[obol] [OBOL] finch sock feeders - update

[Pat Waldron]

Hi Jacqui,

    This is interesting. I just started to feed thistle this year in a 
small black metal sock feeder. I hung it where raptors could not see it, 
in the shade, up in a dense apple tree. Finches found it and used it 
this summer, it is still up but they don’t use it very much as the seed 
is only half gone after a month that I filled it. ( Maybe it needs 
changing, as the seed might be rancid.) Got to do that.
    My thoughts are unscientific; but it is how I think.

    1. Maybe they can’t see the black thistle in the black feeder, where 
they can with the white feeder. I would try switching them out when they 
are feeding, and see if they come back to the black feeder.

    2. Maybe they are attracted to a Larger feeder, more room, less 
chance of bickering and fights. In my black sunflower platform feeder, I 
put a large wooden block in the middle, so it blocks the view of birds 
on the other side. This way Juncos and Stellers can eat at the same time 
because they don’t see each other, yet, they can see up if a raptor is 
coming.

    3. What brand of white thistle feeder did you get? What store?

    4. Maybe someone else has figured this out, and is marketing White 
feeders. Contact the company, and ask.

    Thank you for sharing this on OBOL. It is finding these little 
idiosyncrasies that makes birding interesting.

    Pat Waldron
    East of Scio

Jacqui Parker wrote:

>Hi OBOL
>
>A while back I posted about my black-sock thistle feeder and how the 
>finches were not using them. I posted that I had switched back to the 
>soft, cheap, white sock and the finches are back.
>
>Well... I was in Ashland over the weekend and found a BIG, WHITE sock 
>feeder - not quite as stiff and plastic-y as the black but considerably 
>more sturdy than the little cheapy white ones.
>
>Well I put it up yesterday in place of the little, soft, white ones - 
>and viola! The finches are already coming to this one - just an FYI.
>
>ALSO in response to my original posts, a few people emailed off list w/ 
>experiences and suggestions: Of all the responses I got, the majority 
>indicated their finches had some aversion to the black socks as well. 
>Others were convinced it's more what the birds are used to.
>
>I may just put together an actual survey..... this is very interesting!
>
>Jacqui (BirdKat)
>
>  
>