Name: Glen Ingram Macleay Is, Qld, Australia (Zone 12a) (Lee Reinke X Rose F Kennedy) X Unk
PS I have ordered a couple on eBay from overseas. This is exciting - I haven't heard of anyone using suet in Oz. Famous last words: probably everyone does.
The problem is that when you are young your life it is ruined by your parents. When you are older it is ruined by your children.
Name: Glen Ingram Macleay Is, Qld, Australia (Zone 12a) (Lee Reinke X Rose F Kennedy) X Unk
An immature white ibis turned up today. It was a first here - I didn't realise they bred on the island. Notice how the feathers go up onto the nape and side of the face compared to the bare-headed adult on the right.
The problem is that when you are young your life it is ruined by your parents. When you are older it is ruined by your children.
Thanks Lin, I'll look for no melt here. I'm sure it still gets a little gooey. My homemade has peanut butter and shortening or lard as the base. At about 85, it becomes a puddle...
Gleni:
Great photo's of the Ibis, the juvenile is so cute and it is interesting how the young ones have feathers on their heads and necks while the adults are bald, I wonder why that is and how long before the juveniles lose those neck/head feathers? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A... It looks like you have a lot of interesting birds on Macleay Island: http://www.macleayisland.net/?...
Lisa:
The no-melt suet cakes never get soft or gooey at all; I don't think they have lard incorporated in them or they'd definitely melt. They have a dry cake like consistency and will crumble (I've crumbled some up to mix in with birdseed at times) but they don't melt. I find the peanut ones all the time and sometimes the ones with fruit as well: https://www.google.com/#q=No+m...
I tried a recipe similar to this once (I used bacon grease), but it definitely melted in the Florida heat! http://www.food.com/recipe/no-...
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!
Gleni: I didn't see the name Meryl Dobe anywhere but when I click on the "contact us" link at top of that page it shows two island residents who are the owners of the Macleay Island website: http://www.macleayisland.net/?...
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!
Great pictures Lin! And may I also say that Bo is really looking good! A very handsome young fella!
Love those Thrashers! We don't see them here much anymore.
Spring/Summer has really set in here. We've been hearing a lot of the Great Crested Flycatchers, though I've not seen any yet. I am still seeing an occasional Goldfinch, but that won't be the case much longer. Getting way too warm for them!
Tara: Thank you! I don't see the Brown Thrashers much anymore either ... not sure why. At our other house we had tons of them every year. It's been warm here too except for the brief cold front that came through a couple of nights ago and kept temp's in the low 70's yesterday but it's back up to the upper 70's and low 80's again. Upper 80's and 90's are soon to come I'm afraid, which I wouldn't mind at all if we didn't have the high humidity that goes along with the high temp's! Our golden boy is a big goofball, he will be a year old next week and still a rambunctious puppy!
Becky: Do you see a lot of Mockingbirds in your area? They are abundant here and I love them.
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!
I cleaned all the birdhouses so they are now ready for new tenants this spring. I had two fallen down, one beyond repair so I took it down and used the pole to mount the other box that was still good to go and sturdy. So we will see what birds I get to nest come spring. Usually I get chickadees and House Wrens. Of course the nasty English Sparrows try to nest too but I just don't let them and always destroy those nests.
Rita: Are you still having cold temperatures up your way??? We've had mid and upper 80's here already, a bit too early in my opinion for such heat but I feel bad for those in the north who've been experiencing the lengthy extreme cold this winter! I hope the birds find their nice clean LI homes real soon!
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!
We have been in the 50s. When the sun is out and the wind is down, that feels pretty good. But last few days been windy, really makes it feel colder than it actually is.
And may I also say that Bo is really looking good! A very handsome young fella! 
