Details:
A 2" X 12" board is screwed to each arm of a plastic lawn chair. The
1/2" screw goes up through the arm into the wood. The plastic
Cups have 1/2" screws going down into the board.
The Shirt is held in place with Clamps as shown. The Hat is hung on a
wire that's bent up from the back of the Lawn Chair. The end of the
wire has a loop bent into it like a halo to hold the Hat.
The Chair is put near your regular Feeder which Birds have been
visiting. Pick a location with shrubbery or twigs near the Chair so
Birds can land there. The Cups are kept filled and the regular Feeder
is allowed to get empty. Soon the Birds will be visiting the Cups
instead.
Birds feed most actively just after sun-up and about an hour before
sundown, depending on your locality. Plan to man the Lawn Chair at
these times. Tie your pets and tell your family not to disturb you. Use
drab clothing; beige, brown, and camouflage are fine.
Remove the Hat from the wire and wear it low over your eyes. Sit right
down on the clamped Shirt. Be still as a rock. When a bird approaches
you, close one eye. They seem more trusting of a 1-eyed
Creature.
Don't become impatient. "All good things take time".
Expect to sit at least a half hour. You may have a relatively tame bird
come to eat rather quickly, or maybe yours are timid and may take more
time. But the results are worth the effort. After they start
eating from the Cups, put Seeds in your outstretched hands.
Songbirds can be taught to come to a sound you make. If you always tap
on the feeder, or whistle or sing or call, they will associate this
sound with food, and learn to come when they hear it.
Bluebirds, Robins and Woodpeckers are attracted to
Mealworms,
which are easy to raise from stock bought from a supplier. Bluebirds
are seldom attracted to Bird Feeders, so they require special treatment.
To tame Bluebirds, put a rather large container, like an inverted
garbage can lid, near your active Bluebird House. Use a dozen
Mealworms from a refrigerated container so they will not be overactive.
Provide some shade, or the Mealworms may ecsape or die.
Soon the Bluebirds will notice the Mealworms and begin feeding on them.
As soon as the container is empty, replace it with a smaller container
and another dozen Mealworms. This new container should be about 6" wide
by 2" high with straight slippery sides to confine crawling Mealworms.
You can change the location of the new Mealworm container by gradually
moving it as much as 20 feet between fillings toward your
planned location. The eventual location can be under the edge
of a
shade Tree or even the edge of your porch. Keep in mind that Bluebirds
are more inclined to feed in open areas.
You may want to gradually move the container to a window sill. Then you
can sit inside with the window open just enough for your arm to hold
the container outside. As the Bluebirds become accustomed to your arm,
you can gradually open the window until you are in full sight.
Then move your chair right outside the window, and be patient.
Very early Spring may be the best time to tame Songbirds, when natural
wild food is least available. Later you may notice a dwindling of
your Beggars, as they pair up with their own kind, and search out
vacant territories to pursue their Biblical mission of raising young to
perpetuate their species.
It's novel to have a "wild" Bird follow you like a
domesticated
pet. You may have to wear a Straw Hat with a deep crown to have a place
to put Bird food, so you can get some outdoor work done with your
hands. Let us know how you make out.