New and unwelcome feeder bird...

[wtow...@roadrunner.com]

11/14/12
It finally happened. Twelve Wild Turkey were at my feeder early this morning. They have been seen regularly about a quarter mile away for over a year now but have now made an excursion into my part of town (Bar Harbor). They seemed hesitant to go the ground feeder which is under a bush. They even intimidated my "gang of five" Blue Jays that have been ruling the feeder area for some time now. I know many of you have had them for some time now but this is new to me. Maybe I will get a bigger cat.
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[Merrilee Brown]

Several years ago I stopped using any feed with corn in it. Not perfect, but I like to think the lack of corn keeps away those hungry, messy big birds.

[Marie]

            I use only sunflower and  millet plus suet but the big birds have found my feeding area (and apparently like it) - one or two once or twice a year up until this year - then two adults with three young ones came around late August - now the flock has multiplied to 8 full grown turkeys with almost daily visits over the past two weeks.   Those birds are doing well since introduced to Maine how many years ago now?   Fine a way to enjoy them.  Marie  South Portland

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[Holly and Stephen Torsey]

Turkeys love sunflower seed. We've had as many as 60+ at a time around our feeders, but only when snow depths covered their mast. Most of the time they move from their night roosts in our woods through the orchard without any detours to the feeders.

We are delighted to have had them here all these years.

 

Holly & Stephen Torsey- Whitefield

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From: Marie <mij...@maine.rr.com>
To: 'Merrilee Brown' <merr...@roadrunner.com>; maine...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 3:09 PM
Subject: RE: [Maine-birds] New and unwelcome feeder bird...

[Bruce Bartrug]

If you want to keep them off your little-bird feeder (of any size or type), simply surround that feeder with wire fencing of sufficient size to let the blue jays and smaller in.  I did so on a platform feeder on a pole.  But frankly I can't see why you'd want these interesting birds completely eliminated.  It's been 150 years since they've been present in New England and I for one am glad to have them back.  Yes, I feed them, but they also eat apples from the several trees in the yard and insects out of the garden.

bab