cut in squares and put out in your suet feeder. Store the leftovers in the freezer or refrigerator. (With thanks to the Bird Rescue Center's flyer!)