Date: 4/3/26 1:00 pm From: Norman Budnitz (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Barn Owl nest cam
The Barn Owl boxes put up in the Triangle Area (NC) never got used. Alas,
not a single owl. The boxes were donated to NCWRC and put up in various
other parts of the state. One (I think) was put up in the Alligator River
National Wildlife Refuge and has been used by Barn Owls for several years.
I have not heard about the others.
Norm
On Fri, Apr 3, 2026 at 3:53 PM Rob G <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Super! I recall some Barn Owl nest boxes were placed around the Triangle
> region some years back... any chance any of those are still up-and-running?
>
> -- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC.
>
>
> On Friday, April 3, 2026 at 03:15:31 PM EDT, Derb Carter (via
> carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
>
> The NCWRC has a live cam on a Barn Owl neat box in western NC for those
> who may be interested.
>
>
>
> Barn Owl Live Cam | NC Wildlife
> <https://www.ncwildlife.gov/outdoors/barn-owl-live-cam> >
>
>
> Derb Carter
>
Date: 4/3/26 12:53 pm From: Rob G (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Barn Owl nest cam
Super! I recall some Barn Owl nest boxes were placed around the Triangle region some years back... any chance any of those are still up-and-running?
-- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC.
On Friday, April 3, 2026 at 03:15:31 PM EDT, Derb Carter (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
The NCWRC has a live cam on a Barn Owl neat box in western NC for those who may be interested.
I'm in Asheville this week, and my uncle recently saw a bald eagle for the very first time and has since become obsessed with seeing one again. We're very near Lake Julian, and I know there are eBird reports of bald eagles there from the past few days. Does anyone who's more familiar with the area know where exactly at Lake Julian they're likely to be seen, or have any tips (time of day, etc.) to improve our odds of finding one?
Date: 3/30/26 7:44 pm From: \Brian O'Shea\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Prairie Ridge (Raleigh) to be closed for one year starting Wednesday, 1 April
I just received word today that the NC Museum of Natural Sciences' Prairie Ridge Ecostation will be closed to the public for one year, starting Wednesday, to accommodate construction of a new education center on the site. This is a popular birding and recreation spot, so I'm trying to get the word out as quickly as I can. Prairie Ridge will continue to host a small number of pre-registered groups, as well as staff and collaborators engaged in research activities, in addition to their regular onsite staff. So, for those using eBird, you may continue to see lists posted from there, but the site will be officially off-limits to the public through 31 March 2027. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news (and no, this is not an early April Fools joke!).
Date: 3/30/26 6:21 pm From: Susan Campbell <susan...> Subject: Re: Carolina Bird Club Spring Meeting
Dear All-- again,
It was instantly brought to my attention that I gave incorrect dates for our weekend. I guess I was a bit overexcited for the gathering: correct dates are Thursday, April 24th- Sunday, April 26th ( a week later).
Apologies! Hoping more folks can join us!
Susan
________________________________
From: Susan Campbell <susan...>
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2026 8:53 PM
To: Carolinabirds <carolinabirds...>
Subject: Carolina Bird Club Spring Meeting
All,
It is not too late to make plans to join our local Carolina Bird Club for the seasonal Spring Meeting weekend! There are bird trips and evening bird programs planned from Friday morning though Sunday midday. Come join the fun searching for colorful spring migrants and make new birding friends!!
We will be gathering in Columbia, SC from April 17th-19th for bird trips, programs and socializing. For Early Registration information and more go to https://www.carolinabirdclub.org/register/ before 5pm Sunday, April 5th.
Our host hotel is the Hilton Garden Inn (Airport). Special group rate is available through Friday, April 10th. To make a reservation, follow the link to https://www.carolinabirdclub.org/register/
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions-- or have issues with the links above.
Susan Campbell
Acting CBC Executive Headquarters Secretary
Date: 3/30/26 5:54 pm From: Susan Campbell <susan...> Subject: Carolina Bird Club Spring Meeting
All,
It is not too late to make plans to join our local Carolina Bird Club for the seasonal Spring Meeting weekend! There are bird trips and evening bird programs planned from Friday morning though Sunday midday. Come join the fun searching for colorful spring migrants and make new birding friends!!
We will be gathering in Columbia, SC from April 17th-19th for bird trips, programs and socializing. For Early Registration information and more go to https://www.carolinabirdclub.org/register/ before 5pm Sunday, April 5th.
Our host hotel is the Hilton Garden Inn (Airport). Special group rate is available through Friday, April 10th. To make a reservation, follow the link to https://www.carolinabirdclub.org/register/
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions-- or have issues with the links above.
