4 ms·

I have a 1 ft. x 1 ft. platform with 1 inch sides, which I hang from a huge Oak tree. I put in peanuts, and wild bird seed. The black birds, and the squirels

I have a 1 ft. x 1 ft. platform with 1 inch sides, which I hang from a huge Oak tree. I put in peanuts, and wild bird seed. The black birds, and the squirels only eat the peanuts. The smaller bids eat the seeds. I have only seen the Squirrels chase away the black birds, but there are days when it's the other way around. The smaller birds wait until the peanuts are mostly gone, and they go in. Since I put in my bird feeder, I have noticed more birds of all species some using my property. I have had a small bird (I think a finch) set up nest on my front porch 3 times. The nests are a few yards from the feeder, and bath. I have noticed small birds eating spiders under my eaves. Since man has built houses, and paved land; I can't see how a bird feeder does much of anything besides bring in a lot of species. Peanuts will bring in rats too. Squirels bury the peanuts, and rats will dig them up. Squirels seem to forget where they buried their stash? I probally over feed with the peanuts. I've noticed the black birds will squawk for peanuts around 4 pm., and the Squirels practically tell me to feed them. There was one who used to rattle tge screen door. I've noticed this year in particular, the watering platform is used by more birds, and insects. I could be me. I might be thinking they are thirsty because of the drought, but I just see a lot of action in that water. (If you supply water, try to change it daily. There's some bacteria going around.)

jakear 5y ago
> If you supply water, try to change it daily. There's some bacteria going around. I know the answer is obvious, but I don’t know what it is. Why is promoting animal growth better than promoting bacteria growth?
- MikeTheGreat 5y ago
  I don't know for sure, but off the top of my head I can come up with two reasons: 1. Bacteria can be dangerous (for the animals, for us) 2. Birds are beautiful and squirrels are adorable (esp. with their their fuzzy tails). A pool of sludge is repulsive. So, uhm, I like animal growth better for personal, subjective reasons :)
- foxhop 5y ago
  Animals have an inherently higher worth in terms of energy, niche, process, consciousness. Bacteria left unchecked, could wipe out a species due to it's crazy exponential growth factors. For example over running the immune system. Lately we have had scientific observations of some or of illness killing many birds across many species. In this case you clean the "watering hole" if you are going manage that artificial shared resource to prevent being part of the problem.
- birbs 5y ago
  One isn’t inherently better than the other, but if you spend time making a platform for birds, you probably want to enjoy looking at them rather than let them die.
cletus 5y ago
> Squirels seem to forget where they buried their stash? This is well-documented. In the wild they do this with acorns. It's estimated they "remember" ~70% of their buried acorns. What's crazy is the other 30% is where the trees come from.

jakear 5y ago

> If you supply water, try to change it daily. There's some bacteria going around. I know the answer is obvious, but I don’t know what it is. Why is promoting animal growth better than promoting bacteria growth?

MikeTheGreat 5y ago
I don't know for sure, but off the top of my head I can come up with two reasons: 1. Bacteria can be dangerous (for the animals, for us) 2. Birds are beautiful and squirrels are adorable (esp. with their their fuzzy tails). A pool of sludge is repulsive. So, uhm, I like animal growth better for personal, subjective reasons :)
foxhop 5y ago
Animals have an inherently higher worth in terms of energy, niche, process, consciousness. Bacteria left unchecked, could wipe out a species due to it's crazy exponential growth factors. For example over running the immune system. Lately we have had scientific observations of some or of illness killing many birds across many species. In this case you clean the "watering hole" if you are going manage that artificial shared resource to prevent being part of the problem.
birbs 5y ago
One isn’t inherently better than the other, but if you spend time making a platform for birds, you probably want to enjoy looking at them rather than let them die.

cletus 5y ago

> Squirels seem to forget where they buried their stash? This is well-documented. In the wild they do this with acorns. It's estimated they "remember" ~70% of their buried acorns. What's crazy is the other 30% is where the trees come from.