Banishing Birds...Please Help

Okay, so I finally bought a bird feeder and haven't had a chance to fully set up a backyard area to get some great pictures. I am starting to get a few of the birds I was hoping to capture. Starting a couple days ago, I had some unwelcomed guest visit and now have found that they have a nice little home to gather food or should I say, throw food. They attack the feeder and throw all the food out onto the ground. Anyone have suggestions?


Here are the ones I like...


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Here are the ones I don't want...


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The ones you don't want are common grackles, and they are sometimes considered 'pests' (especially by corn farmers, apparently). Not sure what you can do to discourage them from your feeder, though. The seem to eat almost anything. They do prefer to feed from the ground - maybe scatter some feed on the ground for them, and they'll leave the feeder above alone?


I do like the last pic - that's a pretty intense glare! [:)]

Hi Jayson,


Your first two photos are really nice! I have the same beautiful birds at my feeders and I also have the same menacing grackles that you have. They definitely dominate the smaller birds and all scatter when they come into the yard! Between the grackles and the squirrels it's surprising the small birds get to eat at all!!

Denise

Thanks. The last pictures, he wasn't too happy since I keptinterruptinghis meal by letting my dog out to chase them away. She thinks it's a blast. I really liked that pictures even though they are irritating me quite a bit. I wish I had a longer lens since I really had to crop it big time.





Jayson

How do they attack the feeder? Maybe we can help you get rid of them.


Jayson those are some nice shots of the house finch, try to get a more distant background for better bokeh and a natural perch.


Good Luck!


brendan

I don't really have a ton of room to work with until I move the swingset to a new area of the yard. That is the only tree in the back yard to block out the other houses, so I had to make due. I just trimmed a tree so I have branches to put up for a more natural perch, but just have not got around to getting it up. My problem comes from the birds emptying the feeder in 1 day. There are about 10 of the grackles I believe they are called and they scare off the cardinal family in the area and the finches. They try to get in there, but the flock scares them away every time. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.


Jayson

Is your feeder/seed near the ground? I'm not an expert but maybe put up a second feeder suspended....

Sorry I don't have an immediate suggestion for getting rid of your unwelcome guests. But that last photo is awesome, especially considering your dislike of the birds. And the bird seemed to know it.

Everconsidered an air rifle?Just kidding!!!...or am I?[6]

I'm sure a double barrelled 410 or 12 gauge would fix your problem. Probably not as discreet as an air rifle though [:P]

<span style="font-family: Verdana; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt;"]Jayson....you won't be able to rid yourself of the unwanted, bullybirds, e.g. grackles, starlings and to a lesser degree blue jays.<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-family: Verdana; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt;"]I've been feeding birds for nearly 40 years now and just accept that they have to eat also....but that doesn't mean I make it easy for them to get their meals.<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-family: Verdana; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt;"]My following suggestions are made from assumptions I've made from your input.<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-family: Verdana; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt;"]I use tube or silofeeders that have small perches (sometimes I cut them even smaller)that makes it difficult for the larger birds to perch....they will manage, but only for a moment or 2....flapping their wings to getsome seed. Too much energy expended for so little reward. They will make multiple attempts, but don't empty the feeder....the smaller song birds manage that quite well.<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-family: Verdana; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt;"]Depending on the size silo feeder (and popularity)you choose obviouslyeffects the fill frequency....I use the longer versions and refill every 48 hours to 60 hours. This timing is also dependent on the time of year....spring is a feeding frenzy.<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-family: Verdana; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt;"]Seed; I use what is called a clean seed, i.e. sunflower hearts and nut mixture...yes, more expensive. This means there isn't a mess (shells)around your feeder and any seed that does fall will be consumed by the ground feeders, e.g. mourning doves, robins, blue jays, juncos, squirrels, chipmunks, etc.<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-family: Verdana; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt;"]Setup; my feeding station is a pole (metal, 8 feet high, w/4 placements to hang suet and silos)located well away (10 feet)from any trees, yet not so far the birds to feel vulnerable (sharp shinned and cooper's hawks), but too far for the squirrels to jump across.<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-family: Verdana; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt;"]About 5 years ago I discovered a hollow metal baffle, 6 inch diameter and about 2 feet in length that slips onto the pole....I placed it about4 feetabove the ground. I've enjoyed watching the squirrels trying to get around it w/out success. 100% squirrel proof in 5 years.<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-family: Verdana; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt;"]If you decide to invest in the tube/silo type feeder....you need to keep it clean. Moisture gets in and mold will form at the base which will hurt the birds' health even to the point of death. Some of the tube/silofeedershave bottoms that easily come off for cleaning.<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-family: Verdana; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt;"]My 2 cents on bird pix;birds live in a very busy habitat, be aware of the background, but creamy bokeh on every shot isn't realistic....it isn't their environment. Don't mistake this statement....bokeh has its place in bird pix, but Iprefer to show off their every day surroundings more often than not.<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-family: Verdana; color: #000000; font-size: 9pt;"]Example<o:p></o:p>


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/...e1a22ea5_o.jpg


I apologize for the length of this reply Jayson, but your question wasn't a simple 1 sentence answer. Plus I assumed you're a beginner at feeding birds and thought my suggestions may help you.


BTW....I like the last grackle capture....nasty! I believe the bird inmy example pic is a Cooper's Hawk, it is difficult to differentiate Sharp-shinned and Cooper's.


Regards


Bill

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have considered the air riffle, but I would be shooting straight at another house and I am not sure my aim is all that good. I haven't shot any type of gun for some time. I might need to practice first. The air riffle would be fun too, but I don't think they wife would think so. [*-)]


Bill, that is an awesome shot! I have been trying to get some pictures of a red tail for some time, but have trouble as I never can get close enough with my 280mm of lens. Been considering a larger purchase for that sole reason. As for the bird feeder, I have thought of cutting off the bottom holder for the feeder since that is what they stand on when getting to the food. I might have to get another feeder for the grackles or something else.


I haven't really had a whole lot of time to set up the branches and other stuff, so this is what I have. The openings have a little thing that you can turn to get a smaller opening. Do you think that would help?





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Jayson....glad you liked the pic....thanks.


Ahh, now I see....the fence makes your feeder easy access to those pesky squirrels and the tray makes and excellent perch for the bullies and squirrels.


3 suggestions; can you remove (cut)the tray and maintain the bottom of the feeder....if so, do so. The perches look long....trim them back a bit. And yes, make the feeding holes smaller.


Thirdly and finally, and this one will necesitate some cash input on your part.....get a pole and baffleand mount the feeder as a stand alone...in the long run this is cheaper than refilling daily.


The grackles won't recognize the feeder as being solely for them.... [:D]


Good luck Jayson

I will have to check that out this weekend and see what I can do. Thanks for the suggestions.


Jayson