looks like when reservoir gets low, beaks not long enough to feed, especially orioles with shorter beaks. can they feed to the bottom?
315662
We don't have orioles in El Paso but if we did, we would have the same problem as you are having. We have a few species of birds that attempt to feed but remember this is a hummingbird feeder and I never expected it to be a feeder for any bird that decided it needed a shot of sugar. There are bird feeders fro those.
315663
I don't know. We used our feeder for only a month, before the birds migrated.
315664
The hummingbirds have no problem because of their long tongues, but the wider-beaked birds will need a refill before the level gets too low.
597624
Oh sure. Birds always do that regardless of the feeder. I've even seen them go out of their way to pick out items from a suet cake and drop them. All you can do is try to stock as much of the "favorite food" of the majority of the birds that visit your feeder. That might limit the variety of birds though. My chickadees only seem to want peanuts or corn while the finches eat only millet. Most of the niger seeds and sunflower seeds go over the side but the towhees and squirrels police those up off the ground. All just "part of the show."
1017765
Yes you can use small bird feed with this feeder. I use thistle in mine and it will take other very small bird seed. the comment about upside bird feeders for finches is wrong. They are the only birds that can feed upside down. It keeps many other small birds out of you finch feeder. Finches love this bird feeder. Some years they stay away for extended time no known reason but be patient they will return.
30571
no they can not. it is made for smaller birds like finches, chickadees and such. I would put on a different feeder for bigger birds....
1535519
Feeder has worked well -- little spillage and the seed stays dry. Have been refilling it from the top all summer and the nyjer seed at the bottom seems to be OK. I plan to dump it out and check before refilling for the winter but I don't expect to have to throw out the bottom seed. Finches eat from it but so do other small birds. If you want to restrict feeding to only finches, buy an upside down feeder (holes are below the perches, not above). Took the finches a day or two to get the hang of it but they really do feed hanging upside down and no other birds do this so all the nyjer seed in this type of feeder goes to finches. Feeder has worked well -- little spillage and the seed stays dry. Have been refilling it from the top all summer and the nyjer seed at the bottom seems to be OK. I plan to dump it out and check before refilling for the winter but I don't expect to have to throw out the bottom seed. Finches eat from it but so do other small birds. If you want to restrict feeding to only finches, buy an upside down feeder (holes are below the perches, not above). Took the finches a day or two to get the hang of it but they really do feed hanging upside down and no other birds do this so all the nyjer seed in... » Read More Feeder has worked well -- little spillage and the seed stays dry. Have been refilling it from the top all summer and the nyjer seed at the bottom seems to be OK. I plan to dump it out and check before refilling for the winter but I don't expect to have to throw out the bottom seed. Finches eat from it but so do other small birds. If you want to restrict feeding to only finches, buy an upside down feeder (holes are below the perches, not above). Took the finches a day or two to get the hang of it but they really do feed hanging upside down and no other birds do this so all the nyjer seed in this type of feeder goes to finches. « Show Less
1604863
There is a hook on both the top and the bottom. You attach the top hook to the place where you used to hang the feeder, then hang the feeder on the bottom hook. It lowers the feeder by about 3 inches. Works like a charm!
371341
It's not easy for them but yes, they can eat from it as long as they can jump to it. What they can't do is eat through it, as they can on many feeders made of plastic or less hard materials.If you buy it, I suggest you get a locked hook (like a spring hook at Home Depot) for the top instead of the J-hook provided. If this feeder falls (from squirrels jumping on it over and over or heavy winds, etc.) more than half a dozen times, the cheap-metal threads holding the top and bottom plates on will break--this part of the design is majorly lacking.
1988130
I don't know, sorry. I have not seen an Oriole at my feeder, only hummingbirds, and I don't know if it is because I live in an area where there aren't many, or if it is the feeder or some other reason. Someone told me you can use the same hummingbird suger/water mixture for Orioles but that an orange colored feeder is more attractive to the Oriole.
246162
A neighbor has an open dish (same sugar water used by hummers) which orioles use. I have never seen them use this variety. I have heard they can drink from some vertical hummingbird feeders with side openings.
1778118
Hi, In answer to your question. I have not seen any bird droppings in the feeder, as the food gets towards the bottom, I just dump what few stray seeds are in there and fill with fresh seed. They really are still shy and do not sit inside for long, and I still enjoy this feeder and get lots of birds everyday.
2095138
The small amount at the bottom that they can't reach is sort of a blessing- keeps their beaks out of the detritus that accumulates in this open-type of feeder. (i.e. ants, dead bees, dust) This size is small, I have 3 to 4 birds visit it and it lasts about two days.
1926483
Hi! Gayle, the hummingbirds can only feed thru the holes (8) total. Where we reside, we haven't had any regular birds try to feed on the Best-1 as of this season. They did try to feed on the Perky Pet feeder we have out but didn't fair very good to tell you the truth with this one either. Best of luck!!!!
1280661
We have mostly sparrows that get in to the feeder at the moment, but not having had it that long, I'm not sure. We will get Cardinals later on, so will have to see if they can get in through the holes. The feeder is wonderful, and may have to get another one, as we have a smaller one, but the birds ignore it. It might be worth trying it, as other small birds would love it anyway.
88214
maybe your using the feed side instead of the water side- check the words on the bottom green part to see what side is which
1617530
I have mine in a tree by my bluebird house but my birds have not used it. I have an open feeder they will use but a lot of other birds feed in the open ones as well. Maybe I'll try on a post in the open. It doesn't work in the tree.
2052651
I find mine laying on the ground below the feeder. Turns out that I have a female Baltimore Oriole that has figured out how to pluck them out and gain access to the nectar. It's kind of annoying but I have to give her credit and it is fun to watch.
309928
do you have the spring adjusted to where the weight of even the smallest bird shuts the portals? I'm feeding at least a quart of sunflower seeds a day...no squirrels.