I'm in the Wallingford area and have had similar experinces with the
swarms of bushtits and chickadees. The chickadees find the suet first and
soon (literally within the day) a bunch of bushtits show up and cover the
hanging suet feeder as well as the birch tree nearby. I get them in the
mid-mornings, afternoons and evenings on weekends when I'm home so I
assume they are doin' their thing at it during the week. I used to have a
moth and aphid problem, but since the suet feeder nary a one. The most
exciting view was when I was watching a chickadee bath and drink from the
designated dog bowl bird bath on the rail when it suddenly swept up and
grabbed a moth from the screen door. The last sight I had was four pairs
of wings flapping. It was a huge moth. Then a few minutes later the bunch
of bushtits arrived and took care of the small moths around the porch
light. Wish they'd take care of the spider that spins the large web that
I walk into every morning as I leave for work.

So, yes, they go after the suet, any type I have put out. Patty


On Thu, 12 Oct 1995, G L Sorenson wrote:

> I live in the U District and flocks of bushtits frequent my yard the year
> round to eat suet. I have experimented with the different varieties and
> now use only the plain suet. Squirrels, starlings, and sparrows usurped
> the double suet cage whenever there was anything other than the plain suet
> in it. The bushtits seem to prefer the plain and sometimes cover the
> feeder with others waiting in the branches of the rhody it hangs in. They
> usually feed alone, but I have seen them dine with a couple of sparrows
> when I had plain and "flavored" suet in the feeder at the same time. Each
> at their respective favorite type.
>
> Bonus:
> Since encouraging them in the yard, my aphid problem has become almost
> non-existent.
>
> Winning the Lottery:
> On several warm summer nights this year, the bushtits would come in the
> evening when I was hand-watering and drink the water drops from the rhody
> and Portuguese laurel leaves sometimes not more than 12 inches from me. I
> watered far more often than I had to, just to have them close to me and
> hear their sweet chatter. I don't have the words to describe the
> experience.
>
> Gretchen Sorenson
> University of Washington
>