Thursday, May 5, 2016

Upside down robins

We have a sock of finch seed, a birdfeeder of mealworms, a feeder of a mixture of bird seed and a hanging cage of suet.

Image result for hanging cage of suet

I am surprised at how at ease the woodpeckers and nuthatches are with working upside down or sideways to get some high calorie fat.  Many of the birds ignore the suet but it seems that once they have tried it, they come back for more.


Even though there is good-looking food in all of the feeders, some birds patrol the ground itself and don't feel comfortable eating from suspended feeders, which can sway quite a lot in high winds.  Our cardinals, juncos and robins seem comfortable patrolling the ground for spilled seed and dropped bits of suet.  One robin or so (they mostly look alike to me) looks up at the suet feeder.  He has tried getting on the suet cage and hanging upside down over the edge. He often chips off a few bits of fat and flies to the ground to gobble them up.  


He seems to prefer a hummingbird maneuver, fluttering his wings in mid-air near the cage and nipping some suet quickly, before his strength gives out and he has to land below.  He tries 3 or 4 flutter flights each day and he seems to be getting stronger and more confident.



--
Bill
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