Susan Campbell
Acting CBC Executive Headquarters Secretary
Date: 3/30/26 7:54 am From: Derek Aldrich (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: [gcbirdclub] Advice on window feeders?
initially I used one that used suction cups until a squirrel figured out
how to get to it, it was 6 feet off the ground up a window. Replaced with
one that uses adhesive to hold the frame and it works much better. The tray
itself comes out to empty and refill.
Derek Aldrich
Greenville, SC
On Mon, Mar 30, 2026 at 9:16 AM Sophie Cox via groups.io <sophiatcox=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Hi, all!
>
> Someone recently asked me for advice on window bird feeders. I have one I
> love (back home in SC), but I think he might be looking for a smaller one.
> Here's what Adam (CC'd here) sent me:
>
> "I recently thought it would be awesome to install a bird feeder on my
> apartment window so I can see birds while I work at my desk. I'm wondering
> if anyone has advice on good window bird feeders, as I've never bought
> a bird feeder before. Some requirements:
>
> - It will attach to a glass window with suction cups
> - I plan to use black sunflower seeds, targeting common songbirds
> (chickadee, nuthatch, titmouse, etc)
> - It doesn't need to be large since I will refill it daily (gets me to
> go outside!)
> - It should be clear since it will be above me and I want to see the
> birds clearly
> - It's rainy/windy here in State College, so it should have a roof and
> drainage holes
> - Since I'm using sunflower seeds that will make a mess, there needs
> to be an easy way to dump out the seed shells without detaching the suction
> cups. Ideally the feeder can be detached without detaching the suction cups
> so I can also easily clean it
>
> I'm currently looking at something like this:
>
> https://www.amazon.com/Transparent-Suction-Drainage-Detachable-DY-SKTY/dp/B09ZL4WL7P/ref=sr_1_5 > <https://www.amazon.com/Transparent-Suction-Drainage-Detachable-DY-SKTY/dp/B09ZL4WL7P/ref=sr_1_5> >
> Any advice or tips are greatly appreciated!"
>
> Thanks, all!
> Sophie Cox
> _._,_._,_
> ------------------------------
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Date: 3/30/26 6:17 am From: Sophia Cox (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Advice on window feeders?
Hi, all!
Someone recently asked me for advice on window bird feeders. I have one I
love (back home in SC), but I think he might be looking for a smaller one.
Here's what Adam (CC'd here) sent me:
"I recently thought it would be awesome to install a bird feeder on my
apartment window so I can see birds while I work at my desk. I'm wondering
if anyone has advice on good window bird feeders, as I've never bought
a bird feeder before. Some requirements:
- It will attach to a glass window with suction cups
- I plan to use black sunflower seeds, targeting common songbirds
(chickadee, nuthatch, titmouse, etc)
- It doesn't need to be large since I will refill it daily (gets me to
go outside!)
- It should be clear since it will be above me and I want to see the
birds clearly
- It's rainy/windy here in State College, so it should have a roof and
drainage holes
- Since I'm using sunflower seeds that will make a mess, there needs to
be an easy way to dump out the seed shells without detaching the suction
cups. Ideally the feeder can be detached without detaching the suction cups
so I can also easily clean it
Date: 3/28/26 10:55 am From: Frank Hamilton (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: FOY Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
One landed on the feeder outside my kitchen window and will be included in my last FeederWatch count of the season. Frank Hamilton Charleston, SC (West Ashely)
Date: 3/27/26 7:08 am From: <badgerboy...> Subject: Eagle Nest at Scottville, Ashe Co.
Thanks to the alert reporting of Joe Johnson of the New River Conservancy, we have confirmed that Eagles are nesting on the New River near Scottville, either on or very close to State Park property.
There was at least one chick in the nest yesterday, which stuck its head up very briefly, and also squirted a waste stream up and out of the nest, while I was watching for a couple hours last evening.
My records include no previous confirmed nesting reports for Eagles on the New River in NC, so this is pretty exciting to finally confirm. We are hoping they successfully fledge the chicks, and I'll keep you posted if there's any more info.
The hummers are coming and our time-honored map suggests when to have your feeder up to get the first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Installment #34 of “This Week At Hilton Pond North” is bird-centric, with images and info about Northern Flickers, Chipping Sparrows, and Pine Siskins—plus Wild Turkey videos. There’s an update on our huge colony of Wood Frog tadpoles, plus banding data and some interesting returns of migratory American Goldfinches. View the map and photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260316.html P.S. At the end there's also a link to our new podcast!
Dr. BILL HILTON JR.
"Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project”
℅ Hilton Pond North: Blue Ridge Birds & Nature
2918 Silas Creek Road
Lansing NC 28643
(803)684-5852
The mission of Hilton Pond North is "to conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Blue Ridge Region of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and education for students of all ages.
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to watch the sunset." BHjr.
The hummers are coming and our time-honored map suggests when to have your feeder up to get the first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Installment #34 of “This Week At Hilton Pond North” is bird-centric, with images and info about Northern Flickers, Chipping Sparrows, and Pine Siskins—plus Wild Turkey videos. There’s an update on our huge colony of Wood Frog tadpoles, plus banding data and some interesting returns of migratory American Goldfinches. View the map and photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260316.html P.S. At the end there's also a link to our new podcast!
Dr. BILL HILTON JR.
"Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project”
℅ Hilton Pond North: Blue Ridge Birds & Nature
2918 Silas Creek Road
Lansing NC 28643
(803)684-5852
The mission of Hilton Pond North is "to conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Blue Ridge Region of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and education for students of all ages.
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to watch the sunset." BHjr.
Date: 3/26/26 11:50 am From: Rick Wright (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: shorebird app
A new shorebird identification resource, available at no cost for computers
and telephones, is at
https://www.birdobserver.org/Better-Birding/New-England-Shorebird-Guide .
The title notwithstanding, the guide covers essentially all of the
shorebird species seen in the Carolinas, too.
All,
I asked for advice & received lots of good info from various listserv members about planning a trip to Antarctica. I have now taken 2 trips to that area (our ship had engine problems after arriving in South Georgia last fall, so we had to return to port & miss Antarctica. In exchange, we had a “free” trip (not including air travel) to Antarctica alone, completed March 4th. Based on this, the birds are much better in the Falklands & South Georgia. More numerous, more variety. The penguin colonies were also bigger. However, the one view we had of Chinstrap penguins in the fall was so far away most people didn’t even see them. We only saw 3, however, on our “Uncharted Islands of the Deep South” Feb/Mar Oceanwide cruise.
We did manage to get good sightings of at least 6 Emperor penguins. And an EBird reviewer assures me that almost all of the skuas south of the Antarctic Circle are either South Polar or hybrids.
The gentoo penguin colonies in Antarctica were pretty hilarious. The King penguin colonies in S Georgia had a lot of action. The Rockhoppers & Magellanic in the Falklands were mainly sitting on eggs or chicks. Between both trips, we saw all the penguins. There were more whales on the southern trip. We saw 6 types of albatross, more variety on the northern trip. No prions at all on the southern trip. Sorry to take up others time, but I can’t remember who I promised to provide feedback to.
Warmly,
Sheryl
Date: 3/26/26 11:30 am From: \<hilton...>\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Hilton Pond North (16 Mar 2026) Hummingbird Alert & Tadpole Saga Continues
The hummers are coming and our time-honored map suggests when to have your feeder up to get the first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Installment #34 of “This Week At Hilton Pond North” is bird-centric, with images and info about Northern Flickers, Chipping Sparrows, and Pine Siskins—plus Wild Turkey videos. There’s an update on our huge colony of Wood Frog tadpoles, plus banding data and some interesting returns of migratory American Goldfinches. View the map and photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260316.htm P.S. At the end there's also a link to our new podcast!
Dr. BILL HILTON JR.
"Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project”
℅ Hilton Pond North: Blue Ridge Birds & Nature
2918 Silas Creek Road
Lansing NC 28643
(803)684-5852
The mission of Hilton Pond North is "to conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Blue Ridge Region of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and education for students of all ages.
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to watch the sunset." BHjr.
Date: 3/25/26 5:13 pm From: David Johnson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Spotting Scope, Tripod for sale
I am selling a three-year old, angled Razor HD Vortex (27-60 x 85) scope with an Arca-Swiss foot, and a Manfrotto 055 PRO 3 carbon tripod with a Manfrotto MHX PRO -2W head. It has never been used outdoors and only used several times indoors observing winter sea birds at Kitty hawk. If interested, please contact me at <lizadog...><mailto:<lizadog...>.
Date: 3/23/26 5:03 am From: Ricky Davis (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Annual call for Breeding Bird Survey Observers
Hi Folks
This is the annual call/plea for people wanting to get involved with running a Breeding Bird Survey! Please go to the website http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs to learn about what is involved with running one of these surveys. Basically each survey entails running it once a year during the breeding season, generally between late May through June. Coastal routes are best run earlier than mountains routes. Once done, enter the results online, and you are all done. Very little time expenditure involved! Currently there are 11 Routes vacant in the state, mostly in the outer Coastal Plain. So if you are interested, please contact me, and we will get things started!
