Return to the Metro NY Gardening Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Balcony gardening/birding in Manhattan
| | |
Posted by MegNYC z6NY (My Page) on Fri, Nov 19, 04 at 11:48
| Has anyone been able to do bird feeding on a balcony in Manhattan? Had one bird that would ocasionally come for a bath in late afternoon in early July, but that's it. No birds would go near my bird feeder. They would occasionally come, sit on the rail, look around and leave. If anyone has had success, please tell me your secret! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Balcony gardening/birding in Manhattan
| | |
Well as the winter comes I think if there is a feeder up it will be more of a draw.. where are you located... I find some come visit butthere are alot of yards near by so they have a understanding of feeders..
Here is a shot ofone of my visiting birds... have you been letting your cat out.. if so best watch them... mockingbirds and cardnals are frequent visitors also
Gordon |
Here is a link that might be useful: Gordon's Brooklyn Birds
RE: Balcony gardening/birding in Manhattan
| | |
| Yes, I am hoping maybe in the winter, since nothing happened in the spring. No cats, so that's not a problem. I think mine is the only garden in the area ... one neighbor put out some petunias and then went away for the summer. The rest don't even use their patios, can you imagine?! I have refilled my feeder, hung up a suet post, and am crossing my fingers. I am also thinking of getting a solar sipper so there will be a water supply when everything is frozen. I am like a wallflower who dresses up for the gentlemen callers who never come :-D |
RE: Balcony gardening/birding in Manhattan
| | |
Oh I wasn't worried about the birds with the cat.. I was worried about the cats... did you go to my link of my birds... the water in the winter should be quite welcome.. so much of the natural water is filled with antifreeze nad calcium cloride to melt the ice...
OH the wallflowers quote is cute... it sounds like a line from a book... Gordon |
RE: Balcony gardening/birding in Manhattan
| | |
| Yep, I checked out your bird pics. Just made me jealous. |
RE: Balcony gardening/birding in Manhattan
| | |
| Using one of those very low-tech "seedbells" from a hardware store or supermarket, I managed to lure cardinals, turtle doves , chickadees (I think)and, of course, sparrows to my windowsill. I hung the bell from one of those wrought iron arms/brackets (I screwed it into the wall) one uses for hanging baskets. I now have a terrace, but my cat is allowed outside and I'm worried that he would launch himself off into space after abird, so I'm not feeding them. I also think it takes a little time for them to figure out the feeder.Give it a couple of weeks, and then perhaps you will have regulars. |
RE: Balcony gardening/birding in Manhattan
| | |
| I had to abandon feeding. I had so many pigeons the neighbors threatened to sue me. |
RE: Balcony gardening/birding in Manhattan
| | |
Hi Sue -
I have had success with luring red house finches (and seasonal purple finches) and doves to my small balcony. I am using finch food in my feeder. I have been using finch seeds (sunflowers) for two years and have not had one pigeon (the pigeons don't seem to be interested in the sunflower seeds - go figure). You might try this and see if it works for you. in spite of the mess, we love hearing the sound of the birds above the traffic.
anaiades |
RE: Balcony gardening/birding in Manhattan
| | |
| we get house finches (which are so cute), two families of morning doves (which are great because I can go out on the terrace and they don't get frightened), starlings, sparrows. Anaiades: pigeons will usually not come if there are other birds. |
|
|
|
|
