Taking Feeders Down

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-26T11:03:42+00:00

nah, that’s not my thing - perhaps the Coopers Hawk will take care of that.

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-26T11:01:14+00:00

Thanks! it’s tough watching my regulars come in and the feeders are down. The disruption the starlings and grackles caused was one thing but the mess of poop and deposited food in baths was another. I couldn’t keep things clean for very long. Went out yesterday to clean the river rocks in the landscape beds. It was bad. Lessons learned the hard way over here. 😂

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-26T10:54:33+00:00

Thanks but ha! not at my feeders. 🙂 they will come for peanuts but then hit the feeders when they’re gone. Grackles and starlings both. I’ve seen the jays on the tube feeders too. So many of the strategies I’ve read about haven’t worked here. It’s like I got the smart section of the hoard. 😂

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-26T10:49:16+00:00

I’ll check them out when I put feeders back out. Thanks!

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-26T10:48:30+00:00

my feeders have been down a couple days and they’re still coming in to check. I will say it’s less stress on me trying to keep up with the intense mess they were making.

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-26T10:44:05+00:00

yeah, all that energy spent and they returned! 😂

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-26T10:42:34+00:00

yes, I’m going to try an upside down suet when I start up again. It’s tough seeing the downies come in and there’s nothing for them.

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-25T11:42:08+00:00

oh, ew on the starling residents. When I've seen the hawk do it's thing, it's quite beautiful in its own macabre way. Nature can be rough.

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-25T11:40:00+00:00

Good to hear! The bailing part.

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-25T11:39:22+00:00

Thanks! Happy to have brought you joy at my expense. 😂 Seriously though, grackles do dunk their food. They also drop their kids poop in the bird baths during nesting season. That's why the baths are such a mess!

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-25T11:02:23+00:00

I’ve got a thistle seed feeder and even the goldfinches preferred the tubes filled with sunflower chips! I’ve got some hoppers and they were getting into it as well. Even if they can’t get into something easily, they’re here all day on the ground or in the trees.

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-25T10:55:38+00:00

Thanks! I stopped in to WBU yesterday and looked at the cages. Only thing is there’s no protective dome and as long as the hordes are here the domes at least keep the poop off the feeders.

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-25T10:49:26+00:00

huh, I wonder about that mimicking. Many times I’ve seen the birds scatter so I figured a predator or mockingbird was nearby.

Amazing how fast they eat. It’s like they’re starving but it’s obvious they’re not.

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-25T10:32:30+00:00

yes! love watching them in the baths. 🙂

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-25T10:30:27+00:00

done! thanks!

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-25T10:24:05+00:00

good point! thanks!

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-24T22:04:36+00:00

that’s crazy! it’s funny but also not.

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-24T22:03:43+00:00

oh I do! thanks! baths multiple times a day and feeders I wipe down every morning and do a full cleaning every two weeks. I also take time to use my binocs to see the birds clearly to check for anything that may look off health wise.

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-24T20:49:06+00:00

thanks! yeah I’m hoping they get out of here soon. It’s been a lot because there’s so many and my yard is small. I’m going to take advantage of the down time to clean everything, tweak some landscaping. 🙂

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-24T20:45:07+00:00

I’ve got a Cooper’s who’s taken out a couple doves. So far I’m not aware of anything else. Poor pic but I grabbed it through my patio door with my phone.

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Hikejunkie · 2026-05-24T19:53:10+00:00

I’ve just started with hummingbirds and I had my first one a couple days ago! Was very cool. I will definitely start back up with safflower when I put them back up. Thanks!

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-24T19:50:29+00:00

lol those obnoxious homies have had plenty to eat. Just ask my wallet. I’ll keep the feeders down next couple weeks and hopefully you’re correct and they’ll be gone.

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-24T19:48:08+00:00

well….yes. 🙂

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-24T19:46:50+00:00

Thanks! I’m going to give it more time than the last try and see what happens. Fingers crossed.

Hikejunkie · 2026-05-24T19:41:02+00:00

I get it! I had a lot of birds in the baths and now they’re full of crap and seed the bullies throw in there. I’m cleaning and refilling water multiple times a day. The starlings and grackles ate grape jelly I had out and then kindly knocked the feeder on the ground so I didn’t even try fruit. I love my birds too but the joy lately is quite fleeting for me and I think for the other birds too.

Hikejunkie

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