Tag Archives: Picnic Table

Bird Seed Mix | Chaos Edition

Posted on by Standard 3

I have been slacking on the bird feeder filling lately as we have had some stuff going on, but I made a sure to get ’em filled today. I grabbed some photos of what I bought & mixed as people are always asking what others use. I wish I could tell you I am consistent. I generally grab whatever looks good, or is cheap, or whatever is available. This is what caught my eye today.

Bird Seed Mix

I put all this in a Rubbermaid tote, stirred it with an unused garden stake, and went to fillin’. The powdered spices seem to be cheaper than the oils or the hot seed mix. I think they work well enough for me. I feed the squirrels & chipmunks on their own anyway.

Anarchy Bird Seed Mix
Anarchy Bird Seed Mix

I do have suet blocks hanging too, I got the C&S Hot Pepper Delight and the C&S Woodpecker Treat to hang in my double-block feeder. I like to get the orange or berry varieties sometimes too.

The Pissing Gnome
Urine Speaks Louder Than Words

The pissing gnome is still hiding among the pollinator wildflower mix under some of the feeders… they generally look like weeds until august. Got any tips on how to keep a nice-looking pollinator garden? I do like how it obscures the scattered seed… and I’m growing some errant sunflowers.

If you wanna learn about Birdfy or my setup, check out these posts (or my YouTube Playlist of bird & squirrel videos):

I also put out corn cobs & peanuts for the squirrels & chimpunks. The deer have decided the corn is theirs.

OK, I showed you mine… now show me yours. What do you put in your bird feeders? What do you feed your squirrels, chipmunks, or other critters?

I may have a bird feeder problem.
I may have a bird feeder problem.

🥜🥜🥜

More Bird & Squirrel Videos

Posted on by Standard 3

Just some stuff I caught lately. I dig all my Birdfy cameras.

@aixelsyd13

Some #squirrels at the squirrelfeeder. #CaughtOnBirdfy

♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – Suwat Ketpunt – Suwat Ketpunt
@aixelsyd13

that’s #notabird CaughtOnBirdfy¡ #deer #buck #raccoon #birdfy #squirrelfeeder

♬ Night Life – Willie Nelson
@aixelsyd13

🌽🦝 Another #raccoon #CaughtOnBirdfy ! #🦝

♬ Chomp Chomp – Alestorm

So, I guess I’m a birdwatcher?

Posted on by Standard 4

I have been feeding the birds forever, and enjoy watching all the critters on our suburban landscape… even down to the bees pollinating in my zucchini flowers. I have enjoyed the Merlin Bird ID app for identifying birds that I have observed at my feeder since we moved here over 10 years ago. There’s a nice flowering tree out back that you can see perfectly from the kitchen window.

A gnome statue, he appears to have been caught mid urination.

This year for my birthday, my wife got me a Netvue Birdfy Feeder with the solar panel.

I started out with it out back by the old feeder, and a picnic table squirrel feeder from Amazon. The deer got crazy close and I was afraid of them destroying it… so I got a pole and moved it to the side of the house, right outside the window… and now the cats enjoy it there, too. I had to get the Pro Perch add-on, too.

So, of course, I got another pole and another Birdfy camera without the feeder attached and a solar panel from Walmart (they’re weirdly cheaper there in person & sometimes on Amazon than they are online at Birdfy). I couldn’t now miss the action at my old traditional feeder & the new squirrel feeder.

I have since caught deer feeding on the corn and bird seed, squirrels, a chipmunk or two, and so many trash pandas in addition to all the birds.

NAUGHTY GNOME NOSHERY

I thought I’d share photos of my setup and some videos that I have taken since I have had people inquire about it. I can see myself getting a hummingbird feeder or the nest camera down the line. Ha ha.

I have dubbed the backyard area the Naughty Gnome Noshery, and I’ll eventually work out some signage. (My wife calls it “Bird Kennywood.”) I planted some pollinator mix around the base of the tree to hopefully obfuscate the seed casings & spent peanut shells… and provide some help to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, & other pollinators. I hung one of my 3 insect hotels out there, too.

