Humming Bird Feeders

Bird watching and feeding can be a very satisfying pass-time but unless you have use squirrel proof feeders your enjoyment can be  short lived.

This is because birds and squirrels enjoy much of the same foods and unfortunately squirrels and birds don’t mix that well. Squirrels will chase away the birds and will destroy the average bird feeder.

A properly designed feeder will keep almost all squirrels out, but it is important to remember that no feeder will be 100% squirrel proof. Your objective is to make the food hard enough for them to get to so as to prevent your feeder becoming a daily feeding station for the squirrels.

To help make your feeder inaccessible,  you need to  make the mounting pole impossible to climb and also to ensure the feeder is placed out of jumping range.

This means the feeder needs to be as much as 10 feet away from objects they can jump from. This includes tables, chairs, barbeques, trees etc. Also ensure there are no overhanging trees or branches, as squirrels are quite capable of dropping in from above, on your carefully positioned feeder.

The feeder pole should also be fitted with a baffle. The baffle needs to be wobbly so that if  they do get onto the edge it drops down instead of supporting them as they climb. Always use a metal baffle as the plastic ones are able to be chewed. The most recommended baffles  are those that are can as opposed to saucer shaped. With the can shape the squirrel climb up inside, find the way blocked then back down. If they try to go over the top it just pivots and the slip down.