Questions about Fintel's Feeders and Water Features on 5/8/19 OLLI Class

Following are links to answers for questions raised in our class on 5/8/19. All links will take you to earlier posts on this blog.

Sources of the Wood Bark Suet Sandwich Woodpecker Feeder, plus Droll Yankee Domed Cage Feeder, and the Humzinger Hummingbird Feeder and Ant Trap,  plus the The recipe for the suet we use are all available at this LINK.

Details of our latest design for the Safe Haven Cage Feeder is available HERE

Avian Aquatics Misters and Drippers are available from Birds Choice via Amazon HERE

For details on Leaf Misting for warblers and hummingbirds click HERE 

As I mentioned in our 5/8/19 class, Avian Aquatics Bird-Creeks are no longer available, but if you search, you should still be able to find shallow water features with moving water, or you can be creative and make your own.

At this LINK you can see the amazing results of a simple shallow (1 to 2 inch deep) moving water feature on the Dry Tortugas. Even birds shown on branches were attracted to the water feature, and just waiting their turn.

No Melt Peanut Butter Suet and Woodbark Suet Sandwich

Hi All - The below link will take you to past posts about the 2 above topics, including details for making the suet. And in case you are worried about off-smells as you make it, our son came home when I was making some and said, "Hey Dad, whatever you are making it smells great"......I will say that after I told him what I was making, he decided it really was for the birds.

SUET

Summary of Oct 18 field trip to Fintel's yard, Oster Rocks Rd, and the Cape Henlopen Hawk watch

On this field trip we observed 45 species, including a few notables such as a Rufous/Allen's type Hummingbird, and a Golden Eagle. The eagle came by the hawk watch late, so most class members had already left. Two other lesser highlights were a Red-breasted Nuthatch at the hawk watch, and a very close and cooperative Ruby-crowned Kinglet on Oyster Rocks Rd.

In the Fintel's yard we had several questions about feeders, so following are a few links:

The Wood Bark Suet Sandwich Woodpecker Feeder is available through Amazon. (click for link)

The Droll Yankee Domed Cage Feeder is also available through Amazon. Remember that the dome on this feeder is not squirrel proof, so it should be protected by a squirrel baffle. Good squirrel baffles are available locally at Ace hardware, etc.

The Humzinger Hummingbird Feeder is also available through Amazon, as is the Ant Trap.

Our favorite suet recipe is:

No Melt Bird Suet –

Sally Fintel and  WildBird Magazine,  Dec. 1994

18 oz. crunchy peanut butter

2 cups (1 lb.) lard – no substitutions

4 cups quick oats

4 cups yellow corn meal

2 cups white flour

2/3 cup granulated sugar

Melt lard and peanut butter together over low heat. Remove from heat and thoroughly mix in remaining ingredients. Transfer to shallow Styrofoam veggie or meat containers. Cover & store in refridge or freeze. Slice and use to fill suet stick, as needed. Birds love this all year round.

Wood Bark Suet Sandwich Woodpecker Feeder

Works like a charm, you saw it today, below is the link to buy one....AND I make no profit from any sales of it......AND yes, nuthatches also like it.

Birds Choice

No-melt Peanut Butter Suet

No Melt Peanut Butter Suet – by Sally Fintel

18 oz. crunchy peanut butter

2 cups (1 lb.) lard – no substitutions

4 cups quick oats

4 cups yellow corn meal

2 cups white flour

2/3 cup granulated sugar

Melt lard and peanut butter together over low heat. Remove from heat and thoroughly mix in remaining ingredients. Transfer to shallow Styrofoam veggie or meat containers. Cover & store in refridge or freeze. Slice and use to fill suet stick, as needed. Birds love this all year round.

Sep 18, 2013 - Visits to Fintel and Edelen Yards

Misters do work, although the exact timing is up to the birds. Above photos of Black and White Warbler and Parula Warbler were taken about 2 pm today (9/18) as the birds were using the Fintel's mister. About the same time a Pileated Woodpecker visited our yard.

Now as promised this morning, below is the Peanut Butter Suet recipe. Also, the Woobark Suet Sandwich woodpecker feeder you saw is available from Birds Choice, as is the suet for it in case you do not want to make your own.

Peanut Butter No Melt Bird Suet 

Sally Fintel and WildBird Magazine,  Dec. 1994

18 oz. crunchy peanut butter

2 cups (1 lb.) lard – no substitutions

4 cups quick oats

4 cups yellow corn meal

2 cups white flour

2/3 cup granulated sugar

Melt lard and peanut butter together over low heat. Remove from heat and thoroughly mix in remaining ingredients. Transfer to shallow Styrofoam veggie or meat containers. Cover & store in refridge or freeze. Slice and use to fill suet stick, as needed. Birds love this all year round.