Date: 3/18/26 8:20 am From: Tim Lewis (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Scope search
Carolina Birders,
I'm interesting in acquiring a scope - used, if that works out. Premium scopes are out of range but something closer to "better" would work.
Also, is there a significant difference in the older scope with the small focus knobs and the newer ones with focus on the barrel? Is it just cheaper to produce or is the small knob just more vulnerable to damage?
Since there are thousands on this list please send PM off list. The CBC meeting is coming up soon so maybe we can meet there. In any case, I can be patient.
Date: 3/18/26 7:46 am From: \<hilton...>\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Hilton Ppnd North (03/01/26)
Despite the calendar, “This Week at Hilton Pond North” on warm early March days we found insects out and about, from bees to beetles to butterflies. The pond finally thawed enough for Wood Frogs to lay eggs that fast-hatched into millions of tadpoles. American Goldfinches continued to mob our feeders, and we highlight a locally scarce Field Sparrow and share some Downy Woodpecker secrets. All this and banding results are part of photo essay #33 at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260301.html P.S. At the end there's also a link to our new podcast!
Dr. BILL HILTON JR.
"Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project”
℅ Hilton Pond North: Blue Ridge Birds & Nature
2918 Silas Creek Road
Lansing NC 28643
(803)684-5852
The mission of Hilton Pond North is "to conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Blue Ridge Region of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and education for students of all ages.
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to watch the sunset." BHjr.
When I had an Oriole in my yard I put out an Oriole sugar water feeder, he really liked the no melt Orange suet from Pine Tree Farms and mealworms.
Grape jelly never was touched, though a chickadee got it’s feet stuck when the temp was just right, Helped free it.
and no more grape jelly…
Shelley
Chatham County, NC
> On Mar 12, 2026, at 10:39 AM, Inge Parker (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> My Orioles love mealworms, live and dried and grape jelly. they do like shelled peanuts when it's colder - also grapes. They don't seem to be interested in oranges at all!
> Inge Parker
> New Bern
>
> On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 8:29 AM Susan Campbell <susan...> <mailto:<susan...>> wrote:
>> Betsy and All,
>>
>> I use lard in my suet “recipe.” It works very well. Do not generate much beef fat here.
>>
>> I used to be able to get actual suet (beef fat found around kidneys)from pur local Winn Dixie meat counter. I never rendered it but cut it into small pieces and set it out during cold weather. However, that was years ago.
>>
>> Susan Campbell
>> Apex, NC
>>
>> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> >> From: Betsy Kane <oldurbanist...> <mailto:<oldurbanist...>> >> Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 9:38:15 PM
>> To: Ann Brice <ann.brice...> <mailto:<ann.brice...>> >> Cc: Susan Campbell <susan...> <mailto:<susan...>>; Herbert, Teri Lynn <herbertl...> <mailto:<herbertl...>>; Carolinabirds <carolinabirds...> <mailto:<carolinabirds...>> >> Subject: Re: bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
>>
>> Orioles will eat raw shelled peanuts. A lot of birds that like suet or insects will eat raw shelled peanuts. Fatty and nutritious.
>>
>> I like the recipe that Ann offers from her neighbor, although I'd change out bacon grease and use beef suet. When I have made "suet cakes" with bacon grease, they are fatty, messy, and greasy - a nasty mess. Beef fat (like from frying hamburger) much neater to work with.
>>
>> I think, too, we are advised not to use Crisco to feed birds, as it is full of artificially weirded stuff like hydrogenated oils that birds may not be adapted to eat.
>>
>> Suet is a natural food that many birds would eat in the wild (finding animal fat on carcasses in winter, for example) but today it too is "weirded" - since cows are fed some very odd things in feedlots, and as a result the chemical composition of animal fat from industrial livestock operations is quite altered from what human and avian bodies are adapted to.
>>
>> And if you just aren't fond of what industrial animal production does to the animals or the environment, a decent substitute is good old peanuts (also produced at industrial scale with industrial processes, but still far less impactful than any kind of animal agriculture).
>>
>> Betsy Kane
>> Washington, NC
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Mar 11, 2026 at 4:36 PM Ann Brice <carolinabirds...> <mailto:<carolinabirds...>> wrote:
>> My neighbor in Wilson, NC, Fred Hite, has successfully used this suet recipe to feed orioles for years (and his mother before him.) Maybe this would work for you. I don't think the bees would swarm this. (I haven't used the recipe because I have cats in my yard, but he has had as many as 22 orioles in his yard.)
