Bird Feeder | The Beauty Around Us

At the Bird Feeder

I own a Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with a Pro Perch. The bird feeder is mounted on a front yard window frame.

We added a shield to our bird feeder.

We purchased the shield in an attempt to keep out the blue jays, grackles, starlings and mourning doves that have been monopolizing the feeder. The larger birds are also terrorizing some of the smaller birds and chasing them away.

We put the shield on the bird feeder late afternoon this past Monday.

Since Monday afternoon, I haven’t seen any blue jays or mourning doves inside the feeder. With the exception of juvenile grackles and starlings, the adults have not entered the feeder. Well, the adults haven’t FULLY entered the feeder. They could, and did, insert their heads and part of their bodies (until the fit was too tight for them). They successfully helped themselves to seed. I wouldn’t mind the larger birds getting seed this way, IF they didn’t monopolize the feeder. The grackles and starlings, even with the shield on, still were monopolizing the feeder. By the way smaller birds such as cardinals, house finches and chickadees entered and exited the bird feeder easily.

As I observe the birds, I have watched how the juvenile grackles and juvenile starlings enter the bird feeder. I have watched where the adult grackles and adult starlings are able to gain access to the seed. I determined that the last row of openings on the shield allow these actions.

Today I made an attempt to stop or, at a minimum, curb these practices.

Using a few of the accessories that were included with my pro perch, I created a partial obstruction.

The Blue Jay appears confused.

By the way this is the first time since Monday that a Blue Jay has returned to the bird feeder. Also the two plastic containers contained suet nuggets. Grackles ate the suet nuggets, although I did see a cardinal eat a few of them. The grackles were fairly polite taking the suet nuggets. They took one or two and flew off. They came back repeatedly, but allowed other birds at the feeder in the meantime. I hope to put suet nuggets in these containers once daily, as I am attempting to get woodpeckers to come to this feeder.

House Finch in Bird Feeder

Yay! A house finch found his way into the feeder. On first glance I thought the second bird in this video was a cardinal, possibly a juvenile. Hence the video title. I now believe that second bird is a purple finch, which would be the first time it has come to my bird feeder that I am aware of. That bird looks as though it wasn’t sure what to make of this new setup.

Cardinal at the Bird Feeder

Yay! A male cardinal found its way into the feeder.

Unfortunately, juvenile grackles and starlings are still able to get into the feeder via the lower shield openings on the right-hand side. I even saw one juvenile that dropped onto the feeder from a middle opening on the second row. The adult counterparts are still able to insert their heads and part of their bodies in openings on the right-hand side. What I have observed, though, is that the frequency of the larger birds obtaining seed has decreased.

I will keep observing the bird feeder and possibly make changes. If you, my reader, have any suggestions, please let me know. I will report back at a later time.

At the Bird Feeder

I own a Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with a Pro Perch. The bird feeder is mounted on a front yard window frame.

Young bird fledglings are showing up at our bird feeder.

Common Grackle Feeding Fledgling

The Common Grackle is a frequent visitor to my bird feeder, as are Black-Capped Chickadees, Mourning Doves, Northern Cardinals. Song Sparrows and House Finches. A new bird appeared this past Thursday.

A male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak found our bird feeder! I hope it returns and brings its mate.

Both Bob and I really enjoy this bird feeder. Its smart features, via the Birdfy app, allow us to see “our birds” at home and even when miles away from home.

Here is a list of the smart features that we enjoy, while using the Birdfy app.

I noticed on Birdfy’s website that a Father’s Day sale is in progress. Check out the sale; perhaps one of the Birdfy feeders will be the perfect gift for the man in your life.

At the Bird Feeder

I own two Birdfy bird feeders — the Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with a Pro Perch and the Birdfy Hum Feeder. The bird feeder is mounted on a front yard window frame. The hum feeder is mounted on a pavilion post in our back yard. Both bird feeders provide entertainment on a daily basis!

