Painted Bunting

[Western]

Sorry for the photo quality. We have the Bunting's all the time, they seem mostly attached to thick brush. Took a while to find the feed they prefer in a blend. I will try to get a better photo, they are quite shy.

 

[jinman]

Yep, quite shy. We are lucky to get good shots out the door of our house if we are very quiet. However, last spring when my aerobic serivice guy was here, I was talking about birds coming to the feeder about 20' from where we were standing. I mentioned how pretty the painted buntings are and he said he had never heard of them. I told him to take a look at the feeder because two of them were on it. He and I both were shocked.

 

[Joe Dirt]

We love to see them and also the Indigo Bunting that come through about the same time. they eat better than I do,thanks, Joe Dirt

 

[EddieWalker]

I've only seen one Painted Bunting at my place, but I seen quite a few Indigo Buntings. The Painted are just amaizing. Hope you get a really great picture of him!!!!

Eddie

 

[Western]

I'm going to try. We have 2 pairs full time, once and a while there are more. Eddie , I bet if you get a feeder and put it behind your house on the edge of that brush by your hot tub you'd see them. Best feed I have found is from WalMart, the Scotts Southwestern songbird blend, also brings in allot of finches, Blue Birds ect tra.

 

[EddieWalker]

That's how I saw the one that I did see. Unfortunately, my area isn't what they prefer, and they are extremly rare around here. Blue Buntings are everywhere and I can see dozens of them while going for a walk at my place.

After the divorce, I sort of get rid of all the feeders. Kind of part of the great clensing!!! LOL

Eddie

 

[Western]

After the divorce, I sort of get rid of all the feeders. Kind of part of the great clensing!!! LOL

Eddie

I understand brother, been there. Seeing your picture with Oscar, I'd say your pretty "cleansed " now:laughing:, time to live again.:thumbsup:

 

[waltsp]

I have property near Medina Lake in the hill country. I have several pairs that come to the feeders, to both the hanging Block Feeder and tube feeder.
They are easily startled. The Cardinals (as many as a dozen at a time),Scrub Jays, Titmice, and Carolina Chickadees have started getting used to my presence. Within minutes of turning off the tractor, but still within 6 feet of the feeder, they all start returning to feed

 

[Western]

waltsp, Excellent pictures!!, is that a "cube" in the wire feeder, or what is it,? I have a round wire feeder I got as a gift but what I have now would go through it like sand.

 

[jinman]

waltsp, Excellent pictures!!, is that a "cube" in the wire feeder, or what is it,? I have a round wire feeder I got as a gift but what I have now would go through it like sand.

It looks like a suet block to me or maybe just a seed block the same size as a suet block. Suet block feeders are often small green cages.

 

[Western]

It looks like a suet block to me or maybe just a seed block the same size as a suet block. Suet block feeders are often small green cages.

That's what I told my wife, suet feeder. I have never used one here. I have been told the heat would break them down fairly quick. The seed block may work if I trim it to fit in the feeder. it is maybe 2" radius so not very big. A little bigger than a "Pringles" can.

 

[waltsp]

The suet feeder is much smaller, this is about four to six times larger.
There is a Scotts songbird blend available in block form, about 6 " square 2" thick. I use it as a reserve for the tube feeder since I am at this property mainly on the weekends right now. The birds have to work harder to get the seeds. You can hear the Scrub Jays pounding on from quite a distance. The Cardinals, Scrub Jays and Titmice seem to enjoy working on it. the Titmice even hang upside down.

 

[jinman]

The suet feeder is much smaller, this is about four to six times larger.
There is a Scotts songbird blend available in block form, about 6 " square 2" thick.

Thanks Walt. It really didn't look like a suet block, but the whole thing wasn't visible. Suet blocks are normally "glued" together with an animal fat compound that looks like epoxy. Do squirrels try to chew into the block through the cage?

I'm gonna post just one good painted bunting picture my wife took. The next one is a goldfinch and a female painted bunting. Then the next two are goldfinches and painted buntings and a house finch with the red neck and belly. These are clearest photos we have of maybe 20 or 30.

 

[Western]

Nice photos Jim! I like the Goldfinches too, see more in the winter that's for sure, they go crazy for Thistle seed.

 

[waltsp]

Thanks Walt. It really didn't look like a suet block, but the whole thing wasn't visible. Suet blocks are normally "glued" together with an animal fat compound that looks like epoxy. Do squirrels try to chew into the block through the cage?

I do not know how they keep the seeds in a block (nothing obvious), but it works. It does take considerable force to break the block apart.

At this time, I do not have any squirrels at this location. At least I have not seen any. But because of the sheer numbers of birds, I had to replace the wimpy original chain with a heavier one.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

That's how I saw the one that I did see. Unfortunately, my area isn't what they prefer, and they are extremly rare around here. Blue Buntings are everywhere and I can see dozens of them while going for a walk at my place.

After the divorce, I sort of get rid of all the feeders. Kind of part of the great clensing!!! LOL

Eddie

That's interesting.....when I got divorced it seemed like all I had were the bird feeders.!!

While I have checked off the Indigo Bunting, the Painted Bunting is quite rare in this area though, it has been reported.

 

[jinman]

That's interesting.....when I got divorced it seemed like all I had were the bird feeders.!!

That's funny! When I got divorced from my first wife, she got the feeders and then flipped me the bird.:laughing:

 

[JDGreenGrass]

That's funny! When I got divorced from my first wife, she got the feeders and then flipped me the bird.:laughing:

:laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:.!!!!!

 

[Western]

Jim, I would say you got the usual "order" with that meal.:laughing: