Mockingbird on apple feeder

[HelenB]

Some time ago, Andybright mentioned putting out apples to feed garden birds in the winter. I have now taken a new photo of the pronged feeder I wanted to post, but now can't remember which forum Andy's post was in! Anyway here's the photo - not quite in focus, but we've been having some really grey, dismal, 'English' type weather over here in Texas

I spent the first 34 years of my life in good Old Blighty!
;)

[IanF]

A novel idea with the feeder Helen. I made do with a bent jumbo paperclip to mount the apples, but so far have only attracted some acrobatic Starlings.

[wandalf]

I use coathangers or heavy duty wire for fruit, your idea is terrific.

My male mocker shuns apples as if they were poison, only the butterflies feed on them.

Mocker loves raisins best of all. Isn't it strange how one will feed on a treat the others will ignore?

We have only one male per block in our neighbor, boundaries are most important to these guys. I love it when he is searching for his mate, all night in our crepe myrtle tree he woos her with his love songs.

Truly my favorite bird.

[birdman]

Lovely photo HelenB.

(BTW, you can't fool me - everyone knows it NEVER rains in Texas!!!)

[HelenB]

Birdman - I thought the song said "it never rains in Southern California"!!!

Wandalf - mockers are my favourite song bird. In fact on my very first trip to the States in 1987, the first American birds I put on my US lifelist were a couple of mockingbirds in the backyard of friends in California.

[paula]

Very interesting, HelenB.
I put apples in a spiral suet ball feeders. Seems to work well too.

[steve_nova]

That is not a bad photo by any means!

[KCFoggin]

I tried this all last winter with hardly a taker. I think my problem was that the apples were too wobbly. Your way seems a lot sturdier and perhaps the birds would make use of it more. Thanks Helen :)

[new 2 this]

I impale an apple a day on a previously pruned branch of a dwarf cherry blossom tree, that is just right, there are plenty of other branches for the birds to sit on while they eat it.

This is my second year feeding the birds and last year they wouldn't touch apple but now they devour it, they are Starlings.

[HelenB]

K C,
I bought my apple hanger at the Wild Birds Unlimited store - it has 4 prongs, but I usually only put out 2 apples at a time. People who get orioles can use the prongs for oranges.

[KCFoggin]

Thanks Helen. Will have to check out my WBU. I do get the occasional Oriole so it might serve a couple of birds. :)

[alcedo.atthis]

In the 80's when ringing of Waxwings during irruptions was taking place, I used wire to act as skewers to hold apples on a large frame. The first wire utilised was coat-hangers. It was noted that the apples were getting tainted in the core area. Further investigation found that the apple juice was reacting with the zinc in the galvanised coating. It was thought that this would be detrimental to the health of the birds. I then turned to mild steel. Similar problems then showed with this, with the exception of the zinc factor, that is. Having discussed this with higher authorities, I now cover all my metal wire and pins with aquarium airline tubing. I still have out banks of apples, but do not suffer from the tainting problem.

Malky @ Westhill.