We have been using Paul and Carol's suet recipe recently with great success.
The birds are now showing a definite preference for it over the commercial
variety. They love it! Today we saw a throng of birds jostling around for a
chance to feed on the homemade suet and a single yellow-rumped warbler was
on the commercial suet. Both suet feeders are on the same magnolia tree
fairly close to each other.
We have seen the following birds eating the homemade suet:
Downy woodpecker
California scrub jay
Bush tit
Bewick's wren
American robin
Varied thrush
Western bluebird (2 pairs--they visit daily!)
European starling
Yellow-rumped warbler
Dark eyed junco
Fox sparrow
House finch
As pieces fall to the ground, they become delicious morsels for Fox sparrow,
Bewick's wren and Dark eyed juncos who forage below the feeders. We had a
single ruby crowned kinglet in the yard, back during the cold icy period; we
didn't see it on the suet, but it might have tried some when we weren't
looking... we're still waiting for a Townsend's warbler..... and others...
Catherine Otto
Corvallis
-----Original Message-----
From: obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Paul Sullivan
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2017 5:08 PM
To: obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [obol] Re: Paul's ... eerr, Carol's suet
Gerard,
Thanks for the plug. However, the credit really should go to my Carol, who
got the recipe from I don't know where. (A similar recipe has been put out
by Julie Zickefoose of Bird Watcher's Digest.)
We had the same experience when this recipe was put out next to store-bought
suet. The birds ignored the store-bought and cleaned-up the homemade.
Also, note that it does not melt in hot weather.
We have had most of the same species use it, except Steller's Jay and G-c
Kinglets. The Steller's come for our peanuts in the shell and black oil
sunflower, but haven't learned to cling on the suet cage, like the scrub
jays and flickers do. G-c kinglets are rare here.
Good birding,
Paul Sullivan
--------------------
Subject: Paul's suet
Date: Sat Jan 28 2017 17:49 pm
From: gerardlillie AT outlook.com
Hello All,
A few weeks ago Paul Sullivan posted a recipe for home made suet. I want to
thank Paul for that as it is the best suet I have ever used, as reported by
all the birds feeding on it! It far surpasses in popularity the store bought
suet I have used previously. In fact, I had to remove the store bought suet
from the suet feeder as it was ignored completely. I am now about to make a
third batch. I also do not call it suet anymore. Once cooled I cut it up
into rectangles and it is Paul's Bird Bars. Here is a list of the birds in
no particular order which are currently going to it.
N. Flicker- 2
Downy Woodpecker- 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch- 2+
Bewick's Wren- 1
Common Bushtit- bazillion
Dark-eyed Junco- several (another case of learned feeding behavior?) Song
Sparrow- 2+ (ditto) Scrub Jay-2 Steller's Jay- 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet- 1 noticed today for the first time and never have
seen one at suet before Townsend's Warbler- 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler- 1
Lesser Goldfinch- occasional
I have enjoyed watching various combinations of birds feeding at the same
time. Today there was a bright male Townsend's Warbler, Golden-crowned
Kinglet and Bewick's Wren feeding at the same time. At other times two
Townsend's Warblers have been at it when a cloud of Bushtits show up and the
warblers look overwhelmed and move off until the little grey blobs of
feathers move on. The Townsend's in particular are very confiding while
feeding. Many times I have walked past within four feet and though they keep
an eye on me stay at the feeder, an especially fabulous treat to see so
close up. So, thanks Paul, good recommendation.
Gerard Lillie
Portland, OR
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