I hope that the little house finch is OK!

Young bird fledglings are showing up at our bird feeder. Some foods are better than others for new fledglings. Insects are highly favored, so mealworms are attractive to parents feeding young. I haven’t put out meal worms in a couple days. I will be sure to put out meal worm tomorrow.

Did you see what’s flying in on the right at the end of this video clip?

Meanwhile at the hummingbird feeder …

We don’t have a hummingbird.

We have a House Finch.

At the end of this video clip, it looks like the house finch gives its reflection, in the camera lens, a kiss.

See you again soon at the bird feeder.

At the Bird Feeder

I own a Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with a Pro Perch. The bird feeder is mounted on a front yard window frame. The Common Grackle is a frequent visitor to my bird feeder.

This video was captured today seconds before the grackle managed to remove the seed guard. The seed guard prevents grackles from swishing their beaks back and forth and, thus, flinging the seed all over the place.

I wish the video had run a few seconds longer to capture the seed guard actually coming off. I found the seed guard on top of the hedges below the feeder soon after the grackle had removed it. The seed guard is once again on the feeder.

I put out suet nuggets every other day.
The suet nuggets are supposed to encourage woodpeckers to come to my feeder.
I haven’t seen any woodpeckers.
The grackles like suet nuggets.

I like to see still images of extended wings.
It appears that the grackle sees another bird approaching the feeder.

Other birds that frequent my bird feeder are Black-Capped Chickadees, Mourning Doves, Northern Cardinals, Song Sparrows and House Finches. I keep hoping to attract more types of birds.

At the Bird Feeder

I own a Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with a Pro Perch. The bird feeder is mounted on a front yard window frame. This past week my Birdfy camera captured a male cardinal feeding a female cardinal, as well as an adult Common Grackle feeding its offspring.

Two Adult Cardinals – Male Cardinal Feeding a Female Cardinal

According to information on the Internet, male cardinals feed females when courting them and again when the female is incubating and can’t forage for herself.

Adult Grackle Feeding Offspring

The juvenile grackle is quite large, and its squawking very loud!

Two house finches appeared at my bird feeder on Friday, May 24.

Joyful Surprise: Baltimore Oriole and Black-Capped Chickadee Visit Birdfy Hum Feeder

It has been a couple days of chilly, windy and wet weather here in northwestern Pennsylvania. The Birdfy Hum Feeder has alerted me to motion many times the past few days. However, when I looked at the videos, all motion was caused by wind or rain.

What a wonderful surprise, when earlier this afternoon, I received two motion alerts. Neither alert was for motion caused by wind or rain.

Baltimore Oriole at Hummingbird Feeder

Black-Capped Chickadee at Hummingbird Feeder

The fact that the Birdfy Hum Feeder captured these two birds brings me such joy.

At the Bird Feeders

I own two Birdfy bird feeders — the Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with a Pro Perch and the Birdfy Hum Feeder. The bird feeder is mounted on a front yard window frame. The hum feeder is mounted on a pavilion post in our back yard.

The most common visitor to the bird feeder is the Common Grackle. Sometime yesterday the Birdfy camera caught two Grackles having a spat.

Grackles are mean to each other, as well as to other birds. The only way to keep grackles off my feeder is by using a metal cage, specially made for the bird feeder. I prefer an unobstructed view, without a cage in view. Also the cage would prevent other large birds, which I want to see, from utilizing the feeder.

Captured just as the Grackle Landed on the Perch

Grackles have beautiful iridescent feathers.

Today, Birdfy captured Mr and Mrs Cardinal on the perch together.

Male and Female Northern Cardinals

At the Birdfy Hum Feeder I was very happy to see both the female and male Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds today.

Female hummingbird arrives, followed by the male hummingbird

These two bird feeders have elevated my birdwatching experience. I now can see birds up close and personal. The bird feeders notify and record when birds visit. I can enjoy birdwatching anytime, anywhere.