The Experiment

 I know I have moaned and complained about the squirrels eating my birdseed. About purchasing feeders that were supposed to stop the squirrels.  Most of you probably have watched the YouTube videos of how blasted smart the squirrels are and how they figure out all these "squirrel buster" designs.

Yep, I thought I had one too.  I even took the suggestion of putting the safflower seed in as that is the very least favorite of the squirrels, or so "they" say!

My feeder is the kind that if a heavier bird even, sits on the bar, the weight brings the bar down and the seed is covered up.  This worked pretty well for a little while. Until that beady little squirrel brain figured out what to do.

While the squirrel was working on his problem, the raccoon had no problem, he just lifted up the roof, where you fill it and helped himself. To eliminated this, I moved the feeder over in front of a 2 x 4 and then he couldn't lift the back of it. Awe, too bad. He didn't like the safflower anyway. Way too much work for a few tiny seeds. 

Back to the squirrel! In this period of time, the squirrel figured he could lay across the top of the feeder, get his head down on the sides and there are some holes there that help hold that bar in place. 


   
                                   
If you look closely there are two dark spots. Those are the holes the squirrel gets into for seed!


                                   
                                There are 4 drain holes, you can see which the use the most!



                                    
                         This is how the squirrel eats the safflower out of the drain holes

At one point the safflower was not full on this side so the squirrel moved over to the other side, getting seed out of those holes.

I was at a Master Gardener after plant sale BBQ.  One of the Master Gardeners gave me a product that she had use and told me to try it. I had some Thistle and Bits, which is Thistle and pieces of sunflower hearts.  I also had safflower seed.  I mixed some of each to equal about 5 pounds which the above feeder will hold.  I mixed them in a container and mixed in some of the hot sauce product.



I put the feeder out on the hook.
Since I did this, I have had the sparrows, (always) House Finch, Black-capped Chickadee and Cardinal. I have yet to see a squirrel on the feeder.  I have seen them in the area but I think, after one or two bites, they change their mind. They have been at the birdbath drinking a lot of water! 

I will keep watching. Let me know if you think I have solved the problem on this feeder.  












Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rosebud- Our Family Dog

Image
On Losing A Family Member By Mary J Williams © She may have 4 paws And a tail that wiggles My friendly dog That made me giggle She loved to chase squirrels Until they were out of sight Just showing them Catching them she might I lost this dear friend On February 18, 2024 My little Rosebud Knocked at Heavens door I am going to miss her She was with us for twelve years Every time I think of her My eyes fill up with tears Her other companion Of the four-legged kind Lacy, her buddy Still has her in her mind She won’t come in the room She spent most of her days Her buddy isn’t with her So, she just stays away It’s not been very long About three days is all I’m sure it will be better The good times we will recall So, Rosebud, we loved you With all of our hearts Just remember Rosebud We actually will never part Will think of you often And when it’s my time to go I will meet up with you again  The Good Lord will make it so                 ...
Read more

I'm Worn Out!

Image
It’s Nice Outside By Mary J Williams © I thought about the birds Stepped outside the door The sun was shining brightly Which I just adore! I knew I had washing So went down the stairs Transferred wash to the dryer I know you don’t care! I looked at the floor I need to sweep just a bit Went to get the broom My brain did a flip Feed the birds first Seeing as they have none They need some food Get that chore done The can that holds All the sunflower seed The bungee cord is broken A squirrel probably did the deed The cord held the lid down This has happened before Racoons and squirrels chew it Not going to get the lid off no more I finally found one in the basement That would fit like the old one Now that the birds are fed I found another thing to get done Blew the leaves out of the garage Out from the corner of the door Blew them across the driveway Where I will let them store Pick them up in spring After the birds dig through them Finding all the bugs, worms, and insects Among the rottin...
Read more

The Weather

Image
It's All About The Weather By Mary J Williams  © It was February  When the weather was weird All of the changes Were really feared This really happened From one day to the next I'm not making this up More than just me was certainly vexed The temperature soared To eighty-one degrees Then we were told It was going to freeze Maybe some rain Mixed with some snow This is Missouri So, anything goes On February the 27th Was the day we will remember The temperature was 81 And no, it's not September The forecast came And shocked us all February the 28th Rain and snow should fall I didn't think it would watching the temperature drop From that balmy 81 to the 30's Went to bed and it didn't stop The 28th of February I got up to let the dog out Oh, my God, look Lacy That is snow all about I laughed and got my camera I just had to take a pic otherwise no one would believe they'd probably think I was sick The temperature now was lower down to 20 degrees Snow was on the gro...
Read more