Birds Galore!

[DelmaWhisenhunt]

Tho I am anxiously waiting for purple martin time, I have so many birds at the feeder, I may have to put them on a diet. Sometimes so many little yellow finches the finch sock looks like a bouquet of birds. The woodpeckers are so greedy, they chase everything off while they feast. So many cardinals. Still not spotting any blue birds around except occasionally. The squirrels continue to be a real pest. Any suggestion to discourage them.

[dsonyay]

Have you seen the bird feeders that are designed to spin when a squirrel jumps on it? Not sure who sells them, but it's fun to watch.

[Gobbler T]

Any suggestion to discourage them

Dumplings?

[Hanover Bill]

Hi Delma;

They tell me hot peppers will discourage them, such as cayenne. I guess the birds don't taste the hot peppers but it will supposedly keep the squirrels away once they get a taste of it.

I haven't tried it yet myself but I am about to, I have more squirrels at my feeders this year than I have ever had.

Good luck !

Hanover Bill.

[DelmaWhisenhunt]

No David I have not seen the feeder you mentioned. The one I have is supposed to close feeding stations if a squirrel gets on it. I only have one feeder up since the squirrels broke all the others. I have not seen one on it yet, but see them eating on the ground, which makes me think they have at least tried the feeder. I hung several suet cakes in the plastic trays and the squirrels kept at those till they tore holes big enough to accomodate. Guess it gets back to survival of the fittest.

[D'Nese]

Delma,
I don't have a squirrel problem where we live now.....( huge northern harrier population) but when we lived in Rochester it was really bad. The hot pepper powder is the best "deterrent". It's sold where bird seed is sold and has a squirrel on the package...it looks like a package of chili seasoning.....? You mix it with the seed and add to feeders. Birds not bothered by it but it irritates the squirrels and they get the drift quick. Be careful when handling as if the dust gets in your eyes or on your hands and you touch other vital areas of your face you'll be sorry.....good luck

[Jeff Robinson]

Delma,

3 winters ago, I too got tired of the squirrels tearing open my finch socks and eating from my many songbird feeders. However, even more bothersome were the hundreds of starlings that would take over my yard to eat the songbird mix that contains sunflower/black oil seeds.

I switched to straight Safflower for my songbird feeders and hard plastic feeders for the Goldfinches. I also offer two hanging dried corn cobs and several shelled peanuts (unsalted) to the squirrels everyday during winter feeding. Problems solved all the way around - squirrels no longer visit the bird feeders and the rare starlings that do show up are those that haven't experienced my backyard before......nothing but Safflower (which they don't like), and projectiles belching their way from the .22 rifle poking out my back door.

Safflower is a bit more expensive and not as easy to find, but my local feedstore orders it for me at about $37 per 50 lb bag. I have all the same songbirds on the Safflower, minus the ratbirds.

Jeff

[Rupert]

Dellma, if you don"t mind relocating your squirrels, the small have-a-heart trap is deadly. Bait with whole peanuts, in the shell,and tie them to the trip plate. I have used this method for years and have removed over 300 from our yard.

[Paul Stein]

I had the same problem with squrrills and feeders. They would eat the feeders up to get to the seeds. I read in a birding magazine about using red pepper and it does work great. Apparently the birds do not mind it a bit but the squrrills sure do I just sprinkle a spoonful or so in when I fill up the feeders and the fuzzy-tails will not eat it.

[Guest]

Check ot the feeder on S & K site no way a squirrel can hon to it. the food stay level and the outside spins when a squirrel trys to get in. Right now they are on sale. The are clear and see tru. I've got two and they are great.

[DelmaWhisenhunt]

The feeder given to me for Christmas is squirrel proof. I have caught them on it two or three times and was able to watch the feeders close and of course was swinging. I don't believe its the brand you mentioned, but it works. Won't be long till the martins should be coming in and the blue birds should be returning . Thank goodness don't have to feed them. The thistle seed I buy for the finches is almost like buying a steak. I really do enjoy these little creatures/ do hope I can be successful with martins this year. I have tried for several years and most likely I will sell and move this year to be near my children. It is that time of my life. A difficult decision since this is area where I was born, reared, graduated, and reared my family in this same area. I have to be thankful for enjoying a portion of good health and still retain interest in many things of this life.