Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders – Things to watch for…
It is a fact of life that if you love feeding birds, you are also probably inadvertently feeding squirrels at the same time and will inevitably have to look at squirrel proof bird feeders. Unfortunately if you tend to buy the common types of bird seed that contains sunflower seeds and a whole host of other bird goodies, you need to realize that they are just as appetizing to the squirrel! Squirrels may be wanted or unwanted visitors in your yard depending on your personal preference, but there is definitely no disputing the fact that they have a much larger appetite than birds and have been to known to aggressively chase them off, denying them a chance to feed. It is also important to understand that in the right circumstances, squirrels become predatorial and will have no hesitation in devouring hatchlings and eggs.
How to make your bird feed squirrel proof
If you don’t want to purchase a dedicated squirrel proof bird feeder, then there are a few changes that you can make around your home in order to minimize the chances of a squirrel getting where it isn’t supposed to be. Since the squirrel is highly suited to tree dwelling, it would make sense to try and position your bird feeder as far out into the open as possible. They have been known to leap distances of 10 feet through the air so make sure there are no obstructions within this radius. The feeder itself should also be at least 6 feet off the ground and the pole which supports it should not allow the squirrel to climb upwards, think smooth and shiny!
Less attractive solutions
There also exists the option to make a few less aesthetically pleasing alterations to your bird feeder in order to make it truly squirrel proof. The best squirrel proof bird feeders will be encased in a metal cage which has gaps such that they are big enough to let small birds in but not too big that a squirrel could gain access to the seed. This also gives you an added benefit in keeping out larger, introduced or pest birds that compete with the birds you want to attract to your garden for food.
Good housekeeping
One often overlooked factor is keeping the area around the bird feeder clean. Birds do make a mess with seed as they pick through it to find the bits they love to eat, that is a fact of life. However, this mess can attract the unwanted attention of squirrels and other opportunistic animals who are on the search for food. Keeping the area clean and tidy will make the seed more visible to the birds who know how to spot it.
Some more interesting, specialized solutions
It may be that despite your best attempts, you simply cannot keep squirrels away from your bird feeder. If this sounds like the situation you are in, it may be best to buy a specialized squirrel proof bid feeder that employs any one of a number of sometimes comical and ingenious techniques. For example there are certain bird feeders which have a perch that is attached to an electric motor. A sensor can sense when a squirrel is about to eat the seed and automatically drop the perch, instantly removing the squirrel and solving the problem.
Roller feeders
Perhaps one of the most well thought out squirrel proof bird feeders is the roller feeder. It is a simple but highly effective design consisting of a central seed hopper encased in a rotating outer shell. The rotating shell will be able to support a birds weight and allow them to feed freely, but as soon as a cunning squirrel tries to get a footing on the shell, it simply starts to spin around, instantly dislodging it from the feeder and sending it to the ground. The other advantage of the roller feeder is that it does not require any maintenance as far as keeping it in good working condition is concerned. The squirrel itself provides the energy required to spin the feeder around and it will work every single time!