[jdsl1998]

Hello, We are moving from snowy Ohio to The Villages in January. We have bird houses in our yard now. Does anyone have experience with bird houses in The Villages?

[tippyclubb]

Interested in seeing what the response will be to this thread.

Also would like to know if bird feeder's are allowed, a finch feeder?

[PaPaLarry]

Originally Posted by jdsl1998

Hello, We are moving from snowy Ohio to The Villages in January. We have bird houses in our yard now. Does anyone have experience with bird houses in The Villages?

Yes, bird houses and feeders are allowed!! We have some real beautiful cardinals here along with, finches, bluebirds, mocking birds, blue jays etc etc etc!!! We also have lots of squirrels, who like to raid the feeders! hehe I hang from metal plant rod, the feeder (But I put grease on pole, to keep off the squirrels) and it works well. I think theres a bird watching club in The Villages also. Birdhouses are nice to have in your yard also. Good luck

[mulligan]

The problem with bird feeders, is that you feed birds by day, and rodents (including rats) by night.

[mfp509]

Mulligan is correct about rodents. I love to see the birds as much as anyone but won't have a birdfeeder because of the other animals it attracts. This has happened in my neighborhood due to feeders - mice or rats in the attic, squirrels chewing on cable wires, fox eating the seeds - once the feeders taken away everything was fine.

[Bogie Shooter]

Birding Club 4thSATX5,6,7,8,9,12@9
AM Paradise
Elaine Kersey 17927 Se 86th
Auburn Avenue
(352) 259-2431

[Spectreron]

Mice, rats and squirrels come first, followed closely by the snakes looking for mice, rats and squirrels!

[lovinganimals]

I have a beautiful lighthouse bird feeder in my courtyard that was left by the previous owner. I put bird food in it and some beautiful birds came to visit. About 2 months later I noticed a big fat mouse type rodent (maybe a Vole?). Then there was a tiny mouse, then 6. I had to stop putting food out and all the birds went away. Very sad, but I don't want to attract so many other animals to my yard.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by lovinganimals

I have a beautiful lighthouse bird feeder in my courtyard that was left by the previous owner. I put bird food in it and some beautiful birds came to visit. About 2 months later I noticed a big fat mouse type rodent (maybe a Vole?). Then there was a tiny mouse, then 6. I had to stop putting food out and all the birds went away. Very sad, but I don't want to attract so many other animals to my yard.

I am so glad that you said that. It is true, but on the plus side, everywhere there is an opportunity to see beautiful birds. AND nature provides for their food.


My favorites are the Sandhill Cranes. They are BIG birds and will stand nearby on the green when you are putting sometimes.

[cquick]

Last year I put a birdfeeder in the middle of my butterfly garden and the only birds I attracted were blackbirds and pigeons!

On the plus side, the were so messy that I had a beautiful crop of sunflowers beneath and around the birdfeeder. some of the sunflowers got to be 56 feet tall, some were multi flowering shorter type, there must have been several variety of sunflower seeds in the bird feed!

[Happydaz]

Originally Posted by cquick

Last year I put a birdfeeder in the middle of my butterfly garden and the only birds I attracted were blackbirds and pigeons!

On the plus side, the were so messy that I had a beautiful crop of sunflowers beneath and around the birdfeeder. some of the sunflowers got to be 56 feet tall, some were multi flowering shorter type, there must have been several variety of sunflower seeds in the bird feed!

56 feet tall sounds like "Jack and the Beanstalk.".

[cquick]

Originally Posted by Happydaz

56 feet tall sounds like "Jack and the Beanstalk.".

waaaay too many fingers hitting the keys....how about 5 foot tall? better? or maybe I meant 60 inches tall? who knows? I probably needed another cup of coffee!

[jdsl1998]

sounds like we should bring the bird houses but not the bird feeders....Thanks for all the in put..I knew I could count on you guys!

[Carl in Tampa]

I've had a different experience. I've had bird feeders in my back yard in Tampa (75 miles away) for decades and have found ways to deal with the squirrels, et. al.

I put a 5" pvc pipe around the poles supporting each bird feeder. I painted them dark green so they blend with the scenery. Now it's true that occasionally a squirrel will climb the pole anyway, but the feeders I use have doors that close when the weight of a squirrel is detected. The weight detector can be adjusted.

Now, it's true that even this doesn't keep all rodents away. The song birds, particularly cardinals, spill bird feed on the ground when they eat from the feeders and the squirrels, et. al. will feed on the ground.

There is a "squirrel proof" feeder available that hangs from a tree limb or pole which makes it difficult for the squirrel to get to it. It is a long plastic tube, similar to a finch feeder, but when the squirrel gets to the feeding platform his weight activates a battery operated motor which causes the entire feeder to spin, throwing the squirrel to the ground.

It's called the Yankee Flipper Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder.

You will love this; it gets better at the end. xhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEW9TG6Dcgg You will have to copy this link, remove the x on the front and put it in your browser. I found that if left as a link it changes each time it is watched.


As a "Florida Boy" I'm often amused by the concern expressed by people from other states who are overly concerned about the presence of bugs, rodents, snakes and wildlife coming in their yards. Folks, this is Florida. They are there. The presence of a little bit of bird seed isn't going to make a lot of difference and the joy of having song birds constantly visiting your yard is worth the cost.

In our yard in Tampa we had regular visitors who came so often that we could recognize them as individuals. Also, Cardinals almost always came in pairs and certain ones came at certain times of the day.

Birds in your yard are a source of great joy.