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Posted by Roger Hammer on 07:16:52 08/14/09
In Reply to: Question about Painted Buntings posted by Holly
Buntings prefer millet and sorghum, the two most common seeds in wild bird seed mix. We tend to get buntings at our feeders here at Castellow Hammock during the first week of October, although we've had the occasional early bird in September.
By the way, Mynahs eating the fruits of Washingtonia palms isn't a good thing (sorry!). Washingtonia robusta, the common species planted, is on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council's list of most invasive species.
Speaking of weedy species, we have a planting of Silver Plume (Celosia argentea) here at Castellow Hammock and, not only is it great to attract skipper butterflies, the buntings love to eat the seeds. It's weedy in open disturbed areas though, but it's an annual, so it'll die back each winter.
Also, if you happen to find traps for painted buntings hanging in trees, here are the state and federal people to call to report the low-life scumbags:
Capt. Alfredo Escanio
(305) 689-8698
Special Agent David Pharo
(786) 236-2862
Investigator Andy Carcasses
(954) 599-4694
I keep their phone numbers in my cell phone.
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