Friday, June 22, 2007

YUCK!

We've had over 2 inches of rain in the last 36 hours. Now I'm not complaining about the rain, we're still behind in moisture for the year, so this rain is most welcome.

However, that much rain has made a mess of my birdfeeders.

When the drain holes get plugged in the seed catcher trays I'm left with this watery, slimy mess floating in the trays (and it stinks too).

I'd found that the safflower seeds are the perfect size to lodge in the drain holes, thereby allowing these trays to fill up with rainwater.

Some of the rain we had was driven by thunderstorm winds (a 52 MPH gust was recorded yesterday evening). Even the tiny holes in the thistle seed feeder get rain drops driven into them. Then the water runs down the inside of the feeder and pools at the bottom. Fortunately this thistle feeder has an easily removable bottom--making the clean-up much easier.

Here's the tray feeder where I put my grackle/squirrel feeding blend that contains cracked corn. It has a screen bottom, but once that corn gets wet it turns into a yucky goo that I'll have to scrape out.

And then when I get done cleaning the bird feeders, it will be time to tackle the birdbaths!

YUCK!

8 comments:

Mary C said...

Yes, you sure do have your work cut out. Wow! What a clean-up you have on your hands. How funny this is -- most everyone else in the country has this kind of problem (with rain and messy feeders, etc.) during the summer, while we here in California deal with that kind of problem during the winter (or the typical rainy months). Summertime is always dry for us.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Wow! We didn't get your rain and we could use it too. I just filled our feeders yesterday and that took over an hour. I'd have been upset to have all that seed get wet!

RuthieJ said...

Hi Mary,
I'm not sure if we really have a dry season--maybe mid-July through August. I like having lots of birdfeeders around, but when it comes to cleaning them, I wish I had only 2!

Hi Lynne,
Did you get the hail yesterday? We were lucky to escape that anyway. Hopefully I will be able to salvage some of the seed or at least put it out in the tray feeders where it has a chance to dry out.

Mary said...

We could use that rain, Ruthie! But I know the mess it leaves behind. It's been a few weeks since I cleaned the feeders and I dread it every time. They're loaded with poop again. The clean up crew is doing a good job on the ground, though. If I can get out there early in the morning before the sun bakes my brain, I'll get them cleaned this weekend. No promises.

We are so dry. Enjoy your rain and send some our way. No rain is predicted for over a week and temps will be mid-90s every day.

RuthieJ said...

Oh Mary,you guys are still burnin' up down there. I guess that little rain you had a few days ago was just a teaser... At least you have your lovely refurbished pond--the birds and critters will really appreciate that water source in your yard.

Jayne said...

Been there, done that. Walgreens has boxes of latex gloves for $5 and I keep a supply on hand! Nothing like cleaning up that mush that forms... yummy. I feel your pain Ruthie. :c)

Anonymous said...

Ruthie,
Jayne had a great idea for cleaning out the bird feeders, wear latex gloves, I never thought of that, what a simple idea. Thanks for the hint Jayne, and I do have latex gloves on hand[pun]. I'm never to old to learn.
Mom

RuthieJ said...

Hi Jayne & Mom,
I have some leather work gloves I wear for cleaning the bird feeders, along with a paint scraper and screwdriver to dig the crusty stuff out (usually they're not so wet). However, I can utilize the latex gloves when cleaning the birdbaths because that's really a wet job!