I had another visit from a small flock of Bluebirds last week! I got some pictures however they didn't turn-out that well. Anyway....I am a happy camper!
Jean ~ Taylorsville, Georgia
http://jean-livingsimple.blogspot.com/
this is a test post, last two did not post dut to errors.
I will try this again. hi everyone. a few have responded to my first post, don't remember who. I am new to this website and I am going to enjoy it! other birders, who appreciate BB and all birds. one person ask me to post the suet recipe I make. here it is and the BB love it. 1 cup lard (I use a brand made of meat fat and vegatable oils.). 1 cup peanut butter, 2 cups quick cook oats, 2 cups cornmeal, 1 cup white flour, 1/3 cup sugar. melt lard and peanut butter, add other ingredients. pour into pan and spread about 1 1/2 in . thick. freeze, then cut into squares that will fit into a suet feeder. I have doubled this recipe. it does not melt in warm weather. someone tell me how to insulate the BB boxes. here in OK we have BB all year round. I also need to know if there is something I can feed the birds that the hosp DO NOT LIKE! I quit feeding the birds because of the hosp. I am going to put up a hanging finch feeder and make the suet to put out. please share any info with me. thanks!!
Hi Yvonne,
It can be hard to remember who posted what.
I was the one who asked you to share your recipe. I make a similar one but without the sugar. I will now add sugar in my next batch. Thanks!
Will your Bluebirds visit a regular suet feeder? If not then what type do you have?
To insulate a nestbox line the floor with foil make sure you cover the vents; Add pine straw or dried grass; stuff foam or bubble wrap in the top vents. Bayoubluebirdlady taught me this.
I have zero experience with HOSP. I guess I am lucky....so far. I have learned from others that HOSP aren't very fond of Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, BOSS for short, but yet others have reported that HOSP have learned to like BOSS. So....you could try offering BOSS if you haven't already.
I'm glad you are enjoying it here. We all love our Blues!
Hello! thanks for the info about insulation. I have 2 birdboxes, about 20 ft. apart. I put up the 2nd one last spring and that's the one with the sparrow trap. the BB were already nesting in the other box and the hosp were trying to take over the nest. the ploy worked and I caught several sparrows. glad to hear that not all posters are bothered by hosp. I was reading in my bird book that they are more of a city dweller. guess they prefer city life! It is a myth that hosp do not like boss, they will eat whatever is offered. The bb do like the suet. when I lived in a country setting they would come to a suet feeder. I was never bothered by hosp then. I went to a bb workshop last spring and found out that the male hosp is the killer of other birds.
Hi, just wanted to confirm that hosp love boss!!:( I have more hosp at my feeders than any other birds, and all I feed is boss! I too trap them in spring, and sometimes my cats kill them, and sometimes my son uses a bb gun, this may sound cruel, but here in Indiana on my farm they outnumber other birds about 4-1!! Thanks for posting your recipie! I am going to try it!! A. Mitchell
Hi. I am surprised you have so many hosp in the country. Its a beautiful day here in OK. I was outside doing some fall mulching and I could hear a BB in the trees. I love that little sound they make. I got my finch feeder hung today, am awaiting the finches. I don't think the hosp will bother the hanging bag. I am going to make the suet recipe tomorrow afternoon and get it ready to hang. I am going to try to hang the suet feeder so that it wil not sway when a bird lands on it. do you know a way to do that? I enjoy reading all the posts about others BB experiences!
Hi Amanda,
Welcome to the Bluebird Group!
I also live in the country and am surrounded by Horse, Cattle and Hay farms. I know that Hosp and Starlings hang-out there. So far they haven't found my feeders.
One interesting fact I learned from a study done in Georgia last year is that the Hosp population is declining here along with some native birds. This was Good News yet Bad News.
Thanks for confirming that Hosp will eat Boss. I do rely of y'all who have experience with these bad imports.
Yvonne, I use a platform feeder for feeding Blues. So....I don't have an answer for you. Maybe someone will.
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