>>
>> Baltimore Oriole Suet
>> 2 cups sugar
>> 2 cups water
>> 1 cup Crisco or bacon grease
>> 1/2 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
>> corn meal (Tender Bake self-rising yellow)
>>
>> Combine sugar, water, grease and peanut butter and bring to a boil. Add corn meal until you get a semi-solid mixture. Fill holes in feeder.
>>
>> He has feeders that he has made from a 2"x2" x 8" block of wood that he drills holes in about 1" in diameter. He inserts pegs for perches under the holes.
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 8:29 PM Susan Campbell <susan...> <mailto:<susan...>> wrote:
>> Teri and All,
>>
>> Nope. There is no way to dissuade the bees given the open feeding scenario. And yes— bees are sure hungry right now! Cold weather will pull them back into their hives next week for sure.
>>
>> Do you have a sugar water feeder for the orioles? Maybe just use that for now…..
>>
>> Susan Campbell
>> Apex, NC
>>
>> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> >> From: <carolinabirds-request...> <mailto:<carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> <mailto:<carolinabirds-request...>> on behalf of "Herbert, Teri Lynn" <carolinabirds...> <mailto:<carolinabirds...>> >> Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 7:55:41 PM
>> To: carolinabirds listserve <carolinabirds...> <mailto:<carolinabirds...>> >> Subject: bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
>>
>> Does anyone have any way to discourage bees on the jelly feeders? The orioles won’t come near it with all the bees on it. I know, the bees don’t have any flowers right now, so they need it, but neighbor is worried about the orioles not having a chance at the jelly. Thanks for any ideas! Teri Lynn
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Ann Brice
>>
>> First Wilson Properties, Real Estate Broker, GRI http://www.firstwilsonproperties.com/ <http://www.firstwilsonproperties.com/> >>
>> <ann.brice...> <mailto:<ann.brice...> >> cell: 252 373-0326
>> office: 252 237-9900
>> fax: 252 243-9600
>>
>>
Date: 3/13/26 9:11 am From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Reminder: A call for Winter Reports for the Briefs for the Files
Fellow birders,
Now that the Winter Season is over (December - February), as *The Chat'*s Briefs for the Files editor, I would like to hear from *any of you who have not posted important records for the season already on eBird. * The great majority of the Briefs over the past decade have come from the editor perusing the eBird database, species by species, and picking out the most signficant reports. This is tedious (looking at over 400 Species Maps!), but I need to wait for a few more days to start so that any and all rarity sightings (as seen on the Carolina Bird Club Sightings page) have hopefully been approved as valid. But, *a few of you might have some important records that were not on eBird, so please let me know what notable birds you saw*.
We had a VERY cold winter -- a record cold season of three months for some places -- with many snow and ice events. Thus, we had a much better influx of waterfowl onto inland lakes this season, as bodies of water farther northward froze over. And the very cold condition did provide some exciting seabirds along and off the coast, especially later in January and in February. So, you might want to comment on such winter trends of waterbirds and other species.
What I also want to hear from folks is their observations, or more likely their LACK of observations/records, of "winter finches". It was a very disappointing winter for semi-recurring winter finches -- Pine Siskins, Evening Grosbeaks, and Red Crossbills (away from the mountains), as well as Red-breasted Nuthatches. [We did have a fairly good flight into the Carolinas for Purple Finches.]. Note that I did not see or even hear any of these four species in NC this winter, and few folks that I know did either, at least in the Triangle area of NC.
I'd like to hear from folks by* March 25*, if possible. Again, *almost all of you submit eBird reports, so those data are already available to me on the website, and thus a big "Thank You" for posting results.*
Harry LeGrand, Brief for the Files editor (for *The Chat*) Raleigh
PS -- One person has already reported to me a species that was squelched (for secrecy purposes) by the eBird program, so that exciting report will appear in The Chat Briefs (Spring 2026 issue).
Date: 3/12/26 7:42 am From: Inge Parker (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
My Orioles love mealworms, live and dried and grape jelly. they do like
shelled peanuts when it's colder - also grapes. They don't seem to be
interested in oranges at all!
Inge Parker
New Bern
On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 8:29 AM Susan Campbell <susan...> wrote:
> Betsy and All,
>
> I use lard in my suet “recipe.” It works very well. Do not generate much
> beef fat here.
>
> I used to be able to get actual suet (beef fat found around kidneys)from
> pur local Winn Dixie meat counter. I never rendered it but cut it into
> small pieces and set it out during cold weather. However, that was years
> ago.
