Along with backyard birding comes the challenges of unwanted pests! Depending on the season, and time of year, it’s best to be well-armed in defending your bird feeders.  Recently, blackbirds were migrating in our area (starlings and grackles) and dear lord…they will eat you out of house and home!

The local feed store loves me 🙂

Seriously though, every bird feeder in our yard is set up with a squirrel baffle.  Pole mounted and hanging feeders both have them, and they work wonderfully. Effective at keeping squirrels out of the feeders.  When setting up baffles, be sure they are far enough away from any possible launching point for squirrels.  This is the most critical part of success with squirrels baffles.

By the way, the upside-down baffle above is actually an ant moat for hummingbird feeders.  Not only squirrels, but contending with ants during hummer season is a pain.  Using ant moats properly (filled with water) will eliminate the problem as ants can’t swim.  So long pests!