Same thing over on Cougar Mountain in Bellevue. For the past 3 years,
hardly any starlings or pigeons...now they are all over the damn place.
The starlings are completely adapted to the upside down suet feeder and
now can go through 4 cakes a day. Needless to say, there is none put
out until I get home so the flicker, downies and hairies can get some as
I try to scare the starlings.

-----Original Message-----
From: Edwin Lamb [mailto:edsplace at worldnet.att.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2001 9:44 AM
To: Margaret Parkinson; tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Seeking bird feeder opinions


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
>
>
>