Multiple views of my backyard bird feeder & camera setup, some brick trim around a nice little flowering tree that's hosting a bird feeder, squirrel feeder, corn posts, a hummingbird feeder, and a bug hotel. There's a funny gnome statue, too.
The Naughty Gnome Noshery
A squirrel dines on discarded seeds the morning after raccoons reigned destruction upon my entire setup.
A picnic table shaped squirrel feeder mounted to the tree, holding an ear of corn, filled with peanuts, and covered with a red umbrella.
A mourning dove, some flowers, and the naughty gnome statue.
A blue insect hotel mounted under the squirrel feeder & above the pollinator flowers.
A grey squirrel dining in our backyard outdoor cafe.
The back of the Birdfy camera pointed at the hanging bird feeder.

I ought to get a ground level camera for the rabbits, and I have seen the occasional red fox in the neighborhood, too.

Netvue Birdfy Feeder & Solar Panel outside of our window - front view.
Netvue Birdfy Feeder & Solar Panel outside of our window - back view.
Netvue Birdfy Feeder & Solar Panel with the Pro Perch - view from the window,
One of our cats, Waffles, looking out the window at the Birdfy Feeder.

I have gone through a few feed mixes, different suet block flavors, even suet pellets that no one liked, but I have arrived on mixing my own from a hot pepper or spicy sunflower mix, safflower seeds, and mealworms all mixed together (for now), with peanuts for the squirrels… but the blue jays and grackles like those, too. I have put out oranges and grape jelly to try & attract orioles to no success.

I do suggest getting both the Netvue and the Birdfy apps. I use the Netvue one for camera setup, and the Birdfy one to watch the videos. Sadly, the AI bird identification subscription service is per camera, not app… so I only have it on the first one, and I still use Merlin Bird ID a lot. I know my friend Jason has the Bird Buddy brand and he’s very happy with it. I’m sure there are lots of cool ones out there.

You into birding, too? Tell me about your setup or ask me questions in the comments! Or hit me up on social media, too. I’m @AiXeLsyD13 on pretty much everything. I put a bunch of Birdfy videos on my TikTok and I share them in a cool Birdfy Facebook Group. I even have an unlisted Birdfy video YouTube playlist.

@aixelsyd13

Is it a #birdfeeder or a #houseofhorrors? #pets #birds #cats #CatsOfTikTok #Butterscotch #Waffles #Netvue #Birdfy #NetvueBirdfy

♬ In the Air Tonight (2015 Remaster) – Phil Collins
@aixelsyd13

Dude is lovng life. Look up the song “The Squirrel” by #TeenageBottlerocket ! 🤘🐿 #NaughtyGnomeNoshery #Squirrel #Gnome #GardenGnome #PissingGnome #🥜 #🐿

♬ The Squirrel – Teenage Bottlerocket
@aixelsyd13

The #woodpeckers like the suet blocks. #Netvue #Birdfy #NetvueBirdfy #BirdFeeder

♬ Blue Jays – Days N Daze
@aixelsyd13

♬ Bottle Caps – Ann Beretta
@aixelsyd13

Had some #housefinches out back today. #HouseFinch #Netvue #Birdfy #NetvueBirdfy #BirdFeeder #Birding #Birder 🪶

♬ Where Are We Going To – I Voted For Kodos
@aixelsyd13

Feathery & furry friends today! #grackle #cowbird #woodpecker #chickadee #squirrel #starling #chipmunk #grinny #grinnie #birdfeeder #squirrelfeeder #finch #netvue #birdfy #netvuebirdfy #caughtonbirdfy #suburbandwildlife

♬ Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds
@aixelsyd13

It’s a busy morning at the NaughtyGnomeNoshery. #Netvue #Birdfy #NetvueBirdfy #CaughtOnBirdfy #peanuts #birdfeeder #squirrelfeeder #bluejay #housefinch #cardinal #starling #grackle #redbelliedwoodpecker #squirrel #birdseed 🪶🥜🕊🐦‍⬛🐦🐿

♬ I Can See Clearly – Screeching Weasel
@aixelsyd13

Usually the #MourningDoves hang out under the feeder. 🤷‍♂️ #CaughtOnBirdfy #Netvue #Birdfy #NetvueBirdfy #MourningDove #BirdFeeder

♬ Sneaky Sneaky – Gold-Tiger