Scraphappy prunings
Downey
This February photo is of our bird feeder in the winter thicket of our Quince tree. The outer cage around the suet block is made of scrap wire fencing, it keeps the starlings and squirrels from getting in and demolishing the suet. The little birds can still get through the openings. I made the cage structure ages ago and recently had to replace all the diagonal wires, using scrap wire lying about.
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LBB
This is the same view of the bird feeder in the Quince tree…now baring its arms in the warm spring sun. The pruning scraps were sent off to the municipal compost…
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Twig
… but I saved one last scrap of pruned Quince twig. Happy Scraphappy Friday!
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Quimper Hittys 
What a nice little narrative that surrounded that vibrant quince scrap. You make excellent use of your scraps wherever you find them. Becky J
We like using things up!
I have seen those bird feeders with an outer cage to stop squirrels but I love your home-made scrap version!
It works very well – the cage has been renewed a couple of times, and the little birds don’t seem to mind it at all!
I bet the little birds love you and are so grateful. I know it’s the natural order for larger creatures to bully smaller ones for food, but sometimes, it’s so satisfying to help the under-dogs win!
It is quite satisfying, and also much cheaper – a flock of starlings can demolish a suet block in less than a day!
We have huge flocks of finches that descend on the chickens’ grain. Luckily the bigger birds are quite capable of holding their own, but we have accepted there will always be a finch-tithe to be paid!
I also hang suet blocks, but they are mostly visited by the woodpeckers. The other birds seem to prefer the sunflower seed feeder. Love your idea of the chicken wire defense system!
Little woodpeckers like the Downies aren’t bothered by the cage, and even the flickers can get a few beak-fulls though they have to work harder.
Great scrap use.
Thanks! The bird cage is out all winter – we are really happy with it, and like to watch the birds flitting by on their circuit. It will soon be time to put it away for the summer.
This weekend we had a snowstorm, so spring is stepping back for a while.
OH dear…and the equinox is almost here!