Using a hide , any tips?

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

just be careful when putting milk in your tea

neil

[D Williams]

Ah peanut butter im intrigued as to how they locate it , is it sight or smell because there are so many trees in your average wood how do they come across a little bit of peanut butter stuffed into a tree crevice? I reckon i will try it all and see what happens , early start for me this weekend, can't wait! Thanks again , Darren

[BillyPilgrim]

Originally Posted by D Williams

Ah peanut butter im intrigued as to how they locate it , is it sight or smell because there are so many trees in your average wood how do they come across a little bit of peanut butter stuffed into a tree crevice? I reckon i will try it all and see what happens , early start for me this weekend, can't wait! Thanks again , Darren

I think I should have mentioned that a few people had been putting seed down for a while. It attracted a few Tits and the odd Dunnock maybe but since the introduction of peanut butter it has really taken off. The Nuthatch and Woodpecker didn't appear before PB was introduced. I don't think they are attracted by smell though. Birds don't have a sense of smell do they?

Don't forget it can take weeks of regular feeding to attract the birds. I'm lucky because there are a few retired guys who are around most days to top-up the feed.

[paulthomas]

Originally Posted by BillyPilgrim

Birds don't have a sense of smell do they?

Some birds definitely do have a sense of smell. Sight is still probably their most important sense. They'll definitely take note of other birds feeding at some new place so once one bird find the food its presence will quickly attract others.

[gillwrig]

Our woodpeckers loves those birdcakes - although they are made from peanut flour so it's probably the same principle.

A bit heavy though if you've already got a rucksack full already!

I wonder so they have a preference over cruncy or smooth ( yak!) - I'll conduct some trials this weekend and get Stu to smear some over the trees at the back.

The neighbours already think we're odd so climbng a tree with a jar of sunpat's best possibly won't phase them

Gill

[D Williams]

Thanks all , don't worry about strange looks from the neighbours it's all in a good cause ! I will hopefully get in the hide this weekend and see what turns up to be honest im not sure a long morning in the hide will be enough but with the evenings drawing in it's too dark to creep about in the wood im hoping to use to put the bait out and its about 45 mins away from home. But a few precious hours tranquility are well worth it even if nothing turns up! One other problem has occured to me being draped head to foot in camouflage gear in a camouflage hide you have to be a bit careful you don't get your hat shot off by some nutter with a twelve bore these days.Silly boys with their guns are not my cup of tea , shooting with a camera ,the only thing that gets killed is time and that is my cup of tea! All the best Darren

[Deer Hunter]

Forget taking the bottle.
A short length of hose pipe and a funnel!
Run the hose to the outside of the hide - the funnel on the business end,
The funnel makes its uni-sex - easy for the girls to use as well as the boys.

[gillwrig]

a funnel!!!!!! You'd have to be pretty close to whoever you were in the hide with. I'll suggest it to the hubby on our next trip as he's always going on about women and toilets

Interesting for the people walking past as well