Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Small suet to go, please

Red-bellied Woodpecker
It's a beautiful afternoon, although still too chilly for our taste. We were just back from a short walk and saw this red-bellied woodpecker grabbing a meal to go. Usually we get pictures of them staying still, so we thought we'd post an action shot for a change.

2 comments:

  1. That's a wonderful action photo. I have both the male and female feeding on suet in Voorhees, NJ.

    My problem is the squirrels. No matter what I do they find a way to pick through the cage. Any suggestions?

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  2. Thanks for the comment. The squirrels have been impossible this winter! They destroyed one suet feeder already; the one specifically designed for only the birds able to hang upside down. One of them chewed all the way through the wood frame so the cage piece fell right out. They are also working their way through this feeder. Usually we use very very thin wire to extend between the hook at the branch and the feeder making it impossible for them to reach it. This year they are even more acrobatic than usual and shimmy down the wire to the suet. Putting a baffle over it didn't work either. Even using suet with just bugs and no seeds or peanuts which they supposedly don't like didn't stop them; they went for it anyway. Suggestions; no, but we can absolutely sympathize with your problem! Sometimes Chris throws ice cubes at them when she is really frustrated. They just come right back though.

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