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Which birds love suet?
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Posted by luvofroses (My Page) on Sat, Jan 30, 10 at 23:25
Hi my name is Ann I live in Southern Utah. I just found this fourm. I am usually on the plant fourms. I have been wondering which birds in the southern part of Ut. eat suet. Last year my husband really got into feeding the birds so we have feeders and started planting for them I would like to encourgae suet eating birds but I am not sure if we have any in my part of the state. Is there a certain way they like the feeder to be hung, placed on the trunk? If anyone has any ideas or if there might be someone in my neck of the woods I love hear how I might encourage these birds Thanks
Ann in So. Ut |
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RE: Which birds love suet?
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i live in south west colorado near Durango. My back yard is pinyon and juniper trees and oak brush with native grasses and some shrubs. I don't put out suet trays or raw suet till the winter storms start. the more it snows and blows the more winter birds i get. Mostly juncos with some chickadees and nuthatches. a few towhees and sparrows in winter along with woodpeckers and a few finches.
two familys of jays year around with some magpies and starlings and summer oeioles and red wing blackbirds.
I started with the metal cages nailed to sides of trees but the towhees and juncos tried but had little success eating from them but the hanging types such as woodpecker and chickadees and nuthatches liked them so i hung a block of wood with a large deep lid on the block to make a platform feeder so the towhees and juncos and the ground feeders could perch either on the sides of the lid or in it to eat. i make up my own suet mixes according to what i have on hand. usually lard or shortning or leftover cooking oils from the deep fryer or from cooking meats ect.
i soften it in the microwave just enough to mix in the meat scraps and oats with nuts or dried fruits and berrys and thicken it with cornmeal or grits and laddle it into the plastic trays that raspberrys or blueberrys or other berrys come in from the grocery stores. put the plastic trays in the cages and hang the cages from the limbs. usually close to another limb that the birds can perch on to eat from the cages. If the starlings try to take over the suet trays i hang them away from other limbs so the birds have to hang onto the cages to eat. I scare off the starlings everytime i see them by tapping on the window |
RE: Which birds love suet?
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| Woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches are the biggest fans of suet feeders. Hanging an inexpensive metal basket (easy to get at any Petco or Target)with the commercially available suet cakes (also Petco or Target)will likely draw birds if hung on a branch or a shepherd's hook about 5' off the ground. Nearby trees, shrubs, or woodpiles help birds feel like they have a safe retreat, so locate your feeders accordingly. Also, have fresh water out for them (I just fill a terra cotta saucer) and you'll draw more visitors. Good luck! |
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