Archive for the ‘Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder’ Category
Just Browsing
Passing pleasantries with lots of browsing customers came easy today. It was the first weekend day in ages that we have had totally blue skies not to mention the upper 55 + degrees of wonderful warmth. The store was bustling most of the day with people who mostly just wanted to be out and about. Few of them were on a mission and an even smaller few were attempting to get what they needed to finish a project.
The best part of days like this is getting acquainted with the customers, and of course the best of those for me are those who are browsing through the bird feeders, bird houses and many varieties of food and seed and nuts. One of my customers just couldn’t stop complaining about the squirrels. He was truly frustrated and was asking for advice. I have a couple of favorites squirrel proof feeders, but he finally purchased the one above which is among the most affective of them This one has a 2 lb food capacity and operates on the weight factor. When the squirrel jumps on it, his weight closes the feeding door.
I hope my customer is happy with his new feeder. I wouldn’t have recommended it if I didn’t believe in it. Hope you are having and sunny and wonderful weekend.
Wildlife On White
A friend of mine who lives in the nearby town of Boyertown, PA sent this picture to me 2 days after the recent blizzard. It is almost unbelievable, but the snow is truly that deep and even deeper in many places. Well, the deer are out in the open, so spring cannot be that far away.
The wildlife has come out of hiding out of the recent storm. They are looking for new food sources that the frozen state of their dense wood sand 3 feet of snow are not providing them right now. I won’t be surprised to look out at the bird feeders and see a deer or two out there. Today it was squirrels. I am so glad I have squirrel proof feeders out there. I cannot get all the way up the hill yet to fill the feeders, but by tomorrow I will have the path completed.
Oh - we are supposed to get more snow on Monday. Have a great weekend and Happy Valentine’s Day. Think SPRING.
Special Wishes
Today is February 1st. It’s my sister’s birthday and since she is a constant great friend, the best sister in the world and my soul mate, I must say “Happy Birthday, Sis!”
She loves nature and though, I don’t think her love of the birds is quite as passionate as mine, she did make an investment in a Yankee Flipper bird feeder. It is one of the most effective squirell proof feeders made. It has also served as a great source of entertainment for my sister and her husband and any guests they may have. They live on a very wooded lot in Greenville, SC. The squirells outnumber the birds sometimes, and you really can’t help but laugh out loud when the squirrels attempt to hop on board the Yankee Flipper only to get flipped. It does not hurt the squirell in any way, and they will often just try over and over again.
She says it is one of the best investments she ever made. It has a life-time guarantee too.
Squirrelicide
Fuzzy tailed squirrels are public enemy #1 for many wild bird feeding enthusiasts. They are wanted for theft, transport of stolen property, destroying private property and making a fool of authorities. Described as fat, perky, fluffy tailed, white eared, seed nibbling, acrobatic, tree climbing, and daylight robber, the squirrel is an agile and smart critter. In fact, he has a bag of tricks that drives many bird lovers to the brink of “squirrelicide”.
Essentially there are three ways to prevent them from robbing your bird feeders: the birdfeeder itself, the baffle and the feed. I have discussed the squirrel proof feeders. There are many options that really work. Try a caged bird feeder, the Yankee Flipper, Dipper or Whipper, the weigh activated feeder. There are lots of baffle out there, though none of them have really worked for me. And one we have never discussed in this blog is the Twirl-A-Squirrel. Squirrel’s weight on the feeder activates motor which gently spins him off. SAFE - Does not harm birds or squirrels. Durable, weather-resistant PVC. Smart technology prevents motor fatigue. Easy to use. No assembly required. Operates on 3 size D batteries (not included). Turns any hanging feeder into a carousel for unsuspecting squirrels, twirling them safely to the ground! Hillariously funny and wildly effective!
There are a lot of options out there to win the war on squirrels. What we hear about this one is “it works”.
Beating The Squirrels
For the last 5 years, I have not had a need for a squirrel proof bird feeder, as we moved to a relatively new development. We mosved here from a wooded lot where there were easily as many squirrels as there were birds. There I learned a bit about baffling them and literally tried just about everything before discovering what works and what doesn’t.
I like to get feedback from my customers on them and so far only two come up with perfect scores for being squirrel proof bird feeders. One is the Absolute II which is pictured to the left and the other is the Yankee Flipper by Droll Yankee. So far all of the customers who have been repeat visitors have reported total success with both of them. I know the Droll Yankee feeder does work, as I own one and just haven’t had the need at this home yet to use it. There’s only one downside after you get past the price and that is remembering to check the batteries. The Droll Yankee feeder is 100% guaranteed for life by the manufacturer which is a big plus. Can’t think of one single downside to the Absolute II by Heritage Farms.
