When I thinned the perimeter around the cabin and the driveway, I limbed-up a lot of trees. Almost all of ’em, actually. That produced an appealing tidiness, a pleasant visual transition between the cleared area and the woods.
It also eliminated most of the places we could hang bird feeders.
We managed to find a couple of branches that I’d missed, allowing us to place a seed feeder and a nectar feeder. Another seed feeder was waiting for me to figure out what to do with it.
(If you’re thinking that we should use those popular “shepherd’s crook” hangers, please let me know when you’re available to come to Ozarkansas and help me hammer them into solid rock.)
Ideally, I was looking for a way to put feeders on limbless trunks. After much searching, I found and bought a couple of hangers claiming to be capable of just that — strap, cleat, bracket and rod, with a load-bearing capacity of ten pounds. They wouldn’t damage the trees and could be removed easily and relocated.
Quality seems decent. Assembly was a piece of cake. I used one to hang the nectar feeder a little closer to where we’re able to watch the hummingbirds it attracts. The other holds the second seed feeder, now placed upslope behind the picnic table.
I think the latter is right at the weight limit for this hanger. We’ll see how it goes. I may end up fashioning some sort of support cord or cable.
The nectar feeder, in its new location, was drawing hummingbirds within a few minutes.
If you enjoy watching birds as much as we do and you put out feeders, you know that seed is obscenely expensive these days — a lot more than two pence a bag. (If you get that reference, as well as the title of today’s post, you’re probably in bed before nine o’clock most nights.)
We’ll be looking for less costly sources for the nyjer (thistle) and black oil sunflower seeds we feed the locals. We make our own hummingbird nectar.
I expect we’ll stick with these three feeders for now and see how well they do. This winter we’ll add one or two suet feeders.
The Mountain hosts an amazing population of birds. Deb and I haven’t kept a running count — though we probably should — but so far we’ve seen or heard at least three dozen species.
These feeders draw some of them closer. You might consider feeding wild birds somehow frivolous, I suppose, but we don’t. It brings us joy.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable
#LetsGoBrandon #FJB