With the temperature plummeting over the past couple of weeks, Pete decided to move the bird feeder from the side yard and into the backyard so that the birdbath heater could be plugged in. Now that we turned the TV room into an office, it has been a great source of entertainment for me on days I work from home, like yesterday.

Our basic setup includes sunflower seed, suet and Nyger thistle feeders.

As you can see, the The Bungalow Chronicles Diner was quite busy yesterday.

At our last visit to Wild Birds Unlimited, our favorite critter resource, we saw a suet feeder made from a piece of wood with holes drilled in it to hold the suet. Instead of paying $30 or so for it, Pete decided to make one with a piece of oak — I think it may be from our firewood pile.

To make your own, all you have to do is drill some round holes in a few spots, penetrating about 1/4 or 1/3 of the way into the wood. Screw an eye hook into the top and hang on a chain from a tree or your feeder. Spread the suet into the holes and wait for visitors.

It didn’t take long for the Downy Woodpecker to find it.

Hint: if you hang it from a tree where squirrels have access, buy or make suet that contains cayenne pepper. The birds aren’t affected by it, but the squirrels can taste it and will leave it alone.

Speaking of squirrels, a squirrel baffle on the feeder is a necessity, but that doesn’t mean it won’t keep them from trying any way they can to get to the seed. If it’s close enough to jump from the garage or house eave, they’ll do it. So far, ours seems to be at a safe distance to keep that from happening. However we decided to spread a little Christmas cheer, so we bought some seed balls at Wild Birds Unlimited for a fraction of the cost because moths had gotten into them. The guy at the store said they’d be perfect for the squirrels.

Pete rigged up a hanging post using the stake and hook from our solar lanterns. The first seed ball was stolen quickly, so Pete secured the next one with heavy wire and that seems to have worked.

Some may think it’s wrong to feed the squirrels, but they’re not going anywhere, and just from my observations they’re territorial enough to keep others from moving in. Besides, who can resist seeing those cute little critter tummies? Certainly not I!

We don’t feed the squirrels or the birds all the time, and studies show that they don’t become dependent on feeder food and will not starve if you don’t continue.

However during the winter months when temperatures are below freezing a water source is helpful for wildlife survival.

Unfortunately you can’t completely control who visits your feeders (mourning doves are our least favorite), but I do love it when the Cardinals come for a snack.

(and yes, I wish they wouldn’t poop on the copper feeder roof, but they don’t seem to listen to me)

Tags: backyard, entertainment, wildlife, winter