>
> Susan Campbell
> Apex, NC
>
> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> > ------------------------------
> *From:* Betsy Kane <oldurbanist...>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 11, 2026 9:38:15 PM
> *To:* Ann Brice <ann.brice...>
> *Cc:* Susan Campbell <susan...>; Herbert, Teri Lynn <
> <herbertl...>; Carolinabirds <carolinabirds...>
> *Subject:* Re: bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
>
> Orioles will eat raw shelled peanuts. A lot of birds that like suet or
> insects will eat raw shelled peanuts. Fatty and nutritious.
>
> I like the recipe that Ann offers from her neighbor, although I'd change
> out bacon grease and use beef suet. When I have made "suet cakes" with
> bacon grease, they are fatty, messy, and greasy - a nasty mess. Beef fat
> (like from frying hamburger) much neater to work with.
>
> I think, too, we are advised not to use Crisco to feed birds, as it is
> full of artificially weirded stuff like hydrogenated oils that birds may
> not be adapted to eat.
>
> Suet is a natural food that many birds would eat in the wild (finding
> animal fat on carcasses in winter, for example) but today it too is
> "weirded" - since cows are fed some very odd things in feedlots, and as a
> result the chemical composition of animal fat from industrial livestock
> operations is quite altered from what human and avian bodies are adapted
> to.
>
> And if you just aren't fond of what industrial animal production does to
> the animals or the environment, a decent substitute is good old peanuts
> (also produced at industrial scale with industrial processes, but still far
> less impactful than any kind of animal agriculture).
>
> Betsy Kane
> Washington, NC
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 11, 2026 at 4:36 PM Ann Brice <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> My neighbor in Wilson, NC, Fred Hite, has successfully used this suet
> recipe to feed orioles for years (and his mother before him.) Maybe this
> would work for you. I don't think the bees would swarm this. (I haven't
> used the recipe because I have cats in my yard, but he has had as many as
> 22 orioles in his yard.)
>
> Baltimore Oriole Suet
> 2 cups sugar
> 2 cups water
> 1 cup Crisco or bacon grease
> 1/2 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
> corn meal (Tender Bake self-rising yellow)
>
> Combine sugar, water, grease and peanut butter and bring to a boil. Add
> corn meal until you get a semi-solid mixture. Fill holes in feeder.
>
> He has feeders that he has made from a 2"x2" x 8" block of wood that he
> drills holes in about 1" in diameter. He inserts pegs for perches under
> the holes.
>
> On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 8:29 PM Susan Campbell <susan...> wrote:
>
> Teri and All,
>
> Nope. There is no way to dissuade the bees given the open feeding
> scenario. And yes— bees are sure hungry right now! Cold weather will pull
> them back into their hives next week for sure.
>
> Do you have a sugar water feeder for the orioles? Maybe just use that for
> now…..
>
> Susan Campbell
> Apex, NC
>
> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> > ------------------------------
> *From:* <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...>
> on behalf of "Herbert, Teri Lynn" <carolinabirds...>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 10, 2026 7:55:41 PM
> *To:* carolinabirds listserve <carolinabirds...>
> *Subject:* bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
>
>
> Does anyone have any way to discourage bees on the jelly feeders? The
> orioles won’t come near it with all the bees on it. I know, the bees don’t
> have any flowers right now, so they need it, but neighbor is worried about
> the orioles not having a chance at the jelly. Thanks for any ideas! Teri
> Lynn
>
>
>
> --
> Ann Brice
>
> *First Wilson Properties, Real Estate Broker, GRI
> http://www.firstwilsonproperties.com/ <http://www.firstwilsonproperties.com/>* >
> <ann.brice...>
> cell: 252 373-0326
> office: 252 237-9900
> fax: 252 243-9600
>
>
>
Date: 3/12/26 5:29 am From: Susan Campbell <susan...> Subject: Re: bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
Betsy and All,
I use lard in my suet “recipe.” It works very well. Do not generate much beef fat here.
I used to be able to get actual suet (beef fat found around kidneys)from pur local Winn Dixie meat counter. I never rendered it but cut it into small pieces and set it out during cold weather. However, that was years ago.
Susan Campbell
Apex, NC
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: Betsy Kane <oldurbanist...>
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 9:38:15 PM
To: Ann Brice <ann.brice...>
Cc: Susan Campbell <susan...>; Herbert, Teri Lynn <herbertl...>; Carolinabirds <carolinabirds...>
Subject: Re: bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
Orioles will eat raw shelled peanuts. A lot of birds that like suet or insects will eat raw shelled peanuts. Fatty and nutritious.
