[Mnbird] Duck-apolusa in Bloomington!

[Steve Elkins]

The ice-free west end of Lake Normandale in Bloomington must have been duck heaven, this afternoon, because I saw almost 20 species in perfect light, this afternoon. I'm talking about "easy to distinguish between greater and lesser Scaup" good light! The stars of the show were a pair of Common Loons in full mating behavior!

The final tally:
@Greater Scaup
@Lesser Scaup
@Wood Duck
@Gadwall
@American Wigeon
@Mallard
@Blue-winged Teal
@Northern Shoveler
@Canvasback
@Redhead
@Ring-necked Duck
@Bufflehead
@Hooded Merganser
@Common Merganser
@Red-breasted Merganser
@Ruddy Duck
@Conmon Loon
@Pied-billed Grebe
@American Coot
@Trumpeter Swan

Steve Elkins
On Apr 22, 2018 8:10 PM, Brian and Cindy via Mnbird <mnbird at lists.mnbird.net> wrote:
>
> I put up my summer feeder today--after a year of 'beta test' I can 
> suggest to anyone who is looking for an oddball feeder that this will 
> actually work.
>
> After we put in a patio a couple of years back I lost my spot to have a 
> feeder post in the back yard where we could view the birds best (the 
> bathroom window, but that is another story...)  One day, on an 
> inspiration, I purchased a feeder pole and ground spike at our local pet 
> supply store, and a platform feeder with a pole adapter.  We had a heavy 
> metal patio umbrella stand that we were no longer using, and I set up 
> the feeder pole on the patio in the umbrella stand.  The ground spike  
> gives you the extra width to use the umbrella base screw to secure the 
> post best.
>
> Since we exceed the USPSI (urban squirrel per square inch) I also 
> attached a baffle cone to the post, and one extension hook for a hanging 
> feeder.  As long as the second feeder remains above the baffle, it is 
> also somewhat squirrel proof.  Think short finch sock vs long finch 
> sock.  One industrious squirrel figured out that it could climb my 
> umbrella clothesline and leap, but since the feeder was more or less 
> portable I simply moved it and got it out of reach.  Since I'm a 
> shortie, I need to stand on a small step to fill the feeder, but that is 
> okay.
>
> That feeder post withstood all of the weather we threw at it last 
> summer, and remained standing.  It is a great idea for anyone looking to 
> put a feeder on a deck or paved area that they weren't sure they could 
> use for bird feeding in the past.
>
> I hope that this suggestion can help someone else--regards, Cindy in 
> North Mankato
>
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