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thistle feeders seem empty…strange?
While the feeders containing finch mix are absolutely mobbed… thistle feeders appear to have no customers these days. Thistle (or nyjer seed) is kept fresh, as these feeders do not sit too long without changing the seed. Goldfinches have one of the latest nesting seasons, and chicks are fed thistle seed almost exclusively – so it seems strange to me that the thistle feeders are just about void of any birds?There are lots of electric yellow Goldfinches in the yard right now, but they seem to prefer the finch mix, and the birdbaths! While we use a pretty standard thistle feeder, these Wave Thistle Feeders are on the wish list. High quality, hand crafted thistle feeders that are made in the USA. What a groovy design! They’re also made for dispensing black oil sunflower.
Male Goldfinch drinking at birdbath dripper Goldfinches will molt soon, as the fall migration gets underway. It happens to be their second molt of the season… one of very few wild birds with two molting processes in the same year. Olive-drab and browns will soon replace the vibrant yellow plumage, but these birds will stick around if habitat is good. So keep thistle feeders fresh and full to provide goldfinches a steady diet, and keep these sweet songbirds in your yard year-round.
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Can you really make a hanging bird bath?
Depending on the material of the bowl or dish, then yes… you may be able to craft your own hanging bird bath. Acrylic or plastic may be easily drilled in three spots to anchor a hanger. Cable, chain link, or strong twine will make a perfect hanger. Basic S-hooks, or screw-eye hooks will come in handy for attaching the hanger too. A simple, three-point suspension is common on most hanging baths.An old article in one of the backyard birding magazines featured a home-made hanging bird bath, utilizing a grapevine wreath. It was used as the base with a plant saucer inserted securely about half-way down. Hemp rope was tied around the grapevine and knotted on the bottom to create the hanger. It was actually a pretty cool looking bath!
If you’re lucky enough to know some basic macrame patterns, then glass or ceramics would also be an option for making your own hanging birdbath. Just be sure the bowl or dish is secure in the hanger. Fresh water in a bath really is the best way to entice more feathered friends… especially with the extreme temperatures we’re experiencing this summer. This type of bird bath could also double as a platform feeder in winter months. Inexpensive and versatile… definitely worth a try!
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Convert Baths into heated bird baths in winter
As if it’s not hot enough outside, here’s one on heated bird baths.Most of the newer materials used today for bird baths will accommodate heaters, converting them to heated bird baths. True, that in the dead of summer, nobody is really thinking about wild birds in winter, but this precious resource is sometimes scarce for our feathered friends.
A fresh water source is a necessity for birds year-round, and Mother Nature can be just as brutal in winter as she is in sweltering summer months.
Accessories like bird bath drippers and water wigglers keep bath water from becoming stagna
nt. They actually help keep water fresher by constant movement. This movement is also a visual magnet for birds! Take one cool bird bath, like this deck-mount mode above, and change accessories with seasons for maximum wild bird attraction!
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