I like the recipe that Ann offers from her neighbor, although I'd change out bacon grease and use beef suet. When I have made "suet cakes" with bacon grease, they are fatty, messy, and greasy - a nasty mess. Beef fat (like from frying hamburger) much neater to work with.
I think, too, we are advised not to use Crisco to feed birds, as it is full of artificially weirded stuff like hydrogenated oils that birds may not be adapted to eat.
Suet is a natural food that many birds would eat in the wild (finding animal fat on carcasses in winter, for example) but today it too is "weirded" - since cows are fed some very odd things in feedlots, and as a result the chemical composition of animal fat from industrial livestock operations is quite altered from what human and avian bodies are adapted to.
And if you just aren't fond of what industrial animal production does to the animals or the environment, a decent substitute is good old peanuts (also produced at industrial scale with industrial processes, but still far less impactful than any kind of animal agriculture).
Betsy Kane
Washington, NC
On Wed, Mar 11, 2026 at 4:36 PM Ann Brice <carolinabirds...><mailto:<carolinabirds...>> wrote:
My neighbor in Wilson, NC, Fred Hite, has successfully used this suet recipe to feed orioles for years (and his mother before him.) Maybe this would work for you. I don't think the bees would swarm this. (I haven't used the recipe because I have cats in my yard, but he has had as many as 22 orioles in his yard.)
Baltimore Oriole Suet
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
1 cup Crisco or bacon grease
1/2 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
corn meal (Tender Bake self-rising yellow)
Combine sugar, water, grease and peanut butter and bring to a boil. Add corn meal until you get a semi-solid mixture. Fill holes in feeder.
He has feeders that he has made from a 2"x2" x 8" block of wood that he drills holes in about 1" in diameter. He inserts pegs for perches under the holes.
On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 8:29 PM Susan Campbell <susan...><mailto:<susan...>> wrote:
Teri and All,
Nope. There is no way to dissuade the bees given the open feeding scenario. And yes— bees are sure hungry right now! Cold weather will pull them back into their hives next week for sure.
Do you have a sugar water feeder for the orioles? Maybe just use that for now…..
Does anyone have any way to discourage bees on the jelly feeders? The orioles won’t come near it with all the bees on it. I know, the bees don’t have any flowers right now, so they need it, but neighbor is worried about the orioles not having a chance at the jelly. Thanks for any ideas! Teri Lynn
Date: 3/11/26 6:40 pm From: Betsy Kane (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
Orioles will eat raw shelled peanuts. A lot of birds that like suet or
insects will eat raw shelled peanuts. Fatty and nutritious.
I like the recipe that Ann offers from her neighbor, although I'd change
out bacon grease and use beef suet. When I have made "suet cakes" with
bacon grease, they are fatty, messy, and greasy - a nasty mess. Beef fat
(like from frying hamburger) much neater to work with.
I think, too, we are advised not to use Crisco to feed birds, as it is full
of artificially weirded stuff like hydrogenated oils that birds may not be
adapted to eat.
Suet is a natural food that many birds would eat in the wild (finding
animal fat on carcasses in winter, for example) but today it too is
"weirded" - since cows are fed some very odd things in feedlots, and as a
result the chemical composition of animal fat from industrial livestock
operations is quite altered from what human and avian bodies are adapted
to.
And if you just aren't fond of what industrial animal production does to
the animals or the environment, a decent substitute is good old peanuts
(also produced at industrial scale with industrial processes, but still far
less impactful than any kind of animal agriculture).
Betsy Kane
Washington, NC
On Wed, Mar 11, 2026 at 4:36 PM Ann Brice <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> My neighbor in Wilson, NC, Fred Hite, has successfully used this suet
> recipe to feed orioles for years (and his mother before him.) Maybe this
> would work for you. I don't think the bees would swarm this. (I haven't
> used the recipe because I have cats in my yard, but he has had as many as
> 22 orioles in his yard.)
>
> Baltimore Oriole Suet
> 2 cups sugar
> 2 cups water
> 1 cup Crisco or bacon grease
> 1/2 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
> corn meal (Tender Bake self-rising yellow)
>
> Combine sugar, water, grease and peanut butter and bring to a boil. Add
> corn meal until you get a semi-solid mixture. Fill holes in feeder.
>
> He has feeders that he has made from a 2"x2" x 8" block of wood that he
> drills holes in about 1" in diameter. He inserts pegs for perches under
> the holes.
