Mountain Man Mondays; “What’s That In Your Hand?”
- July 13, 2009
- Category: Daily Diary
- (20) Comments
This morning, we found Khrysta happily ensconced by our porch munching away on the tender grass. Mountain Man asked me if I’d left the barn door open again. (I’ve done that twice recently but she’s stayed put.) I told him no, she probably just jumped over the fence. I put her away and 10 minutes later she was back out again. We decided to walk the fence line and discovered in the far part of the pasture, some creature had torn away the entire fence. Mountain Man set aside his other plans and spent the entire day making sure my mare would no longer be loose. Supporting my horse habit is not the only way Mountain Man shows his love which leads me to Mountain Man Mondays.
The other day, Mountain Man saw me walk by with something in my hand. He made the mistake of asking me what it was.
“Worms. What else would it be?”
“What are you doing carrying worms around?”
“Feeding the robin. What else would I be doing?”
“I know I’m going to be sorry I asked but why are you feeding the robin worms?”
“You know she sitting on that nest and I don’t want her to have to go looking for food. It’s hard enough work just raising babies. She doesn’t need to be hunting for food too.”
“I should have known.” Mountain Man replied.
For the first time in my life, I started feeding wild birds this year and what started out as a simple plan to put out some seed has turned into a full blown obsession.
As my interest in birds developed, Mountain Man was right there helping me as best he could.
It started out with a simple platform feeder and metal stake he built for me.
One day, I noticed woodpeckers on the feeder. I started doing research and found out woodpeckers are really happiest hanging upside down while eating.
“No problem.” Mountain Man told me when I asked him if he could help me make a feeding station for the woodpeckers.
So, he came up with this ingenious device.
It’s a woodpecker feeder. The top opens and I can insert suet, the woodpeckers hang upside down to eat and there’s a perch there if the birds need it plus it’s attached to our deck so it doesn’t swing around in the wind.
Here’s the woodpecker using it.
And a picture of it with the top open so I can put in the suet bars:
It also comes in handy if you have curious newfies.
After we got the woodpeckers settled in, I wanted to start feeding the hummingbirds. I tried using a window feeder but we were afraid the birds would get hurt because of all the glass in our house.
Mountain Man built a feeder holder which attached to our deck. The actual feeder slides right down on the bar keeping it stable.
I then discovered birds love grape jelly. Not raspberry nor boysenberry. It has to be grape. So, I sent Mountain Man to the store and home he came with the biggest bottle of grape jelly I’ve ever seen. As soon as I filled the blue feeder below with grape jelly, the birds flocked to it.
I became a little bit more serious about my hobby and started feeding the birds fresh worms. They come in a net bag, wrapped up in newspaper and I purchase 10,000 of them at a time.
But fresh worms and plentiful food means baby robins all around the farm.
Thank you Mountain Man for indulging my hobbies and making Red Pine Mountain a sanctuary for dogs, cranky horses and now beautiful wild birds. My world is filled with joyful song.
Very neat ideas. I would love to see woodpeckers besides in photos. Sweet looking dog, too. How will the birds ever get along without you when you relocate? Maybe they'll migrate!
Date: July 13, 2009
Our hubbys sound like two peas in a pod! Mine will listen to me drone on about something I want to do on the farm. Next thing I know, it's done! Even when I think he isn't listening, he is!
You are a woman after my own heart!
Misha
Date: July 13, 2009
How nice! I love the different bird feeders Mountain Man built for your different birdies. He's a good guy! Never heard of birds liking grape jelly. I'll include that in my Friday "Things I Learned This Week" post with a link back here.
Date: July 13, 2009
Everything sounds great til you came to the 10,000 worms. No way! I could scoop them up with something and put them in a bowl maybe. Love the Newfie, I always wanted one of those, wanted to bring one with me when I visited New Hampshire. Down here, he would have to have his own private AC room. Another job well done by Mountain Man!!
Date: July 14, 2009
I like to feed the birds. Your luckly to have Mountain Mans help with making your feeders. Love the woodpecker!
Date: July 14, 2009
Stopping by from SITS to say Hiya!
I love all the pictures! So relaxing!
PS Read the Known Blogger Issues or the top of the right side bar on my blog. You have the same problem.
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Date: July 14, 2009
Now I have to build us a woodpecker feeder. What a great design. I've also never heard about the grape jelly. Is that just a plastic jar lid that you place it in? Do you mix seeds into the jelly? Does the blue color make a difference?
Date: July 14, 2009
Wonderful! That is so neat to be able to have so many ways to feed the different birds
Date: July 14, 2009
Your farm and your wildlife look very healthy! Looks like you have yourself a little Garden of Eden!
Date: July 14, 2009
I saw the picture and thought, "Wow. That is beautiful." I learned some things about birds today. I cannot wait to have my own house so I can have some bird feeders. I think birds are fun to watch. :::visiting from SITS:::
Date: July 14, 2009
I have been feeding birds for years and find it to be one of the most rewarding things I do. Not to pimp my site, but you might enjoy this piece I posted on bird feeding a while back:
http://www.windroot.com/everyman/archives/birdfeed.htm
BTW, as enthused as I am about bird feeding, giving them worms directly is maybe a bridge too far for me.
Date: July 14, 2009
How sweet! What a great Mountain Man you have!
Stopping by from SITs!
Date: July 14, 2009
What an amazing fixer of things required! I love the woodpecker feeder.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Date: July 14, 2009
Popped in from SITS to say hi!
Date: July 14, 2009
Hi Everyone,
Mary, I was worried about us leaving and the birds but I learned you can't stop migrating birds from leaving by feeding them and that birds never depend on one source of food.
Misha, you are very lucky
Karen, thanks.
Becky, I was scared of the worms at first and scooped them out with the newspaper but now I just dive on in. Newfies love water but they don't like hot weather. Mine is happiest in a snow bank in below zero weather. They are great dogs.
Karen, I love the woodpeckers too. We have four of them now.
Old Gray Egg, yes, it's a plastic top that I screwed onto the tree. At first, I put some seeds on top of the jelly but now I can put out plain old jelly and it's gone in a flash. The blue color helps to attract the birds.
Homestay, I do think of this as my wonderful forest in the woods. It's a special place to me.
Thanks all. I really appreciate your taking the time to leave comments
Date: July 14, 2009
I really like your bird feeding story. The part about the worms is funny, I understand completely.
Date: July 14, 2009
How do you keep the crows away ? I hate them.
My cats were afraid of crows (the big big ones) in the country, maybe for good reason…don't know ?
You've never mentioned having cats?
Date: July 14, 2009
Hi Ratty and Alan, thanks for visiting.
Alan, we don't have crows in our yard. Perhaps because they have the fields but we never see them by the house. We don't have cats either because of the dogs. I love cats though.
Date: July 15, 2009
How interesting about the woodpeckers! I never knew they liked to eat upside down.
Date: July 16, 2009
Yeah!!!! The bird woman has emerged in you!!!! I can only smile and enjoy your discovery.
Date: July 16, 2009