Backyard Bird Feeders

Bird Feeder Problems with Grackles, Blackbirds & Mourning Doves

2011-03-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

Some of the problem birds at Bird feeders can include Grackles, Blackbirds, Crows, Mourning Doves, and Starlings. There is a very common issue in Backyard Wild Bird feeding of how to attract and feed desirable songbirds and yet limit access to undesirable birds and pests. All of these problem birds can monopolize feeders and deplete the bird's food very quickly, so there is none left for the songbirds. One strategy is to let the feeders go empty or remove them for a few days until these birds have moved on to a more reliable food source. A more active approach is to use our knowledge about these birds to our advantage.

A lot depends on the type of seed and feeder that you have. Sunflower seeds attract the most songbirds, but require strategies to limit large bird's access. Thistle seed, a favorite of Goldfinches and others, does not attract squirrels, grackles or crows. The larger less desirable birds need room to perch or set on a tray. Crows and Mourning Doves in particular are wide bodied and need the most room.

Platform feeders and large open tray feeders offer no restriction to large birds. Choosing a bird feeder that has small perches, a very small tray, or no tray, will greatly reduce larger birds from monopolizing a feeder. Wire Cage bird feeders will effectively block large birds with their 1.5" grid and will only let songbirds pass thru. I have Mourning Doves around my feeders, but they are confined to clean up on the ground which is OK. To restrict access and still allow some of the larger birds such as Woodpeckers, Cardinals, Blue Jays, etc, you might have a mix of feeder types.

Let's discuss which Bird feeder types can be used to limit the undesirable birds which are generally larger. The feeder types that have no constraints on bird access are: platform, large tray, and hopper with open ledges.

Bird Feeders that are a little more restrictive are: Tube bird feeders with small perches at open ports and Clinger bird feeders that are only accessible to the songbirds that like to cling to sides.

Then there are bird feeders that are more restrictive which include Wire Cage bird feeders and Metal Mesh feeders. These are the styles that can accomplish more of a selective access in favor of the songbirds.

Metal Wire Cage feeders not only block squirrels, but also larger birds like Grackles, Blackbirds and Doves. Unfortunately these cage feeders can block Cardinals and Woodpeckers as well. Cardinals will feed on the ground for droppings from these feeders. This style can be used along side of other more open styles to have at least one that is a protected feeder.

Metal Mesh feeders with small trays can be a compromise to allow Cardinals and Woodpeckers to come and feed. Cardinals can get use to a small tray and Woodpeckers like to cling to the side. Large birds can still get on these feeders, but they won't get much seed. Pigeons with their wide body have a hard time staying on the small tray for long. The internal baffles of this feeder help keep the seed at upper levels for longer periods for many birds to use.

Large capacity feeders that are of the metal mesh design are nice so you don't have to refill as often. Their advantage is a large surface area that many birds can cling and feed at the same time. This feeder has perch rings and a small bottom tray. Being a wire mesh style the undesirable birds can't as readilly clean it out of seed.

You can even Add A Cage to an existing tube feeder when nuisance birds are around. You only have to use when necessary.

These are but a few examples to illustrate the different types. More of all styles can be seen at Bird Feeders .

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Bird Feeders & Bird Seed

2010-12-06T11:17:00.000-08:00

Sunflower bird seed is by far the most popular bird seed that attracts a large variety of wild birds. There are quite a few types and styles of Bird Feeders for sunflower seeds and most do a good job.

The Sunflower Seed Bird Feeder shown here is a wire mesh style that has internal dividers that keep the seed in the upper levels longer which results in more birds being able to feed at the same time. It also has a small tray to accommodate perching birds like Cardinals. Clinging birds like the Chickadee, Titmouse, Nuthatch and Woodpeckers like to cling to the wire mesh to feed.

