When to give up feeding.
My neighbors say there are suit eating birds in my neighborhood.
I put out a suit feeder with commercial suit (= no peanut butter) in the first week of November. It is 6 weeks later and I have not seen any change to the suit or birds arriving.
Should I give up and donate my suit feeder to a neighbor?
Views: 7
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Laura Erickson on -
If this is your first suet feeder, it may take birds a while to notice. They're most likely to discover a new suet feeder if it is either close to a feeder already being used or hanging on a tree that birds are attracted to. It can take quite a few weeks for birds to detect a new feeding station in marginal habitat, or where there simply aren't many birds, especially during bad winter weather, but during mild spells, birds in a neighborhood may leave their tried-and-true feeders to check out new possibilities just in case.
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Permalink Reply by Vernon Hearns on
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You should take Laura`s advice. I was having the same problem when I first put my feeders out and the advice I was given, was to have patience and low and behold the birds started coming into my feeders. So just wait they will show up. Good luck.
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Permalink Reply by Richard Guffanti on -
Hi Laura,
Thanks for your reply.
I live in Philadelphia, PA. This is my first feeder. Birds do not perch in the tree in my yard. Two neighbors (75-200 ft away) have seed feeders that attract lots of sparrows. They have seen an occasional oriel and morning dove. Will a flock of sparrows at a seed feeder attract suit eating birds (starlings)? I thought it might be helpful to give the feeder to one of them. You suggested I wait quite a few weeks. I thought 6 weeks was quite a few. Unless you think otherwise, I'll give it away if nothing shows up by February 1. If I understand you, by that time the severe weather will be here and they are not likely to go exploring.
Laura Erickson said:If this is your first suet feeder, it may take birds a while to notice. They're most likely to discover a new suet feeder if it is either close to a feeder already being used or hanging on a tree that birds are attracted to. It can take quite a few weeks for birds to detect a new feeding station in marginal habitat, or where there simply aren't many birds, especially during bad winter weather, but during mild spells, birds in a neighborhood may leave their tried-and-true feeders to check out new possibilities just in case.
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Permalink Reply by Mitchelle Levone Wright on -
If you're willing to sacrifice a bag of hulled suflower seeds, if you're willing to find a way to keep it dry and plentiful, I recommend you put a feeder of that near that stuff you bought. Maybe the birds in your hood just aren't hip to human creations.
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Permalink Reply by J B Maberry on -
If the suet feeders haven't been touched in that long of a time, you may want to try moving them to other locations. I've found that hanging them on trees has worked well. I also have luck with having one by the seed feeders. The ones that I've seen used the most, are the no melt ones, and usually the ones I get from Wild Birds Unlimited...with pepper in it. During the winter, especially when there's snow on the ground, they will come looking. I've had everything from Downys, Nuthatches, Chickadees and of course, Grackles, Starlings, Sparrows and many others. I wouldn't give up.
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Permalink Reply by Richard Guffanti on
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Very helpful. Thanks
J B Maberry said:If the suet feeders haven't been touched in that long of a time, you may want to try moving them to other locations. I've found that hanging them on trees has worked well. I also have luck with having one by the seed feeders. The ones that I've seen used the most, are the no melt ones, and usually the ones I get from Wild Birds Unlimited...with pepper in it. During the winter, especially when there's snow on the ground, they will come looking. I've had everything from Downys, Nuthatches, Chickadees and of course, Grackles, Starlings, Sparrows and many others. I wouldn't give up.
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Permalink Reply by Adam Kurta on -
I wouldn't give up. Sooner or later you'll get birds. I haven't had many visitors to my feeders as or late. There's always a little ebb and flow but I'm guessing there's a predator near by in my case. If it was me, I'd leave the suet out just as a little oasis in the event some hungry birds show up. Suet hold up well when it's cold out. If you do choose to give up, you can always try putting them out again once Springtime shows up. You'll definitely have visitors then.
Putting a tube feeder nearby with some black oil sunflower seeds isn't a bad idea either. Nuthatches and titmice seem to follow chickadees around, so if you can get chickadees to the seed, there's a good chance that some other species that eat suet will follow them to your yard and, in turn, find the suet. Just a suggestion. I hope you have better luck.
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Permalink Reply by Daniel A. Parelius on -
No! Be patient. Or perhaps try a new location to improve the presentation. Your neighbor's cat may also be hanging around. Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Daniel A. Parelius on
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Permalink Reply by Paul Schmitt on -
I think you do have a problem if you've waited six weeks.
First, is it possible that your suet cake is rancid? Birds are no dummies when it comes to food. Just a possibility. The cakes aren't that expensive to replace and would help you identify what is and is not the problem. I've also seen birds reject two year old sunflower seed. Bought fresh seed and they returned rapidly.
Next, I am wondering if there is much protective cover near your suet feeder? I've had better luck when the birds can grab seed and/or suet and retreat to protective cover to eat. They do have to worry about hawks when around a feeder. I have my feeder and suet cakes about 8 feet from bushes. This distance keeps squirrels from leaping onto the feeder and yet seems close enough for the birds to feel safe.
I do not load the feeders or suet holders until late November (to avoid bear damage), and it usually takes a few days for the news to get around. Never six weeks,even for a new location. That is suspicious to me, hence the suggestions on location, seed choice and freshness.
Good luck. Hope this helps.
Also, if your neighbors are mostly seeing sparrow and starlings etc, then they are not using the most attractive seed for songbirds. I'd bet they are using cheap millet mixes that sparrows and starlings go for. A good seed mix might help get the birds to the suet. IMHO, black oil sunflower seeds are key to getting Cardinals, Chickadees, Titmice, Juncos, Nuthatches etc. Many of those are active suet feeders along with woodpeckers. I had once been given a seed mix with both sunflower and millet. My Chickadees will eat out of my hand, so I can watch them pick thru the seed in my palm. I've seen how they dump the millet and only take black oil from the mix. They even reject the smaller sunflower seeds in favor of the meatier ones.
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Permalink Reply by Adam Kurta on
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Nicely said. Black oil sunflower seed is almost a miracle food for birds. I have 2 suet feeders, a safflower seed feeder, and a black oil seed feeder in my yard. In the time it takes the birds to go through a 10 lb bag of safflower, I'll go through 50 lbs of sunflower. It's amazing. And I seldomly get House Sparrows or Starlings so I'll agree that there is much to be said about good quality seed. And just to clarify: "good quality" does not equal expensive, especially when it comes to sunflower seed and suet. I can elaborate on that statement if anyone wishes.
Paul Schmitt said:Also, if your neighbors are mostly seeing sparrow and starlings etc, then they are not using the most attractive seed for songbirds. I'd bet they are using cheap millet mixes that sparrows and starlings go for. A good seed mix might help get the birds to the suet. IMHO, black oil sunflower seeds are key to getting Cardinals, Chickadees, Titmice, Juncos, Nuthatches etc. Many of those are active suet feeders along with woodpeckers.
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Permalink Reply by Brigitte Peck Ki Laou on -
Just be patient or you can add a sunflower feeder to make your feeding station more appealing.
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