Subject: [Tweeters] Re Feeders: Boring-Bird Seed Mix
Date: Jan 19 19:23:35 2012
From: cindyri - cindyri at uw.edu
Hi, All:
I'm in N Sea and have been watching juncos, b-c chickadees, a Bewick's wren, an Anna's hummer, house finches, and a song sparrow at and around my feeders during the snowy days.
I'm feeding commercial seed mix and suet and have a large Oregon grape in full bloom for the hummers. (Be sure to knock the snow and ice off so that the birds can get at them and the plants don't break.)
I enjoyed the first few days of paying close attention to all the usual characters, identifying juveniles, females, juvenile females, and the like. I also like seeing how the house finches, especially, crack and extract sunflower seeds with their agile tongues.
I'm going blind looking for chestnut-backed chickadees and junco subspecies, though. I'm wondering how to attract more species--woodpeckers and other insect eaters and sparrows, for instance.
Anyone have a recommendation for reasonably affordable bird seed mix? Should I put thistle, peanuts, or dried fruit into my tube feeder with the mix? Does anyone put out fresh fruit?
Thanks.
Cindy