Thistle seed bird feeders are the second most popular type of bird feeder. Thistle seed is tiny seeds that Goldfinches and others love. A good example of a thistle feeder is the yellow accented wire mesh feeder designed just for the thistle. This Finch Tube Bird Feeder has internal dividers to maintain seed in upper levels for longer use by many birds. Its tray catches fallen seed so the birds can still find and use it.

Peanut bird feeders can be added as an extra type of feeder to attract more unusual types of birds. The red Spiral Peanut Bird Feeder holds the peanuts in wire openings that are just right to allow birds to peck their treat out. This gives the opportunity to see these birds for a longer time. Red Belly Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, etc. all frequent this type of feeder. The spiral arm gives them an extra perch that they like to go around on to find their choice peanut.

These are just a few examples of all the different styles available, more Bird Feeders can be seen here. Squirrel Baffles can be added to these bird feeders to have Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders.

Special Bird Feeders

2010-09-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

There are many types of Bird Feeders and some are specialized to hold the different bird food. Attract the more unusual and desirable birds to your backyard by providing each type of bird what they need with Special Bird Feeders.

Hummingbird Bird Feeder:
The HummZinger HummBrella & Feeder show here is a good example of a hummingbird feeder with nectar protective dome above. Nectar Hummingbird feeders spaced around the yard can attract groups of Hummingbirds coming north from Mexico during their migration. Place the feeders so they are out of the line of sight from one another, so that one male Hummingbird does not dominant all the feeders. You can learn how to Attract Hummingbirds to Feeders here!

Bluebird Bird Feeder
Special Birdbird Feeders are necessary because Bluebirds are not seed eaters, but feed on insects and love mealworms.
Set out this Bluebird Mealworm Feeder to attract Bluebirds. Bluebirds are cavity dwellers. They appreciate and will use a nice Bluebird house in more open areas or on the edge of fields. By providing their food and shelter you have a better chance of having them stick around.

Oriole Bird Feeder:
Orioles are nectar and fruit loving birds, so you can use nectar feeders that are made for them and fruit trays. Orioles love orange wedges and grape jelly. Once they find your feeders they stop by regularly. Orange Oriole Bird Feeder Set shown here has a protective orange dome to shade the nectar feeder and keep it fresh.

Some of these birds most people may never see, but now that you know how to attract them with these and other Bird Feeders, you can attract and share the experience with your family.

Tube Bird Feeder

2010-06-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

There are many categories of Bird Feeders at Backyard Wild Birds that can perform special functions, offer a special type of seed or are meant to attract a certain kind of wild bird. All have their pluses and minuses, and some stand out from the crowd. Some of the categories are Tube Bird Feeders, Squirrel Bird Feeders, large Hopper Bird Feeders, Window Bird Feeders and Hummingbird Feeders to name a few.

I’m going to focus on the Tube Bird Feeders which is one of the oldest and most popular types. One example of a classic tube bird feeder is the Bird Feeders Bird Feeder show here. A birder who has experience with lots of feeders over a long period gets to know what they like and what works. The Bird Feeders Bird Feeder is a birder’s best in class feeder and it is so because of its excellent design. One main criteria has to be quality and the ability to last. This feeder has metal parts that are heavy die-cast brass metal for the caps, ports, base and a clear UV stabilized polycarbonate tube feeder. This material makes the clear tube very rugged and it won’t crack or turn yellow. Its perches are positioned to be offset as they go around the tube so not have the birds above bothering those below. The perches are also mostly in the bottom half of the tube, so the birds can feed for a longer time as the seed goes down. At the tube bottom is a seed diverter that delivers the seed to the bottom port where the birds can reach all of it. This meets a second criteria, in that it must have good seed delivery and not waste seed. The tube feeder comes with a must have Quick-Clean removable base. Just 'push the buttons' and it slides out. A third criteria is accomplished with its easy cleaning, maintenance and refilling of seed. This is a sunflower seed feeder which is by far the most popular seed to attract the most variety of wild birds. Squirrel Baffles are available that make this feeder into a squirrel proof bird feeder.

See other top Bird Feeders at Backyard Wild Birds here!