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The Magic of Nyjer Seed - Shooting the Finch

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Home Builder with Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 CSL#642819


The Magic of Nyjer Seed - Shooting the Finch

 

I enjoy feeding the wild birds around the back of the house. Living in the foothills allows for a variety of birds, and there is a bonus. The seeds lost are snatched up by the dove, turkey, squirrels and the rest if the scavengers. Despite the number of feeders, our bird Feeders have taken a beating this past winter.

Many were lost to weather, winds and rains (snow) caused many to fall and crack or break. Some suffered from the attack of the squirrels, and unknown nocturnal creatures who saw the easy target. A few just wore out over time. In looking for new birdfeeders, we came across a feeder for the finches. This sock-like feeder gets filled with Nyjer Seeds (thistle) and the finch have to pick out the seeds through the sock. None of the other birds have attempted to eat the seeds, and no other creatures have been seen.

The finches are all over the sock, all the time. It seems to be a big hit!

 nyjer seed feeder sock


Comments (24)

James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Have never seen a sock feeder, but the finches sure seem to have taken to it. 

Feb 21, 2012 09:19 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

We use them in our yard too, Tom, although they have never been as popular as that. Isn't that a fun picture!

Feb 21, 2012 09:44 PM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Hi Tom, I've never seen this type of feeder neither, it sure seems to be squirrel proof!  :-) 

Feb 21, 2012 09:44 PM
Ralph Janisch ABR CRS Broker
Janisch & Co. - Conroe, TX
Selling Northwest Houston to good people like you!

Those are great little birds.  Used to see them when we lived in Colorado.

Feb 21, 2012 09:55 PM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Tom - For some reason - probably the hawks, owls and eagles that live in the area - we don't have any squirrels to worry about, but we do have a feeder than shuts out bigger birds by having the housing slide down if there's too much weight on it - so our finches and nuthatches have their own feeder. We have two others for all the red-winged blackbirds and jays that show up seasonally, and four or five doves that sweep up the ground. We always feed sunflower seeds because the little stuff tends to get lost and is a lot more expensive.

Feb 22, 2012 12:48 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Tom~love this idea!  Once my sweet kitty (who's a hunter, too) decides to meet his  maker, I will look into this as a possibility. I love watching birds and my hubby bought me another hummingbird feeder--left the last one at our old home where they fed in the window just above our dining room table--a wonderful sight to see at breakfast.

Feb 22, 2012 01:27 AM
Sidney Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula
Realty Works Temecula - Temecula, CA
Realty Works Temecula

Tom:  Very nice idea...I know I had one of those finch feeders at one time but you're right they get messed up and you have to replace them.  

Feb 22, 2012 06:50 AM
Hella Mitschke Rothwell
(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI
Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Tom: A great feeder, and wonderful to see the birds from closeup. I'll have to try it. All my past feeders attracted the wrong kind of critter.

Feb 22, 2012 09:18 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Just keeping you on your toes Ron.  hehehe

Feb 22, 2012 09:47 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

If I could keep the woodpeckers off my house they would be my favorite too. Me likes the finches Bliz!

Feb 22, 2012 09:47 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

The feeder has been pretty easy to maintain, I would suggest it James.

Feb 22, 2012 09:47 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

It has been fun Lenn, thanks for stopping in.

Feb 22, 2012 10:30 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

 

No squirrels yet Silvia.

But as anyone who deals with squirrels, they will find a way. It's just a matter of time.  :)

Feb 22, 2012 10:30 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

They are cute Jeanne and Ralph.

Feb 22, 2012 10:31 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

 

Sounds like a solid plan that you have. I know what you mean about the expensive seeds Dick.

Feb 22, 2012 10:31 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I find that the birdfeeders keep the cat entertained too Gayle.

Feb 22, 2012 10:31 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

So you know what I mean Jane.

Feb 22, 2012 10:32 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Hella, if you like finches, this is the answer. All finches, all the time.

Feb 22, 2012 10:32 AM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Hi Tom - The squirrels tear up our feeders so we have to be careful what we hang.  If you haven't had that problem with the sock feeder, maybe the squirrels just don't like thistle.  We feed the squirrels in their own feeders and we toss lots of mixed nuts out on the back grass (or what used to be grass), and there are times when there are a dozen different kinds of birds and critters grazing.  I love it!

Feb 22, 2012 01:49 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I think the squirrels are just planning their attack Susan. They will make a strike sometime soon.  :)

We try not to just feed the animals on the ground, it attracts a whole host of wildlife. This would include some undesirables.

 

Feb 22, 2012 02:07 PM