We kept the suet out because the pair of downy woodpeckers that live nearby keep coming every day, and we wanted to keep them around.  We don't get many grackles, for some reason, but the other birds have found it to be quite appealing.  They do eat through a whole cake in a day or so.

Monroe

-----Original Message-----
>From: Norm Saunders <>
>Sent: May 26, 2006 9:31 AM
>To: 
>Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] question for the experts
>
>That's an interesting observation, Monroe.  We tend to stop putting suet out this time of year because all it attracts are starlings and grackles--they can finish off a whole suet cake in half a day...sigh.
>
>One wonders--is suet a substitute for the nourishment catbirds are getting from insects?
>
>Norm Saunders
>
>-------------- Original message from Monroe Harden : 
>
>> We have 2-3 catbirds hanging around our feeders at home, and they seem to 
>> concentrate on the suet cake. That suet is quite popular these days- we've had 
>> robins, catbirds, mockingbirds, adult and fledgling starlings, downy 
>> woodpeckers, and a lone chickadee eating there within minutes of each other. We 
>> have plenty of seed around, in the feeders and on the ground, but the birds seem 
>> to like the suet the most.
>