Will this keep the black birds and starlings from eating all the bird food?
992151
We don't have very many starlings here. Had a couple of flocks migrating through and they didn't get on the feeder, just ate the seed on the ground spread by the other birds.
992152
My observation is yes. That was also a problem we had. They would clean out everything in minutes with our older feeders. The downside to this feeder is that if several smaller birds try to feed at once, the spring mechanism allows the assembly to migrate downwards and even they can't feed until one or more give up and then the assembly moves back up. The blackbirds and starlings are very persistent and try and try to get at the seed and may get a morsel now and then, but they certainly don't deplete this feeder like tradional ones.
2206508
Not at all. Cardinals feed fine. Keeps out morning doves and blackbirds. Best squirrel proof feeder ever.
322352
Blackbirds love all the seeds. They are definably a pest just like the squirrels and I have to run them off continually. On this feeder you will have squirrel problems. The birds love the feeder but the squirrels will wrap themselvesaround the feeder and eat all the seed. I bought a squirrel proof feeder and hang both of them together which helps keep the squirrels away because I keep this feeder with a small amount of feed on the bottom and the squirrels have stop bothering the feed.
431637
Cardinals routinely use my feeder and I have to adjust it to light settings to keep the starlings and blackbirds out of it. Have used this feeder since last December and I am very pleased with it. Recommended it to a friend and they are very pleased with their new feeder also.
331464
yes, it does. In fact, sunflower seeds is what I have in ours. Red birds, finches, woodpeckers, tufted Titmouse, blue jays all feed from ti. Again, if you have a squirrel population....it will need to be modified to keep them out.
2148621
Interesting question.1. If there's plenty of "natural" food, the birds won't go near a feeder.2. One trick is to spread some seed on the ground under the feeder.
736464
red wing black birds can feed from it. starlings are about the same size. a gamo .177 caliber air rifle will handle your problem.
2083171
Yes, however blackbirds are like crows once they find a food source , they respond to shoo! shoo!. Small firecrackers or a shot with the old Daisy Red Rider(The Daisy will not kill or hurt them, only annoy, soon as they hear the "pop" they take flight) The cardinals, blue birds and finches have a short memory and will return to your feeder.
576315
Yes. The size of the wire mesh around the feeder tube is far too small to allow grackles or anything larger than the smaller hedge birds; chickadee, wren, finch sized birds. I've had to replace the center tube as the plastic died from three years of UV exposure. Not hard to do and a $7 tube from Lowes was an almost perfect fit. I also created a coroplast cover to keep off the rain and discovered it gave some immumity to the smaller birds from a local Kestrel. Zero squirrel access.
507847
Yes. We have birds and it has helped keep the dust down. We actually own two. We wash the one not in use and let it dry and always have an extra to put in.
825876
Hello, concerning your question, grackles and starlings leave this feeder alone. They just wait for the sparrows to drop the seed. I have seen bluejays hang on to the bottom and get some seed and take off. Pigeons and dove are confused to. Squirrels can't get it either.Happy Feeding.
2242891
Sounds like a good idea if lots of water is getting into it. But the birds eat all the food so I'm able to wipe if necessary
939028
Yes, and pigeons, too. Mostly crows in Seattle dont care much for small bird seed anyway, but we bought this thing to discourage the pigeons, and it is doing that really well. However, it also keeps out the medium size nice birds (like robins) because the mesh is too small. We get lots of small birds who can enter through the mesh.
1315867
I'm sure the birds will visit despite the awning. It might take them a bit longer to discover the feeder though. I recommend filling the feeder with black oil sunflower seeds (which is a delightful treat for birds) to help them find it faster.
181804
Yes it does a wonderful job keeping the large birds out. I dont have Magpies, but they appear to be similar in size to Black Birds. They will hang on the outside for a while and try to get in but finally give up. The smaller birds actually get comfortable enough to crawl through that outside layer of wire and will move around inside near the food.
1962855
It shouldn't as long as it is covered with water.You can always put a small rock beside it so the birds can stand on that to drink.Hope this helps.
2222618
Actually, I have not seen Starlings on this suet feeder. They are usually a pesky bird, but no sign of them. We see pilated woodpeckers, lots of flickers, and other small birds. The bird that is usually a nuisance where I live are the Grosbeaks, they start feeding and won't leave, try to eat all the suet, and not leave food for others. You may not have them in your area.