The feeders in our neighborhood, for the time being, have been taken over by
Band Tails and Starlings. First the Band Tailed Pigeons started "hogging"
all the sunflower seed. Now a bunch of Starlings are eating everything in
sight and messing up the bird bath while pooping on everything around. What
a pest they are and they are so persistent. Nothing we can think of will
make them go away. As a result, most all of the 'nicer birds' have
disappeared.

Since it is summer, we are leaving our feeders empty for a while now. If
the neighbors will just follow suit, maybe after a while things will get
back to normal. For years, we haven't been bothered much by Starlings or
House Sparrows. We have had mostly Chickadees, Nuthatches, Siskins, Juncos
and a resident pair of Towhees plus a few others on occasion. Until now.

Ed Lamb, Bellevue, WA edsplace at worldnet.att.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Margaret Parkinson" <margparkie at home.com>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2001 8:29 PM
Subject: Seeking bird feeder opinions


> Hi Tweeters:
>
> As a beginner I would appreciate opinions from the group about feeders. I
> got interested in birding last Fall after my partner gave me a sunflower
> seed feeder and a pair of binoculars. I became so excited by the sight of
> unknown birds at that feeder that I expanded to more and more birding
> activities. I have been an animal rights (including birds of course)
> activist for years and so my philosophy is that non-human creatures are
not
> here for my use or pleasure. If I enjoy them without interfering with
them
> or in the process of helping them, then that is great. If I am using them
> for my pleasure and in the process interfere, inconvenience or just plan
> harm them or their lifestyle, I am not happy. I took my feeders in (yes,
I
> quickly moved on to several feeders) in early May after discussing the
issue
> with someone who is more knowledgeable than I am and hearing that there is
> plenty of food around for birds in the summer and that feeders at this
time
> of year are just for our pleasure and do make the birds somewhat
dependent.
>
> However, I have read several of you mention your feeders. And tonight a
> friend of mine was telling me about all the Goldfinches at her Niger seed
> feeder. I am envious of course! I would also be thrilled to see a Rufus
> hummingbird as one Tweeter reported a few days ago.
>
> What do you all think? Should there be feeders in the summer or is it
> really a winter time charity for hungry birds? I realize I will get
> differing opinions but reading your reasons will help me decide what to
do.
>
> By the way, I have an ingenious set up for the feeders. There are rigged
> high in a birch tree on ropes and a pulley system allows me to take them
> down for restocking. The feeders, and thus the birds, are far away from
> the reach of cats (who I also love). They seem safe for the birds there
and
> I look right out on them from our upstairs windows where we spend a lot of
> our time.
>
> Thanks in advance for you opinions.
>
> Margaret Parkinson
> University District, Seattle
> mailto: margparkie at home.com
>
>
>