RSS Feed
Wild Bird Feeders
6 Places Not to Install a Wildlife Feeder, House, or Birdbath
Where should you NOT install a feeder, birdhouse, or birdbath?
Woodpecker Feeders That Fix Your Problems
Do you have problems with starlings or squirrels bothering your woodpecker feeders? Are your feeders too small, too big, or too ugly?
Get a feeder you can be proud of. Match the right woodpecker feeder to your situation.
House Sparrow Problems at the Feeder? 6 Methods to Discourage English Sparrows
Are House Sparrows eating most of your birdseed?
Do they drive off other birds and mob your feeders?
Read on for methods to deter the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), a.k.a. the English Sparrow.
10 Ways to Spot Fake "Squirrel-Proof" Bird Feeders
Want to get a wild bird feeder that really deters squirrels?
Attempts to keep squirrels away from bird feeders by buying squirrel-proof or squirrel deterring feeders sometimes fail.
The right feeder can make all the difference. Here are seven ways to spot a fake "squirrel-proof" feeder:
- Plastic Material. The container holding the feed is made of plastic accessible to squirrels (yes, they chew through plastic)
- Too-Small Cage. The caged feeder's cage is too close to the seed ports or bins from the feeder's seed ports or bins (the cage needs to be just a little farther from the seed ports than the length of a squirrel's arm, stretched through the wire opening of the cage)
- Bad Slider. The weight-driven sliding mechanism that closes off the feed ports is easily clogged, rusted, or non-adjustable
- Too-Small Baffle Lid. The feeder's baffle-like domed lid is too short or shallow and allows squirrels to grasp the edge or climb down to the feeder platform
- Plastic Rim or Lid. The feeder, while caged, has a plastic lid or rim outside the cage
- Accessible Without Triggering Slider. The weight-driven sliding mechanism that closes off the feed ports is too close to the top of the feeder (less than the length of an outstretched squirrel, back paw to front paw)
- Tube with Unprotected Platform. The uncaged, baffle-less tube feeder or mesh feeder has a small platform on the bottom
- Timed Dispenser. The timed-dispenser feeder -- releasing food at a certain time won't prevent squirrels from eating the food
- Wire or Mesh Feeders. Squirrels will bend the wire mesh to get at thistles if they're hungry enough)
- Unprotected Thistle Feeders. Squirrels will eat thistle if they're hungry enough, but rarely chew through plastic to get it. They usually try for the seed ports.
Remember, placement of a feeder can also matter in deterring squirrels.
...many bird watchers are thwarted in their attempt to entice different species to their doorstep because they live in apartments, dormitories, or condominiums where feeder placement options are limited.
Eager bird watchers need not despair...
Feeders Gone Nuts: What Kinds of Feeders Can I Use to Provide Nuts for Wild Birds?
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Do you want to attract wild birds with nuts but aren't sure what kind of feeder to use?
Do Caged Bird Feeders Really Work?
Young Squirrel on Caged Feeder
Leshoward, some rights reserved
Are you fighting to keep squirrels or larger birds like grackles and starlings away from your feeders?
Are you wondering if caged feeders are worth the money?
Review: Droll Yankees Armored Nyjer® Feeder Model TH-3
Droll Yankees Armored Nyjer® Feeder is a solid, quality feeder with few drawbacks.
The feeder design deters squirrels, and the feeder construction is durable. The seed ports are a little hard for finches to access at first, and debris can become trapped in the bottom of the feeder.
Droll Yankees Armored Nyjer® Feeder is a solid, quality feeder with few drawbacks.
It is durable and deters squirrels. The seed ports are a little hard for finches to access at first, and debris can become trapped in the bottom of the feeder.
See my review for further details.
If you choose to offer nectar solution to hummingbirds (I recommend plants instead of a solution), this feeder may be the most elegant way feed hummingbirds.
What's My Dream Wildlife Porch? Part 4: Bird Feeders
This is the fourth in a series on ideas for a dream wildlife deck. This week I'm focusing on bird feeders for the bird food I listed last week.
11 Artistic and Elegant Feeders to Brighten Your Outdoor Area
Tired of the same old bird feeders?
I've put together a list of certain elegant bird feeders you may not have seen before.
The Basics of Platform Feeders for Wild Birds With Examples
Platform feeders are simple trays to hold food and seed or fancier structures with a flat surfaces on the bottom. Some birdwatchers favor platform feeders because the platform attracts a different set of birds than tube feeders.
What Are Tube Bird Feeders?
Whether decorative or simple, whether a simple tube or enclosed in a cage, tube feeders are perhaps the most common type of wild bird feeder. They come in different designs, depending on the type of bird you want to attract, the kinds of birdseed you want to offer, and whether you want to deter squirrels.
What Kind of Caged Wild Bird Feeder Will Really Keep Away Squirrels, Starlings, and Other Nuisances?
Squirrels overran my first tube feeders, eating me out of house and home -- or, at least, of birdseed.
One answer?
Caged bird feeders.
