Simply For The Birds

Squirrels can be a real challenge once they discover your birdfeeders.  Someone suggested to take some old containers and fill them with sunflower seeds and then place them on the ground near where your other feeders are.  The squirrels will go the feeders on the ground rather than having to work for the seeds in the feeders.  Another suggestion is spreading acorns underneath the feeders.

You can also try squirrel baffles of squirrel proof feeders.  It can take some patience to find which method works best for your situation.  Perseverance will pay off, however.

To keep birds nearby, avian lovers make sure their feeders are always stocked with bird food and water.  And when it comes to bird food, they all agree that their winged and flying pals fancy sunflower seeds best.  These seeds are plentiful and very affordable, and can be purchased in bulk from majority of pet supplies stores in town or in the Internet.

According to bird experts, the black sunflower seeds, which are also known as oil seeds, are ideal for hanging coconut feeders.  Birds favor this kind of seed due to its high oil content and soft, easy-to-open shells.  Goldfinches, however, are partial to Niger seeds, which are black in color, very light, and pricier than other seeds.  There’s also the white millet, a type of seed preferred by sparrows, juncos and certain kinds of doves that costs even less than sunflower seeds.  Safflower seeds are another popular option.  They are eaten like candy by birds like cardinals, chickadees, and woodpeckers.  The most awesome thing about safflower seeds is that squirrels hate them.  This means you may not even have to equip your home with squirrel proof feeders to protect your birds and their food from maddening animals.

Keeping squirrels from your bird feeders can be challenging, but by planning ahead and utilzing a couple of squirrel proof methods at the same time, will minimize squirrel usage.

Squirrels can jump up to 6 feet and straight across at least 8 feet.  So if at all possible, place bird feeders 8 feet from any jumping off spot.  If that isn’t an option - try using baffles, squirrel proof bird feeders, the Twirl-A-Squirrel or combinations of these methods. 

If using a baffle, make sure that the hanging bird feeder is 4 1/2 feet off of the ground and that the baffle is is at least 1/3 larger than the feeder.

Add a Twirl-A-Squirrel to any hanging feeder and watch the Twirl-A-Squirrel activate and safely twirl the squirrel off of the feeder.  The weight of the birds won’t activate the Twirl-A-Squirrel.  You Tube Twirl-A-Squirrel Video