-
Welcome Fall with Shelled Peanut Bird Feeders
Happy Autumnal Equinox!
Falling leaves and shorter days trigger birds and wildlife to do their survival thing! Migratory birds, butterflies and even insects are on the move southward to warmer winter digs. Many residents will start caching food stores for later retrieval-jays and nuthatches do this, even squirrels. Should you happen to feed the furry critters, adding peanuts to the mix serves them well in fall and winter. Even peanut butter smeared on corn cobs or a tree trunk is a happening treat!
A fantastic source of fat, calories and protein can be had from peanut bird feeders. The legumes pack a punch of a meal for optimal nutrition. Offering shelled peanuts reduces ground mess… in fact there’s no mess at all. Any morsel falling to the ground will go to good use!
With an array of styles, peanut feeders are a great choice for fall and winter feeding. Nuthatches, titmice, woodpeckers and chickadees will partake, even bluebirds sometimes go for shelled peanuts in cold weather.
They can hang or pole-mount, have optional trays for perching, or offer an all-over feeding space for clinging birds. The spiral peanut feeders are awesome as opposed to traditional perches. They allow more birds to feed at once, and watching them run or hop the continuous perch is a trip! Birds seem to love these feeders, and there’s an optional 10-inch clear tray for additional perching space and catching shells.
Caged type feeders will typically keep squirrels out of your peanuts, while suet cages work great for trying whole peanuts. Lots of options for changing up treats with seasons!
So with the arrival of fall, a new feeder might just be in order for your resident birds. Unfortunately they’re saying this winter will be as bad as last 🙁
Fortunately, you can nab 10% off all bird feeders through the end of September! Use promo code MC10 at checkout… our thanks for feeding the birds 🙂
-
Do More with Peanut Bird Feeders
Just a few short weeks (hopefully) and that dreary, brown, snow covered landscape will give way to lush new foliage… and it can’t come soon enough for many of us!
Feeders have been in full swing this winter with hungry birds braving the most frigid days seeking calories to keep warm. Every feeder’s seen its share of flying traffic through this most miserable season.
With bulbs forcing through, birds are already starting to nest in the southeast, we’ve already changed up two peanut bird feeders for another good use… nesting materials!
Any kind of feeder with wide openings works well. Because peanuts are still mighty beneficial to birds, using an extra suet cage is ideal for offering materials.
Here’s one of the cool things about backyard birding. Not too much is cut in stone so to speak. You needn’t buy a full-fledged peanut bird feeder to offer peanuts, nor a complete nesting material kit to offer the materials. Here’s a cool recycled 3-in-1 feeder that perfect for suet, peanuts, nesting material or even fruit in summer. Just be creative and see what works best for your birds!
That same spring feeder offers peanuts, suet, nest material, and yes… fruit in summer. Oh yeah, and the nesting materials? You can do this one yourself! Cats or dogs? Save their hair (not such a good idea if fluffy or fido has been treated with flea & tick medication). Decorative mosses are another favorite, sphagnum or sheet moss, Spanish moss, coco fibers from old plant liners too. Just be sure they’re clean. Feathers are coveted as well for some species’ nests. Again, just be sure thee have been sanitized, and use light or natural colors in the mix.
Recently cruising one of the video platforms, a big retailer’s video came up about nesting material. With lots of video views, “how dead wrong” is what came to mind. Cardinals don’t use those shelves, they nest in trees or shrubs. But I guess if you have no trees or shrubs they might use one? And they don’t use that cotton stuff either. Weed stems, twigs, bark, grasses and leaves are what make up cardinal nests in these parts… come on!
-
peanut bird feeders do more than nuts!
If versatility is the name of the game, and multi-use is an appealing idea, then you can’t beat peanut bird feeders to fit the bill. Regardless of style, their coils, screens or grids offer spacious openings for whole or shelled nuts… and more!
High in protein and fat, peanuts provide birds the extra calories needed in cooler weather and throughout migration periods. An energy-packed treat, they’re actually helpful to birds year-round. Right now you’ll find chickadees, titmice, woodpeckers and others caching these gems in tree cavities and other hiding places for later use. Sneaky nuthatches are often seen raiding the caches instead of eating at the feeders!
Seasonally, you can use these same feeders to entice feathered friends with nesting materials, fruit and even suet. Although suet can be messy, most peanut bird feeders are dishwasher safe. This architectural copper style accommodates whole or shelled peanuts, along with the above mentioned treats. Birds are able to enter like a fly-thru feeder or cling to the screen for a tasty treat.
Forget the boring tubes, peanut feeders come in all shapes and sizes to complement all spaces, and we’re pretty sure birds would approve of any of them!