This is so frustrating that people insist on using abbreviations not common
to or understood by all in the hobby. Can you give ignorant people like me a
break and just spell it out?

I assume a STJA is StellarJay

What is a DEJU and a SPTO?


Glenn
Tacoma, Wa
glenn.hansen at usa.net




----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Whittington" <fieldnat at pacificcoast.net>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Saturday, September 20, 2003 2:10 PM
Subject: Re: Starling-proof suet feeder


> A simple solution is to screw a standard suet cage on the underside of
> a square of plywood, about 6 inches to a foot bigger all around than
> the suet cage, suspended from the corners so that it hangs
> horizontally, and the only access to the suet is upside down.
> "Store-bought" versions exist which have gable roofs, with the suet
> being accessible through a wire mesh on the underside. Woodpeckers,
> nuthatches, and chickadees all master it instantly. Starlings are not
> good at getting, or hanging, upside down. They can do it if there is a
> branch below that they can use as a springboard. Same with crows. I do
> have a couple of STJA which have figured out how to get upside down
> (one first, then the others), using the springboard approach. It works
> best if it hangs freely so they have to fly up to it and turn upside
> down.I was also surprised to see a DEJU and a SPTO learn how to do it.
> Last note - sometimes the desirable birds find it more quickly if it is
> hung on an angle, then lowered to horizontal when they find it, to
> deter the riff-raff. Contact me off-list if you would like to see a
> photo.
>
> Bruce Whittington
> Victoria BC
> Mailto: fieldnat at pacificcoast.net
>
>