But, I have found a solution that seems to be working. I have mounted a 3-inch stove pipe around the base of my stand-alone feeder. The squirrels still feed on the seeds dropped by the birds but they are no longer climb upon the feeder.
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| Winter view - the snow has been gone here for about three weeks |
I also have found a solution for ants on my humming bird feeder: I grease a two foot section of my metal upright feeder stand with wheel grease (Vaseline will work as well.) If you hang your feeder, hang it from a wire and grease the wire.
Many bird lovers are concerned about predators. I have a falcon that occasionally visits my yard and takes doves (for some reason that seems to be his bird of choice.) Cats can also be a problem. We must remember that we too are predators. We kill for food and we kill for sport (we even kill for religion and natural resources) - therefore we shouldn't get too sanctimonious about predation.
the Ol'Buzzard
Any suggestions on how to discourage blue jays? An occasional jay wouldn't be a problem, but we've got four or five of them hanging around wiping out the suet before the smaller birds can get to it.
ReplyDeletePoor little squirrels.
ReplyDeleteI don't feed them like I used too..Dexter brought one up on the porch deader than a door nail...killer cats.
ReplyDeleteStove pipe and greased wire. Good thinking, Batman.
ReplyDeleteOur cat ate most of our barn swallows one year. Survivors learned not to nest or fly near the cat. We had over 20 last fall flying around. Wish the cat was as anxious to catch mice.
I have a few jays that also raid my feeder. Like the falcon there is no way to selectively discourage particular birds. When we were in Kentucky it was starlings that would arrive in flocks of thirty or more. I know Squalto likes his blue birds but we had blue bird boxes in Kentucky and the little buggers would attack the side windows of my truck and crap down the side??? go figure.
ReplyDelete