Bird Board
Scaly breasted munia
Posted by GHuberman
about 9 years ago
5 Comments
A month ago, I never heard of this bird. As of today, I counted twelve on my two feeders. And they feed often.
When I up my feeders to five when the painteds return next month, there's going to be some serious food fights.
Anyone else have this many munias?
I'm near the Falls.
Comments
I live in Cutler Bay not far from Sadowski Park. Up until a year ago I had as many as 36 at my feeders, and they were there most of the day. They went through the seed so fast, and no other birds came except for the occasional Blue Jay, that I stopped putting out seed for several months. I put my feeders back out earlier this year and the Munias returned, but in much smaller numbers. Now I get about half a dozen and they only show up early or late in the day. I'm glad to see the swarm that was eating me out of house and home has dispersed to pester others, leaving me with a smaller, more manageable number.
That many is a scary thought. As I have resident cardinals, I can't take down my feeders, and the painted buntings should be back in a month. I had up to sixteen of them last year.
I find there is no feeder pig like the red winged blackbird females, which will be returning soon. They feed in groups on and off all day.
Guess I'll have to invest in birdseed futures. You know what the squirrels say...feed the birds.
You South and West Dade folks aren't the only ones. I feed parrots. Exclusively sunflower seeds. Until recently the Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared Doves were content eating what fell to the ground, but they have learned to perch on the feeder and vacuum seeds into their huge crops. Even cutting the perches to small parrot-friendly footholds didn't work. I'll trade you for a few Munias.
I live on the Mississippi coast and have had over 100 scaly-breasted munias at my feeders at a time. I like them!!!! So cute!!! The only seed they eat at my house is white proso millet, up to 50 lbs. a month. I get it at a feed store and it costs less than black oil sunflower seed. Here, they only feed from feeders with little roofs and on the ground, not on platform or tube feeders.
In the spring they feed peacefully with indigo and painted buntings. No fighting. They also share with cardinals and house finches. In the winter the chipping sparrows drive most of the munias away.
Hope this helps.
Susan Epps
Here in South Florida I seriously doubt the Chipping Sparrows will be chasing anything away! Thanks for the info. Teaches me to appreciate them a little more.
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