Is there any way to keep large birds like Starlings from entering the box? I have an old version, & the Starlings have totally taken over.
884390
I've had a bit of a problem with them and have had a bit of success with plain scare tactics - like tapping the box when they're in there - and putting only hard seed in like safflower, large sunflower (not black oil) and thistle. I got this from http://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/managing-house-sparrows-and-european-starlings/ in the section on feeding.
884391
I don't know because they have not used mine. Mine are shared by a squirrel and the smaller birds. My husband was feeding the squirrel before we got the bird feeders and still likes to watch him too.
992078
I use an enclosed feeder with plastic sides that have two holes on each side and there is one hole on each end. Small birds can get in and larger brids cannot. Although this year the Starlings have figured out that they can stick their head and to retrive food.
23619
Do you have water for the bigger birds nearby? I have a hanging birdbath in the tree next to my feeders and have never had any issues. If you are in the southwest like I am, all the animals are suffering from lack of water due to drought right now. They get it anywhere they can. Otherwise, it's better to be replacing the solution more often anyway. It's healthier for the hummers to keep the feeder cleaned and replaced every couple days in the heat anyway. LOTS of bacteria builds in sugar water in the heat which can kill the hummers. The big birds are actually keeping everyone healthier!
1111323
Hi Grace......at first our birds would come and peck at it and fly away. I thought this is not going to work, but then low and behold they started coming back and figured out how to feed from it. Now we have them all back plus the morning doves, raccoons and squirrels. The spring is too tight to close the doors when the doves and squirrels get on it so we close it at night with a small bungie cord. Hope this helps :)
2219771
If you are lucky, never. Once the birds move in, you have to worry about the air temperature remaining stable because the walls aren't thick enough, the suction cups not failing when the birds are moving around inside and of course, you can't use the room the box is hung on because movement behind the box through the window will discourage the birds too. (Yeah... they didn't mention THAT in the ads, did they?)
2222619
No. If you want to discourage starlings, get an upside down suet cage/feeder. Only the smaller woodpeckers and clingy birds can use it. Starlings are too big and can't cling to eat.
2222621
No, Starlings have been present at this feeder. It does seem a little more difficult for them to feed from it. I think they still prefer to be fed on the ground.
331467
The Cardinals won't go near this bird feeder. I have two feeders and even the smaller birds will hardly touch this feeder, they prefer the standard feeder with an open tray, this one has elongated holes that the birds have to reach through while sitting on a spring loaded perch. The spring loaded perch will not support the larger birds like Cardinals, even when it is set to the maximum weight adjustment.
1767068
I have mainly starlings (one type of blackbird) in my area. I used only black sunflower seeds, and they have not taken over the feeder. It may be that the perching area is smaller (which is one of the recommendations for keeping away blackbirds. They also do not like to feed under anything, so when mine was hanging under a poch ceiling, they never came to the area. As for seeds, the sites I read suggest safflower seeds (very hard) as the one type of seed blackbirds will not eat. Not sure what other birds like it. here's one good link for more info: http://springfieldil.wbu.com/content/show/76860 Good luck! I have mainly starlings (one type of blackbird) in my area. I used only black sunflower seeds, and they have not taken over the feeder. It may be that the perching area is smaller (which is one of the recommendations for keeping away blackbirds. They also do not like to feed under anything, so when mine was hanging under a poch ceiling, they never came to the area. As for seeds, the sites I read suggest safflower seeds (very hard) as the one type of seed blackbirds will not eat. Not sure what other birds like it. here's one good link for more info:... » Read More I have mainly starlings (one type of blackbird) in my area. I used only black sunflower seeds, and they have not taken over the feeder. It may be that the perching area is smaller (which is one of the recommendations for keeping away blackbirds. They also do not like to feed under anything, so when mine was hanging under a poch ceiling, they never came to the area. As for seeds, the sites I read suggest safflower seeds (very hard) as the one type of seed blackbirds will not eat. Not sure what other birds like it. here's one good link for more info: http://springfieldil.wbu.com/content/show/76860 Good luck! « Show Less
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."
945110
I have had mine down before the Wisconsin winter set in way before, to keep birds from flying into the window, works fine no problems, I have spacers between the bottom of the screen and window so when birds fly into the window they have a bit of airspace between the screen and window.
825873
Small chickadees seem to be the best. Openings too small for Cardinals. Grackles and Starlings might try but I have not had any problrms with them over the past winter.
318919
I have not used it as I have finches and this box is not for such a small bird. Good luck dear.
2027711
It does take a while for the birds to figure it out, but they will. I found that it is easier if you use the "no waste" seeds such as sunflower chips instead of the ones with the shells. In the long run it isn't any more expensive and you don't have any mess under the feeder. Also, you might put some seeds on the tray to get more birds in and looking around. Hope this helps.
2148622
The only think that I can think of is that the feeding bar tension is set too light and when a bid or multiple birds land on the bar it closes off the feeding ports. So you might have to adusst the tension via the notches and the wire lever on the side of thefeeding bar
499905
I have had a bad experience with starlings and grackles sticking their head and long beaks inside the small squares and devouring the suet cakes in about 1/2 hour! It was amazing watching these aggressive birds figure out how to hang on to the bottom of the cage. Blue Jays have the same long beak and I am sure they will find a way into the cage. I actually decided to return the cage but received a credit from Amazon instead.
2144966
We didn't, but you do have that option. The hole is smoothed out so it will not hurt the bird when they get in the hole. We have a lot of little sparrows, wrens, chickdees and oriole so we wanted to make sure no blackbirds and larger birds were able to get in there.