I’ve been watching with amusement as a new bird in the yard tries to figure out the best strategy for approaching the bird feeders.
I know there’s a period of adjustment each time you put out a new feeder and usually a week goes by before the backyard flyers use it on a regular basis.
This is the first time, however, I’ve seen such a confused and awkward bird.
The first time I saw Klutz he swooped into the platform feeder like an out-of-control plane on an airport runway. Big and gangly, this Red-bellied Woodpecker nearly skidded out the opposite side before he came to a stop. He landed only briefly before being startled by another bird that dropped gracefully into the feeder.
I didn’t see him again for a few more days and when I did, he approached the Brome Peanut+ feeder (far left on the bird feeder live stream) with the same kamikaze-style of landing. He smashed into it more than landed on it and bounced right off. I saw him do it again a short time later with the same unsuccessful results.
Now Klutz is about the same size as his woodpecker cousin, the Northern Flicker, that makes a regular appearance at this same feeder, but he can’t seem to figure it out. I actually felt a little sorry for him after watching a few misguided attempts.
He gave up on the Peanut+ and set his sights on the peanut wreath feeder beside it. Klutz managed to land successfully on the inner ring but then was scared away when it started to swing from side to side.
I’m not sure if he went back to his nest or a nearby tree and regrouped – I have this image of him plotting like Wile E .Coyote from the old Looney Tune cartoons, drawing diagrams of different approaches – but he returned to try it again.
His next plan involved him flying underneath it and almost hovering for a couple of seconds while he tried to pluck out a peanut. The first couple of times, he left empty-handed because he couldn’t maintain the fluttering in place for long or a possessive Blue Jay would swoop in, guarding what it perceived to be its own personal treasure chest of peanuts.
I practically cheered the first day he flew away with a nut clamped tightly between his beak. And then, sure enough, he was scoring one almost every time he flew by, unless of course, nut blocked by a shrieking blue-feathered harridan.
Feeling more confident, Klutz is now flying under the wreath and grabbing on. He’ll stay there for minutes at a time, hammering away at the shells of the peanuts and gobbling down the treats tucked away inside.
I’m wondering how long it’s going to take him to figure out it’s so much easier to just feed at the Peanut+. It’s built for woodpeckers with a lip along the bottom to tuck their tail feather on and the nuts inside are already out of the shell.
Given how long it took him to master the wreath feeder, I’m not placing any bets on it.
Fast fact: The red patch on a Male Red-Bellied Woodpeckers extends to the forehead, but on a female stops at the back of the neck.
Until later…
they are certainly enjoying those peanuts
Oh, they do indeed. I bought a 10-pound bag about a week and a half ago and it’s already gone!
Great pics! I have one of those peanut+ feeders and if you don’t have a lot of nuisance birds his size I would adjust the tension tighter so it will keep the food port open while he clings. If you adjust it right, he can feed but it will close on grackles. I honestly didn’t know flickers would eat peanuts. Lol
Thanks! I actually rigged my peanut+ so it doesn’t close. I have a few grackles and starlings, but I found no matter how loose I adjusted the tension on it, when the big Flicker landed on it, it would shut, especially if a sparrow joined it. It was the squirrels I worried about more. I’m glad I did it though cause for a period of about a week or two, I had three Flickers coming together – I’m assuming mom, dad and offspring – and two of them would go on it at the same time.
From the pictures it looks like it’s closing. I guess you adjusted it after. I had the opposite problem: I couldn’t at first get the feeder to close when it was set too tight. I’ve been able to loosen it up and get it so bigger woodpeckers and flickers could get on it but really big ones and squirrels make it close.
You’re right Jeff. I hadn’t noticed before I posted them but the Flickers’ arrival was the impetus for “rigging” the feeder. Because I live stream the feeders, I have them placed really high up so I can still have privacy in my yard. Before I figured out how to disable the settings, I kept trying to adjust the them but each time I had to get the ladder out and climb up and down, again and again, which with my fear of heights, was not very enjoyable, lol. Once I disabled it, I kept an eye on the squirrels but after a few times, I think they decided the reward wasn’t worth the effort, especially since there were other treats in the yard they could raid much easier – darn tree rats!
Putting the feeders way up was very smart. I wouldn’t enjoy going up and down a ladder either so finding a full-time solutions would be really important to me too. I have squirrels in my backyard as well. All of my feeders have baffles and none are located close enough to trees to be a threat. I have seen squirrels jump from a tree and fall 20 feet to land on a hopper feeder so I know what they’re capable of-LOL! I noticed in the stream the other day a squirrel climbing on the whole peanut wreath feeder and then he tried the other two just for kicks. Yours are very interesting black breed I haven’t seen before. I love my squirrels since I’ve learned to keep them at their own feeders only. I think the biggest mistake people make with them is underestimating them. They are extremely intelligent and WILL figure out how to get to a feeder if it’s possible.
I’m not sure how many of my blog entries you’ve read but I’ve discussed my squirrel frustration many times, lol. I don’t have a single place in my yard – which is quite small and bordered by a garage, trees and a fence that goes around it – that gives me the distance I need to effectively block squirrels. I used to have only squirrel-proof feeders on the pole system but I enjoy watching the blue jays so much when I run the live stream at work, I broke down and put the wreath feeder up there. I added another baffle that I thought would do the trick but it’s still too close to the garage roof and fence, so the tree rats are now raiding it regularly.
They also jump from the roof of the house into the platform feeder, much to my chagrin. It became obvious quickly that I’d need to learn to live with it or go crazy – after indulging in the latter option for a few weeks, I regained by sanity and learned to get a little more “zen” about the squirrels.
I agree they are smart little critters. I’ve watched them analyze the feeder situation when their first attempts failed and return again and again until they figured it out. The black squirrels here seem to be on the lower end of the food chain when it comes to their grey cousins. The grey ones will chase them away if they’re in the yard at the same time or at least if they’re infringing on their space. The black ones seem to get the spoils only after the grey ones are full or consent to let me grab a bite.
Do you just have grey squirrels where you are?
I haven’t read that many posts yet but that will change I’m sure. I followed you over here from twitter and I really liked what I saw. I rarely follow anybody back unless they have something valuable and useful to me.
There is nothing wrong with being zen about the squirrels. Giving them free range but restricting some of the food like I see you’ve done with the safflower is a perfect compromise. Baffles are of no use if they can jump from anywhere close because it’s the first thing they try. The only thing you might be doing is somewhat limiting by how many can figure it out. Unfortunately, they also learn from each other so that’s only temporary too.
It may be a small yard you have for now but it is a wonderful haven for your backyard friends. Congratulations for giving them so much. Especially in London, ON where I know they need all the help they can get during your winter.
I’ll be sending you messages from time to time. Thanks for being so open and honest.
I love your blog and your photos!