Squirrel proof bird feeder pole quad12/16/2023 ![]() ![]() You can also try “squirrel-proof” bird feeders. To minimize the number of squirrels that try this, position your feeders at least 10 feet away from jumping-off points, but remember that your birds are safest from window collisions if your feeders are very close to your house.Īnother approach is to distract them by feeding them peanuts or dried ears of corn in a location some distance from your feeders. Squirrels can leap several feet horizontally or from above onto your feeder. But when squirrels devour too much expensive birdseed, chew holes in feeders, and discourage feeder birds from visiting, it may be time to take action.īe warned that it’s very difficult to completely squirrel-proof a feeder setup. Squirrels can be fun to watch, and some people accept that squirrels are part of the feeding station community. If you can’t bear to lose your backyard chickadees to the local Merlin or Cooper’s Hawk, you might have to close down your feeding station for the season. But because these hungry predators are alert to hunting opportunities within a fairly large area, when songbirds discover that you’ve reopened your feeding station, the hawks may quickly return. If you wish to discourage a hawk from visiting your yard, you might try closing down your feeding station for a week or so in hopes that the raptor will develop a new feeding routine. During the breeding season, a pair of hawks may become even more regular visitors. During winter, a hawk may take up more permanent residence in a neighborhood, visiting a feeding station a few times every day or every week. During migration, individual hawks may appear at a feeder for only a few minutes, and there’s little anyone can do to discourage them. But others don’t want to invite songbirds to their feeders only to be attacked. ![]() Many people enjoy seeing magnificently wild raptors visiting their yards. Immature Red-tailed Hawk with Northern Flicker. It’s easier to deal with starlings when they’ve first discovered a new roost location than after they’ve settled in. But they usually return quickly. If you are persistent, chasing them away every evening for a week or so, the flock may move to another roost. Sometimes even just clapping your hands is enough to flush a starling flock. Some people use fireworks, or clang pots and pans together. Unexpected loud noises may flush bird flocks from your trees. A predator decoy in combination with another bird deterrent, such as a recording of starling distress calls broadcast through a speaker, may help a bit longer, but very often the birds habituate to the sound before you and your neighbors do. The birds will quickly realize it poses no threat and ignore it. Installing a plastic model hawk or owl in a tree is at best a short-term help.
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