If You Can’t Beat Them, Then Feed Them
Since I work in a store that sells bird foods in abundance, I constantly hear people remark on the squirrels and their total commitment to getting into the bird feeders.
In the past I have given you lots of information on the different types of squirrel proof feeders available, and some of them actually do work. Many of my customers at the store, however, have just given in to the fact that the squirrels are smart, they are diligent and relentless and they usually find a way to win the war.
So, if you can’t beat them at their game, give in and get a squirrel feeder. They love the corn and will pretty much go about chomping on that rather than eating your bird feeders clean every moment.
Oh Those Squirrels
I do love the squirrels. I think they are cute and fun to watch. Their innovative habits are quite admirable, but oh they make me mad sometimes!! We aren’t overrun by them by any means. We have just enought to get annoying.
I just finished mulching our gardens. They look so pretty and perfect when the mulch is first put down. However, the squirrels are having fun, burying their treasures in it. And that is only a part of my frustration. Yesterday, I found them eating my suet and woodpecker cakes. Boy, can they go through them fast, and they were for the woodpeckers, not the squirrels. One of them actually found a way up the pole and was chewing on the tube bird feeder to get the seed out.
Since we have lived in our current home, I have not had this problem. Though in the house we came from the squirrels were a constant nemesis. I put the baffle on the mounting pole right away yesterday to keep him away from that feeder.
From past experience, I can give you some hints as to what works and what doesn’t when it comes to keeping the squirrels and their appetites at bay. Squirrel proof bird feeders come in many designs. Some use the cage arond the tube, and others close when the weight of the squirrell pulls it closed. Squirrels will only hang on to a caged bird feeder, but they are too large to get throught the cage openings. They work. I have a Yankee Flipper, which will go out in the yard today in place of the more vulnerable feeders. They are pricey, but guaranteed for life and a definite source of entertainment as well as a super squirrel befuddler. The little critters usually outsmart the baffles eventually. Sorry. They find ways of getting over them and underthem and then it is all over.
Well, my newest bird feeder just arrived and I will be sharing it with you as soon as I see what kind of results I can get with it.
Outsmarting the Squirrels
There’s little doubt that people who have tried to feed birds in their backyard have ended up, on more than one occasion, simply feeding the squirrels. This has driven many frustrated bird lovers to invest in squirrel proof bird feeders. But even with these devices, those tenacious and persistent squirrels can still end up draining your feeder of seed. That’s why it’s important to combine the specialized feeder with some common sense tips.
For one, always make sure your squirrel proof feeders are placed in an area that is either limited on squirrels or difficult for squirrels to reach. You also want to make sure that you carefully select your birdseed. Many combinations are particularly tasty to squirrels, while others are less desirable. To that end, choose something like safflower seed. Birds often go crazy for this meal, but squirrels are less thrilled. In a similar vein, you can also feature thistle or suet cakes. This combination of tactics and equipment will go miles to deterring your pesky neighborhood menaces.
Stop Those Squirrels!
There’s nothing worse than spending a lot of time and energy setting up your bird feeder only to find that the only ones enjoying your efforts are the squirrels. Some people might find squirrels cute with their fluffy little tails and scurrying run, but to people who are trying to enjoy their backyard bird feeders, they are little more than a menace and a nuisance. Whether your birdfeeder is freestanding or hanging, those squirrels seem to find a way to hang, clamber, or force their way to the seeds inside.
To stop these crafty critters from getting to your carefully selected bird food, look into the addition of a squirrel proof bird feeder. These feeders have been specially designed to combat all the common ways squirrels have been reported to get into standard bird feeders. As an added measure of safety, you can also set up a feeder that is specifically created for the squirrels. In the best case scenario, these squirrel feeders will turn the squirrels from those backyard pests back to cute and fuzzy wildlife.
It’s Hummingbird Feeder Time!
It is an absolutley gorgeous day. The skies are blue, and the temperatures are headed for the upper 70’s. I am sitting here with my morning cup of coffee, and can almost watch the grass grow and threes sprout their leaves. Spring is such a wonderful time of year, when it is impossible not to see God’s miracles in something every single day.
Last Month I placed the hummingbird nesting material in one of our flowering pear trees. And, now, it is really important to get the hummingbird feeders out. I caught sight of my first hummingbird of the season about a week ago on a cool rainy day. So they are here and will be looking for great nesting places and sources of food to hold them throughout the summer. They will add so much enjoyment to your upcoming late spring and all summer long!
You will use 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of water to make your own nectar. Just be certain that the sugar is completely dissolved.