Apologies for what sounds like a duplicate question but the situation is a bit odd. I have a standard mesh feeder for whole peanuts and it attracts all the usual birds including greater spotted woodpeckers and parakeets however, once the feeder level reaches about half the woodpeckers and parakeets seem to stop eating the nuts. I am assuming it has to do with not being able to position themselves properly to peck at them. I would like to refill the feeder but what do I do with the leftovers which have been out for almost a month? Should I just leave them on the ground for the squirrel to take? Seems like an awful waste having to chuck out 50% of the peanuts. Or maybe I'm supposed to throw them out after 4 weeks anyway? I'm not keen on kibbled peanuts as the starlings will mob it.
Richard B
Sorry for the late reply, the website didn't send a notification email!
3 days after I posted my question both the male and female woodpeckers returned to eat the peanuts, possibly due to the snow. It's a standard mesh feeder from wilko without perches and in this photo you can see the GSW feeding at an angle. They haven't come back since I don't think... It seems like once it goes below half they don't like putting the extra effort to position themselves differently. Either that or the peanuts aren't tasty to them anymore and I need to change them.
____________________________________________________________________
Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Yes I came across that post but was again sceptical since it looked like the person jammed the cap into the feeder, certainly worth a thought though.
"preparing for the breeding season"
That's something I've never considered, you could be right!