Dealing with Starlings & Grackles

This is the time of year when many of you are faced with several different challenges at feeding stations including chipmunks and raccoons, but the winner of the “most complained about feeder pests” category belongs to Grackles and Starlings.

When they are raising young they seek quick, easy food sources and will visit feeders in droves, eventually bringing their babies.  Their size, numbers, and relentless presence will pressure other birds away from feeders. We recommend a variety of strategies to deal with their presence and lessen their impact. Follow some of these strategies and you may have acceptable results.

European Starling

Common Grackle

• Offer nothing but Safflower seed in the feeders most easily used by the intruders rather than sunflower, or blends with shelled seeds, shelled peanuts, and fruit. Safflower is smaller than sunflower and has a shape difficult for them to grasp, and a hard shell that Grackles and Starlings cannot crack open.

Caged feeder

Clinging bird feeder

• Limit opportunities. Offer only feeders that are difficult for a large bird like a grackle to use, for instance, small bird only, tube-type, or caged feeders. This will also limit Cardinals but they will be happy with safflower and with whatever falls to the ground. Tube-type feeders can be made more challenging by shortening perches. They are usually made of aluminum and easy to cut. Half a perch will present great difficulties for a Grackle and Starling but small birds will use them easily.

• Suet is a favorite food source during this time because it’s soft and easy to take large chunks. Removing the food source for a week may cause the problem birds to go elsewhere. There are caged-type suet feeders that allow access by smaller birds. Larger woodpeckers will learn to hang on the cage and reach into the feeder for the suet.

Caged suet feeder

Erva caged suet feeder

• Another thing to try is to take note of the timing of their visits. You can offer smaller amounts of food, like a third of a suet cake at a time, or just a cup of seed in a platform feeder so your desired visitors have a consistent food source for part of the day. When the problem visitors show up there is little or no food remaining.

Father's Day Specials Continue!

Wood Thrush Notes      June 14, 2024

Father’s Day Specials Continue

Father’s Day is June 16.  We have several great gifts for the dad in your life he will enjoy for years to come. 

Through Saturday the 15th save 20% on Bat Boxes and ATZ Bluebird Houses, 10% on in stock Nikon Binoculars, 25% on Purple Martin Houses (very limited stock), 20% on Regal 24” Patio Lanterns, and up to 50% on some odds and ends and close-out items on the Bargain table. 

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Father's Day Specials

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Father’s Day Specials

Father’s Day is June 18.  We have several great gifts for the dad in your life he will enjoy for years to come. 

Saturday the 8th through Saturday the 15th save 20% on Bat Boxes and ATZ Bluebird Houses, 10% on in stock Nikon Binoculars, 20% on Purple Martin Houses (very limited stock), 20% on Regal 24” Patio Lanterns, and up to 50% on some odds and ends and close-out items on the Bargain table. 

ATZ Bat Houses 20% off

Patio shadow lanterns 20% off

Purple Martin Houses 20% off

The Impact of Cicadas on Feeding Stations

Without a doubt our feeding stations were very quiet in the month of May due in part to the emergence of the two species of Cicadas.  During a month where we would typically sell approximately 8,000 lbs. of seed per week it was closer to 5,000 lbs.  As much as we disliked the impact of the Cicadas it very much dispels the myth that birds become dependent on our feeders.  Birds always take advantage of available natural food sources and Cicadas certainly were that.  That’s why our feeders get so quiet for a couple of months in the fall as plants and trees produce seeds, nuts and fruit.  The Cicadas provided ample amounts of protein helpful in raising babies.  Now that the Cicadas have mostly disappeared we may see an uptick at feeders, seed and suet.

Window Bird Feeders

We already know all about the enjoyment that bird feeding and watching brings us, but did you know it can provide your feline friends with hours of enjoyment as well?

            Window-mounted bird feeders, or Cat TV as we like to call them, are a great way to provide hours of stimulation for your cats to keep them occupied and (hopefully) cut down on the mischief they will get into if they become bored. Due to the reflective nature of your window glass, it’s difficult for the birds to see inside, so you and your cats can usually get a detailed look at the birds that would normally only be afforded with a pair of binoculars! With many schools closing soon for summer, these feeders can also make a fun and educational gift for kids, giving them an up-close look at the birds they normally only see from a distance.

The models we carry are simple but effective. We recommend using safflower, thus cutting down on the number of unwanted visitors to your new feeder. While your furry friends would be quite content to watch squirrels, grackles, or starlings, you might not enjoy the closeup as much. Installation is easy, too! Simply clean your glass, slightly wet the suction cup, and apply firm pressure for 30 seconds. To ensure they stay attached, every few days it is a good idea to “burp” the suction cup. All this entails is pressing firmly on it until you hear a faint popping sound. This is excess air that has worked its way behind the cup.

If you enjoy your new window feeder, keep in mind that as we get deeper into summer and into peak feeder activity for hummingbirds, we have several window-mounted hummingbird feeders as well!

Migratory Bird Day at Bell's Bend Park

With the cicada emergence in full swing, you may have noticed a reduction in activity at your bird feeders.  Despite this slowdown, we are staying busy here at the Wood Thrush Shop with weekly specials on items ranging from birdhouses to wind chimes, with many things in between!

This weekend, specials include 25% off ATZ Classic Bluebird boxes, 20% off ALL Heartwood boxes, and 20% off Corinthian Bells wind chimes! Other items are on sale as well, and with Father’s Day around the corner, now is the time to get that gift for Dad!

In other news, Bell’s Bend Park will be celebrating Migratory Bird Day this Saturday with activities ranging from a sunrise hike to talks from guest speakers. The fun will begin at 5:30 in the morning with the sunrise hike hosted by Lise Brown, and go till 4 PM with guest speakers including Chris Sloan, Cyndi Rutledge and Debbie Sykes. Admission is free for all events!