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Fun Squirrel Feeders
Everyone likes squirrels, right?
They are cute, funny little animals that seem amazingly intelligent. They can figure out almost any kind of bird feeder, and unless you take extra steps to keep food protected and away from them, all bird feeders have the potential to become squirrel feeders. So, if squirrels are so smart, and we like them so much, why do we try to keep them out of our bird feeders? In a word, cost. Bird food can turn into very expensive squirrel food…and might fast too. The little guys can eat about ten times their weight in just one week!
The answer may be to provide some deterrents in the way of squirrel feeders for your furry friends. There are a variety available, and they can be filled with inexpensive feed such as; corn on the cob, cracked corn, whole peanuts, or wildlife mix that will keep them entertaining you for hours. Squirrels are also grateful for many foods that might otherwise become trash — over-ripened fruit, and stale nuts, for example, are a particular treat. And by directing them to a ready supply of food, you may deter squirrels from searching further (and chewing up things like your trashcans).
- Bird Accessories, Bird Feeders, Nyjer Feeders, Thistle Feeders, Tube Bird Feeder, Uncategorized, Wild Bird Feeders
Got Clumping Thistle Bird Feeders?
Long thistle tube feeders are great for feeding lots of hungry finches, but many times the seed at the bottom tends to clump, quickly becoming damp and spoiled. Birds won’t eat rotten seed, there’s even a name for this phenomenon.
Even seed distribution is the best strategy for any tube style feeder, including thistle bird feeders. The 3- tube feeder shown above allows full view of all 24 birds feeding at once…a pretty spectacular site.
Another way to alleviate the “clumps” in thistle bird feeders is to use a few ping pong balls. They work great to disperse the seed more evenly and keep it from gathering quickly at the bottom. A effective and inexpensive solution to clumping seed!
- Bird Accessories, Bird Feeders, Finch Feeders, Nyjer Feeders, Thistle Feeders, Uncategorized, Wild Bird Feeders
Upside Down Thistle Feeder
Why do they make some bird feeders upside down? Basically it’s to discourage certain birds from that feeder. There’s an upside down thistle feeder made for feeding American Goldfinches only. House and Purple Finches are unable to consume seed from these perches. The sweet nature of the Goldfinch is to give up rather than fight for a spot at a crowded thistle feeder.
With the upside down version, there’s no worry of anybody but a Goldfinch at the feeder. Pretty cool idea! They make a suet feeder like that too, it discourages Starlings and Grackles. It also protects suet cakes from the weather.
For your next thistle feeder….try an upside down one. Happy Birding!