Birds may know there is a cold winter coming
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
Eugene, Oregon
October 16, 2016 7:47pm CST
With the recent change in our weather to normal fall rains and cooler temperatures, the birds have returned to feeders in our area. Summer saw far fewer birds than usual and while working at the bird seed store, people kept coming in and asking us where all the birds were. I guess there was plenty to eat without visiting feeders and the heat drove to higher elevations.
As you see from the photo that Anne took yesterday and calls "Refuge," there are plenty of birds at my Nyjer seed feeder. Nyjer is a tiny black seed also called "thistle" (though it is not thistle). Goldfinches and Pine Siskins love it and mob feeders.
9 people like this
11 responses
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Oct 16
I have always wondered--and you might know the answer--does feeding the birds like that hurt their ability to forage for food on their own in the wild? You know how they often tell people not to feed wild animals, because then they'll become dependent on the handout and therefore not learn to hunt for food on their own? Does the same thing apply to birds?
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@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
17 Oct 16
No, birds forage all around and their absence for quite a while meant that they were finding plenty eat without feeders. Another myth is that feeding hummingbirds will prevent them from migrating. Bird behavior seems to be in their DNA. The owner of the store taught Ornithology at the University of Oregon for 35 years, he knows far more than I.
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@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Oct 16
@JamesHxstatic Sounds good to me! Thanks for clarifying!
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@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
17 Oct 16
i used to put out a similar feeder, but nary a bird 'f any kind e'er visited such, lol. i'm glad that the birds've returned to yer parts. my fav's 've left fer their winter grounds sadly. i reckon i'm fortunate to've my lil sanctuary coz when the heat t'was'n (this past awful july'n 'ts triple digits), the birds purty much all hung out back here. poor dears pantin' 'n waitin' their turns ('r runnin' off others) so's they could take a coolin' dip'n the waterfall 'n fetch 'em a drink safely.
beautiful lil birds :)
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@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
17 Oct 16
@JamesHxstatic sparrows, 3 diff'rent doves, robins, blue jays, yellow finch 'n the lil red house finch mostly. do get surprise visitors from time to time, though they're brief'n their stay.
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@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
18 Oct 16
@crazyhorseladycx Good, quite a few then.
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@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
17 Oct 16
What kind of birds do you have in the winter.
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@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
17 Oct 16
yeah..We too in India have got a place known for Birds. Birds will come there even from different contents. Is it not surprising.?
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@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
17 Oct 16
I was just thinking "are those female gold finches" and I think you answered my question. Let's hope a 'cold winter' is all they know about--hahaha~
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@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
17 Oct 16
I have never seen this feeder in picture before ,it is brilliant! They say the nyjer plant is native to Ethiopia.Here people feed the thrushes and mynahs with millet.
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
17 Oct 16
Most seed sold in the store where I work is a blend of sunflower seeds and peanuts. A variation adds millet.
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@AutumnSnow (4583)
•
17 Oct 16
So very true all we need to do is pay attention to the nature and animals for signs of change. I've notice a decline in bird activity around here as well also annoying little insects like flies and such. I think cold is definitely knocking on our door.
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