I know gardeners are also bird watchers and feed birds, so here is your question to bird feeders. How to discourage bully birds from the bird feeder?
Common Grackles:
Catch a glimpse of these birds in the right light and you’ll see their shiny, iridescent feathers. Removing feeder perches (or shortening them) should discourage grackles; like many large birds, grackles can’t cling to feeders to eat. Some backyard birders say grackles don’t like safflower seeds, so if you have a serious problem with them, adjust your food offerings. A lot of nuisance birds tend to leave nyjer (thistle) alone, too.
Blue Jays:
Yes, they’re beautiful and recognizable, but jays are known for causing a ruckus at feeders. They are exceptionally smart, so it’s not easy to outwit them with fancy jay-proof feeders. Your best bet for dealing with these beauties is to give them space and a feeder of their own. Serve peanuts in a feeder or put sunflower seeds in a large hopper feeder in an isolated area.
Blackbirds, Pigeons and Crows:
One solution for keeping them out is to install a tray underneath feeders. It will catch any seed cast aside by songbirds and keep it off the ground. If you still have trouble with these birds, try feeders with weighted perches. When a large bird or squirrel lands on the perch, a cover drops over the food.
European Starlings:
Extremely aggressive when it comes to feeders and nesting sites, starlings have a bad reputation. These boisterous birds love suet and it’s not uncommon for them to gobble up an entire suet cake in a single day. Look for starling-proof feeders (food is accessible only from the bottom) or set up a suet feeder under a squirrel baffle to deter them.
Read more: http://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/birding-basics/how-to-deal-with-bully-birds-at-your-feeders/#ixzz4NLStuNe1
Hints sound good and easy fix to discourage the bully birds. Give them a try. Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa
Common Grackles:
Catch a glimpse of these birds in the right light and you’ll see their shiny, iridescent feathers. Removing feeder perches (or shortening them) should discourage grackles; like many large birds, grackles can’t cling to feeders to eat. Some backyard birders say grackles don’t like safflower seeds, so if you have a serious problem with them, adjust your food offerings. A lot of nuisance birds tend to leave nyjer (thistle) alone, too.
Blue Jays:
Yes, they’re beautiful and recognizable, but jays are known for causing a ruckus at feeders. They are exceptionally smart, so it’s not easy to outwit them with fancy jay-proof feeders. Your best bet for dealing with these beauties is to give them space and a feeder of their own. Serve peanuts in a feeder or put sunflower seeds in a large hopper feeder in an isolated area.
Blackbirds, Pigeons and Crows:
One solution for keeping them out is to install a tray underneath feeders. It will catch any seed cast aside by songbirds and keep it off the ground. If you still have trouble with these birds, try feeders with weighted perches. When a large bird or squirrel lands on the perch, a cover drops over the food.
European Starlings:
Extremely aggressive when it comes to feeders and nesting sites, starlings have a bad reputation. These boisterous birds love suet and it’s not uncommon for them to gobble up an entire suet cake in a single day. Look for starling-proof feeders (food is accessible only from the bottom) or set up a suet feeder under a squirrel baffle to deter them.
Read more: http://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/birding-basics/how-to-deal-with-bully-birds-at-your-feeders/#ixzz4NLStuNe1
Hints sound good and easy fix to discourage the bully birds. Give them a try. Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa
