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94 years old and she only wanted a bird feeder for her son
94 years old, that’s what the lady on the other end of the line stated. Spending her days and nights in an assisted-living facility here in the Atlanta area, she was looking for a bird feeder – a special one for her son’s wedding anniversary gift.She referred to a solar feeder she had in her yard, and how beautiful it was at night with all the trees behind it. Admittedly at first, I wasn’t so keen on the idea of finding and special-ordering this, as solar feeders are not offered on our website. But the more we spoke… the more I liked her and wanted to help.
Marcella was actually pretty cool, and it was clear how dearly she missed having her yard and the birds. Ponder that thought for a moment: No more yard and no birds… it’s really quite sad if you once knew the simple, yet rewarding pleasures of backyard birding. Not to be able to have or do that anymore pretty much stinks.
The search began, and there were pages and pages on the web, but when I looked, all were out of stock and/or discontinued, and frankly, most looked like junk. Are they really that popular? It was a trip to my local WBU for some seed that spawned the idea… something she, her son and the birds would love to have! I know that manufacturer, made in the USA, good quality and attractive. I can get her this feeder and she’ll be proud to give it as a gift.
Taking her info over the phone was comical, and she insisted getting old is for the birds! I did let her know that 94 is something to be proud of, and that I would not likely make it that long.
The package is due to arrive tomorrow at Wellington Assisted Living, so on Wednesday I’ll definitely call her to see what she thinks. At 26 inches tall, it’s handcrafted cedar with a handsome lamp fixture on top… I think she’ll be pleased!
This post is in your honor Marcella – and thanks for feeding the birds all those years 🙂
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Something a bit more fun than hopper bird feeders
So many wild bird feeders yet so little time!With summer months come new visitors, the exotics and migratory birds who winter in South and Central America. Recently we had the coolest family of Catbirds, their calls are most intriguing, one could sit and listen for hours if time allowed. A lone Oriole passed through, and a Painted Bunting proved for some real eye candy. Of course, one of our all-time favorites, hummingbirds showed up a few weeks early this year too.
None of these birds are likely to check out our boring hopper bird feeders, so the variety offered is a good way to entice more beaked buddies. Fresh water in a birdbath is also an excellent way to attract more birds too.
This handcrafted number is made from stoneware and bamboo to ensure many seasons of use. There’s a small hopper for a cache of peanuts or larger seed mixes, hollow logs for stuffing suet treats, and a stoneware ring for an ear of corn… now that’s variety! Standard suet cakes may be cut into sections for filling the logs, and plenty of dough type suets are available. They’re easy to scoop out and pliable for inserting. Although Mr. Jay is shown here, lots of other species are bound to check out the cool design with multiple offerings.
But should you still be stuck on traditional hopper style feeders, one can
still be creative with a kit like this one. Sturdy cedar means this feeder will be around for years, and imagination is the limit. Paint it in bold, fun colors or add an interesting stain. Then your boring hopper bird feeder is anything but mundane! -
feature-rich, classic tube bird feeder hangs or pole-mounts
You know those plastic feeders we always see at discount and “big-box” stores, they’re inexpensive and will serve the purpose… for a little while anyway! But soon the cheap plastic clouds and yellows, perches break, and heaven forbid if a squirrel should get hold of your new tube bird feeder… it’s a goner 🙁Well, here’s a tube feeder with quality to last a lifetime, squirrel-proof features (sans the ugly cage), and twenty years of proven performance. The Classic Feeder is designed with a built-in squirrel baffle to foil the pesky critters permanently. With hanging or pole-mount options, it’s too tall and too wide for squirrels to reach the seed ports from the top on the hanging feeder, and from the bottom of the pole-mounted feeder.
Poly-carbonate casing, with a baked enamel lid and baffle, plus stainless steel perches, all promise this tube bird feeder will be around for many years of use for feathered friends. There’s even an attractive weather guard to protect seed from the elements, and it won’t hinder your views of dining birds either.Ample perches provide easy access for many birds who aren’t commonly seen at tube bird feeders, and the large capacity cavity means less filling and more time watching. Even the pole is included on the post-mounted version! Accommodating black oil sunflower, or a bevy of other seed mixes, the Classic Feeder is truly a shining gem among all those tube bird feeders out there!
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