>
> On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 8:29 PM Susan Campbell <susan...> wrote:
>
>> Teri and All,
>>
>> Nope. There is no way to dissuade the bees given the open feeding
>> scenario. And yes— bees are sure hungry right now! Cold weather will pull
>> them back into their hives next week for sure.
>>
>> Do you have a sugar water feeder for the orioles? Maybe just use that for
>> now…..
>>
>> Susan Campbell
>> Apex, NC
>>
>> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> >> ------------------------------
>> *From:* <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...>
>> on behalf of "Herbert, Teri Lynn" <carolinabirds...>
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 10, 2026 7:55:41 PM
>> *To:* carolinabirds listserve <carolinabirds...>
>> *Subject:* bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
>>
>>
>> Does anyone have any way to discourage bees on the jelly feeders? The
>> orioles won’t come near it with all the bees on it. I know, the bees don’t
>> have any flowers right now, so they need it, but neighbor is worried about
>> the orioles not having a chance at the jelly. Thanks for any ideas! Teri
>> Lynn
>>
>>
>
> --
> Ann Brice
>
> *First Wilson Properties, Real Estate Broker, GRI
> http://www.firstwilsonproperties.com/ <http://www.firstwilsonproperties.com/>* >
> <ann.brice...>
> cell: 252 373-0326
> office: 252 237-9900
> fax: 252 243-9600
>
>
>
Date: 3/11/26 1:36 pm From: Ann Brice (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
My neighbor in Wilson, NC, Fred Hite, has successfully used this suet
recipe to feed orioles for years (and his mother before him.) Maybe this
would work for you. I don't think the bees would swarm this. (I haven't
used the recipe because I have cats in my yard, but he has had as many as
22 orioles in his yard.)
Baltimore Oriole Suet
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
1 cup Crisco or bacon grease
1/2 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
corn meal (Tender Bake self-rising yellow)
Combine sugar, water, grease and peanut butter and bring to a boil. Add
corn meal until you get a semi-solid mixture. Fill holes in feeder.
He has feeders that he has made from a 2"x2" x 8" block of wood that he
drills holes in about 1" in diameter. He inserts pegs for perches under
the holes.
On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 8:29 PM Susan Campbell <susan...> wrote:
> Teri and All,
>
> Nope. There is no way to dissuade the bees given the open feeding
> scenario. And yes— bees are sure hungry right now! Cold weather will pull
> them back into their hives next week for sure.
>
> Do you have a sugar water feeder for the orioles? Maybe just use that for
> now…..
>
> Susan Campbell
> Apex, NC
>
> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> > ------------------------------
> *From:* <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...>
> on behalf of "Herbert, Teri Lynn" <carolinabirds...>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 10, 2026 7:55:41 PM
> *To:* carolinabirds listserve <carolinabirds...>
> *Subject:* bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
>
>
> Does anyone have any way to discourage bees on the jelly feeders? The
> orioles won’t come near it with all the bees on it. I know, the bees don’t
> have any flowers right now, so they need it, but neighbor is worried about
> the orioles not having a chance at the jelly. Thanks for any ideas! Teri
> Lynn
>
>
Date: 3/10/26 5:29 pm From: Susan Campbell <susan...> Subject: Re: bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
Teri and All,
Nope. There is no way to dissuade the bees given the open feeding scenario. And yes bees are sure hungry right now! Cold weather will pull them back into their hives next week for sure.
Do you have a sugar water feeder for the orioles? Maybe just use that for now..
Susan Campbell
Apex, NC
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> on behalf of "Herbert, Teri Lynn" <carolinabirds...>
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 7:55:41 PM
To: carolinabirds listserve <carolinabirds...>
Subject: bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
Does anyone have any way to discourage bees on the jelly feeders? The orioles wont come near it with all the bees on it. I know, the bees dont have any flowers right now, so they need it, but neighbor is worried about the orioles not having a chance at the jelly. Thanks for any ideas! Teri Lynn
Date: 3/10/26 4:56 pm From: \Herbert, Teri Lynn\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: bees on Oriole Jelly feeder
Does anyone have any way to discourage bees on the jelly feeders? The orioles won’t come near it with all the bees on it. I know, the bees don’t have any flowers right now, so they need it, but neighbor is worried about the orioles not having a chance at the jelly. Thanks for any ideas! Teri Lynn
Date: 3/9/26 5:19 am From: Helen Kalevas (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Louisiana Waterthrush
Heard my first singing Louisiana Waterthrush this morning. Heard my first one singing at the same place on this same date last year. Have also been watching a Carolina Wren building a nest in a ceramic nest "box" outside my office window. On the Little River near Hillsborough, NC. Spring is here! Helen
