Only a few Birds at the Feeders

The last few days I have seen only a few Woodpeckers at the Bird Feeders. 

Where has all the other Birds gone?

Return of the Barn Swallows

On Apr 15, 2020 I saw the first Barn Swallow investigating last years nesting box.

Three or four Barn Swallows were flying around the area, but only for a few minutes in early morning.

I put up their Nesting Box only a few days ago, the same box that was used last year by one pair.

GoldFinches

This morning there were 12 Goldfinches hanging upside down on my almost upside down Suit Feeder,  They had is swinging pretty good.

They really like the Round Yellow and Black Nijer Feeder.

Birds Seen at my Feeder 2020

Bird Visitors for - 2020

FS = First Seen
LS = Last Seen

Each below are links:

• Anna's Hummingbird They have very bright Red face feathers.
• Rufous Hummingbird I see many Humming Birds, about 1 per minute.
• 
  
• Spotted Towhee NA
• Black-Headed GrosBeak FS: May 7, LS:
• 
  
• Grey Headed Chickadee ?
• Black-capped Chickadee All Year
• 
  
• House Sparrows All Year
• Oregon Junco All Year
• Dark-eyed Junco All Year
• 
  
• Western-Variety Steller Jay FS: Feb, LS: 
• 
  
• Goldfinch FS: Feb, LS:
• 
  
• Crow  All Year, but have not visited my feeder
• 
  
• Barn Swallow FS: Apr 15, LS: May 1 - I think Starlings at the Feeder scared them away.
• 
  
• Common Blackbird  NA
• Common Starlings All Year
• 
  
• House Finch All Year
• Song Sparrow
• 
  
• Pygmy Nuthatch  All Year
• 
  
• Hairy Woodpecker All Year
• Downy Woodpecker All Year
• Northern Flicker All Year
• Pileated Woodpecker All Year
• Evening Grosbeak NA

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GoldFinches

I think I saw a GoldFinch today, he was just starting to turn yellow.

My Suet Build

My Suet making attempt, recorded here for my reference.

• 2 cups of Crisco
• 1 cup of Peanut butter
• 2 cups of Sunflower Chips
• 1/2 cup of chopped Peanuts
• 1 cup of Cornmeal
• 1/4 cup of Honey
• 1/4 cup of Sugar

Heat to mix, cool to make blocks, by pouring into empty previous purchased Suet cakes plastic containers.

The previous batch was "double blind taste tested" by Tess and myself (we did not peek) and found to be OK, but a little gritty, But then, I found the 3-out-of-4 birds preferred my mix, when compared to store bought at the same feeder.

Note: I do not have easy access to real beef Suet, which may work better than Crisco in the summer time.

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Mason Bee Harvest

2019 Mason Bee Cocoon Harvest

Saturday Jenny, Jan and myself harvested our Mason Bee Cocoons.

Early last spring, we put out 250 Cocoons, we collected 1210 Cocoons this harvest, that is a production ratio of about 1:5 for the year (a bad year, was wanting a 1:10). The year before, I put out 25 Cocoons, and harvest the 250 (1:10) which were used this spring.

Photos shows: Cleaning, Sorting, Counting, and then Refrigerator Storage for next Spring. Males in one tub, females in the other (note: separation is not necessary). The white device in the last photo (lower right) is the Online Temperature and Humidity Monitors.

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Harvesting from Hutches

Sorting

Cleaning

Batch Groups

Sturing In the Wood Shavings

Males and Females
Ready for the Frig

Last year: 250T / 25 = 10/1 yield

Nov 2 2019:
J&J => 200M 350F = 540T
Jenny => 47M 37F = 84T
Eldon => 460M 206F = 666
This year: 1210T / 250 = 5/1 yield

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