I have often seen N. Flickers at my platform feeder and various millet
feeders hanging from several fruit trees in the backyard. Last winter
I observed one feeding on a commercial mix of millet and black-oil
sunflower I spread on a 3 ft square peice of plywood laying flat on the lawn.
It was pretty entertaining watching a N. Flicker "shoveling" seed by using
a scissor-like motion while laying it's head flat on one side! I
obeserved this 6 or 7 times over a span of a week or 10 days. We were in
the midst of fairly cold weather(teens and low 20's at night) so my
feeders were unusually busy. Early one morning I observed 2 N. Flickers,
3 Scrub Jays, 2 Stellars Jays, 6 Varied Thrush and 5 Robins all feeding in
fairly close proximity of each other! Both Thrushes were eating an oatmeal/
suet combo I make during cold weather.
Unfortunately, very early one morning, about 3:30 AM I looked out my
bedroom window and saw a good-sized 'Possum dining on the platform. Thought
about removing it and decided against it until a few days later when on
another early morning I saw a *HUGE* Norway Rat helping itself to some seed.
End of platform.
Now I'm a bit concerned about putting up *any* feeders this winter.
Once I removed the plywood platform the Flicker(s) began hanging upside
down on the cheap commercial millet feeders and proceeded to make a mess
by virtually emptying one or two feeders every couple days or so. They
like to knock about 90% of the seed to the ground and it's this spillage
that has me worried. I don't think rats care if they dine off of a sheet of
plywood or off the grass beneath my plum and apple trees.


Kort M. Jungel
THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE
Olympia WA 98505