Pinecone Bird Feeders

[Karen]

I scatter seed on the snow in the back yard, outside the kitchen window, and it's just the regular "bird seed mix" from the supermarket - I get juncos, sparrows, blue jays sometimes and a mama and papa cardinal. Some years we have a mourning dove pair, but they are very shy, and I haven't seen them this year. We are also feeding squirrel, a wild rabbit - we see the rabbit tracks when there is newfallen snow, and a wild turkey or two.

I haven't done a pine cone feeder here, as I know the squirrels will just cut the string and run off with it - there's a steep slope with lots of brush in the back yard - lilacs and yews, maple and a huge maple tree, so the squirrels can get to just about anything easily!

Sparks, it may take a couple days for the birds to "find" your offering, then they'll visit regularly I bet! Look out for nuthatches and chickadees - they particularly like things they can perch on to eat!

[sparks19]

Well I'm hoping the dogs will be a squirrel deterrent lol but the birds don't seem to mind the dogs... perhaps because they keep other predators out lol. We;ve ended up with a couple of nests on our porch rafters.

We will definitely be keeping a look out

[Freedom]

Do the birds eat OFF the pinecone, or do they eat the cone as well?

[Karen]

Do the birds eat OFF the pinecone, or do they eat the cone as well?

The birds can perch on the pinecone, and eat the seed and peanut butter off of it. If there are still pine nuts in the cone, they will eat those as well.

[AdoreMyDogs]

I wish I could feed the birds, but I know with bird feeders come squirrels and my dogs and squirrels do NOT mix. I'd never make my yard appealing to squirrels and even birds are in danger if they fly off the tree and land on the ground to eat the fallen seeds. The dogs have way too high of a pray drive. I'd feel terrible if I caused any animals to fall victim to my pray driven doggers.

[sparks19]

Yeah I hear ya adoremydogs... my dogs l uckily don't seem interested in birds but belle gets excited by hearing baby birds chirping lol. As for squirrels the dogs chase them but are too loud out of the gate that the squirrels get a BIG warning before hand in time to get away lol

that being said... they did catch a baby rabbit once not sure where it came from but we were outside at the time and it was just in the middle of the yard and the results were unfortunate but... dogs will be dogs

[Freedom]

Oh I got it now, thanks.