Bird Board
Painted buntings?
Posted by Nai
about 5 years ago
9 Comments
For the past 7 years, I have had an increasing number of painted buntings visiting my feeders in West Kendall from around October 13-May. I have counted up to 11 painted buntings, males and females at one time. This year, so far, I have had possibly one sighting, but I am not even sure if that was just wishful thinking. The one major change from previous years has been a very large number of sparrows that started coming to the feeders last Spring. In the past, the buntings alternated with doves, jays and other birds. Have the sparrows driven them away? Have we seen a significant decline in bunting sightings this year? I so much looked forward to seeing them every fall. I am so disappointed so far this year.
Comments
I have had a Huge flock of House Sparrows I did not use to have...I believe there are so many..they are keeping the P. Buntings away..I have had up to 3 PB's I have seen at one time...However a lot of the time they are Watching the feeder where the sparrows are..This morning so far I have not seen any...Generally I have 6-8 by now...
Jeanette,
Even out here in New Mexico I have a large flock (30) of House Sparrows. One way to partially control them is to use a tube feeder with a wire mesh around it. The mesh openings should be 1 3/8 inch or less. Painted Buntings are small enough to fit, but House Sparrows, especially males) are not. Female House Sparrows don't like the cramped quarters and eat a lot less, too.
Jeanette, where in Florida are you? My brother had some in Pembroke Pines. This is a first for him. He has squirrels, but no sparrows.
Steve, do you know if they sell feeders like this, or do you have to make it yourself? Any pics you can share, or websites? I gave the cage feeders that I got so the buntings would not be bothered by bigger birds, but the sparrows can also get in.
Thanks Steve for the advice on the wire mesh..I have the Stokes feeder with the wire cage ones, but obviously the openings are larger than 1.38 in...since the sparrows get through...My H. Sparrow flock can be as high as may 60 or more...Huge!!!!
I don't usually get buntings in my yard in Boca anyway, so i can't attest to any changes there. But I visit Green Cay Wetlands generally every weekend and it's been a known reliable spot for buntings, especially at the feeders near the front entrance. They've been there in very good numbers so far this year...a few popped up in late August, then more in September...but the numbers really picked up over the past few weekends. Last Saturday, there were at least 12-15 of them at the front two feeders.
I have the same problem with the sparrows at my feeders. I am in West Kendall also. Since the sparrows arrived, the buntings have diminished. I have not seen one yet this year.
House Sparrows can get through but its uncomfortable. House Finches, our main seed eater, have no problem. I bought my feeder at a local livestock feed place (like OK Feed Store) so they are not hard to find. Just take a ruler. Another technique to feed ground-feeding birds and not House Sparrows is to put the feed where H. Sparrows don't go, namely rough ground away from buildings. You may not have much of that, but leaf litter under trees might be suitable. Painted Buntings probably hunt there. House Sparrows may not.
I definitely saw a male bunting today, and a female cardinal; a real treat! I will try placing the seed on the ground. I also have a huge number of sparrows. I did not have regular sparrow visits for 6 years. This is completely new.
Have, as of today, 3 males and 6 greenies. First male arrived on the 11th of Oct and a few more daily. Near the Falls.
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