Anonymous wrote:What kind of seed should I buy?

Sunflower is great .

Anonymous wrote:How do you keep rats away?

You can't really, though they are more interested in restaurants. Most people are more likely to get field mice anyway.

Anonymous wrote:I work with an ornithologist. You should NOT be feeding birds right now.

I don’t think so.

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/feeding-your-backyard-birds

How do you keep rats away?

I work with an ornithologist. You should NOT be feeding birds right now.

Our local birder recommended using "hot" sunflower seeds (seed infused with chili pepper) - it won't bother the birds, but will deter mammals. You can get them at any bird seed store.

We have a pair of bluebirds working to fledge their second brood this season. It is just the cutest thing: the babies from the first brood are helping Mama and Papa bird with the new brood. As a family, they tidied up their old nest before Mama laid her eggs (they nested again before we had a chance to clean the birdhouse). Now they are bringing food to feed the new brood. My heart is full!

We had bluebird fledglings leave our box yesterday morning! Mom and Dad used seed from our feeders for the babies, which surprised me. This year I put out Coles Hot Meats. The squirrels won’t eat them because of the hot pepper, but we get tons of songbirds!

What kind of seed should I buy?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two questions:

How do you keep mosquitos from lying eggs in your birdbath?

Does anyone know what the cute black and grey birds at my feeder are called? It is a very sharply delineated pattern—looks like they are wearing little formal wear or something.

Maybe gray catbirds?

Anonymous wrote:Two questions:

How do you keep mosquitos from lying eggs in your birdbath?

Does anyone know what the cute black and grey birds at my feeder are called? It is a very sharply delineated pattern—looks like they are wearing little formal wear or something.

Maybe gray catbirds?

My parents live in a high rise (18-20 floors) - they snuck a feeder on their balcony. I've seen squirrels climb that far (seriously) but should I warn them about *shudder* rats or mice? This is in Clarendon, so it's high density.

My mom loves to watch the birds!!

Bears love birdseed and will easily destroy bird feeders or just pour it directly into their mouths.

Anonymous wrote:I feed them on my terrace. I love birds.

Awesome!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Normally this is a good idea, but with the recent influx of bears to NoVA, people are advising not to put out bird feeders.

Bears like birdseed?

BS They don't fit into the bird feeder.

Anonymous wrote:Normally this is a good idea, but with the recent influx of bears to NoVA, people are advising not to put out bird feeders.

Bears like birdseed?