Fall Backyard Wildlife activities 2010

It seems the squirrels are eating all my bird food and driving away the birds :-( The bird bath with bird seeds in the yard had 2 bluejays in it yesterday morning, and a red cardinal, but by the time I grabbed the camera, they were gone, thanks to the squirrels

Anyhoo...I am getting a lot of Chikadee action, as depicted in the pics below

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c279/ikennedy/IMG_0848.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c279/ikennedy/IMG_0847.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c279/ikennedy/IMG_0845.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c279/ikennedy/IMG_0844.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c279/ikennedy/IMG_0838.jpg

Looks like am going to need a 18-270mm telephoto lens for my canon dslr to really get an upclose shot of these birds, as my 18-55mm stock lens isn't cutting it

Two bird feeders full of sunflower seeds were hung here,
and the squirrels emptied them by night fall.
We do get Blue Jays in the winter also.

The squirrels can be outwitted! DH installed a large metal baffle on our pole-mounted feeder, and not even raccoons can get around it. We also cut back any tree branches near the feeder, so the squirrels can't jump across from the tree onto the feeder cage.

Thanks. I have them too close to a fence and a tree.
And the baffle is a good idea too.

I am getting the baffle and pole....saw it in a garden center today and It comes with hooks to hang multiple feeders

Hanging feeders in the middle of a long washing line also works. I've only ever seen one squirrel make it along the tightrope, and that was on a calm, dry day. Normally the line is bouncing or slippery and the squirrels fall off.

I'm not anti-squirrel, by the way. I love watching them, and chipmunks too, and they are welcome to clean up any seeds that the birds drop from my feeders.

I don't mind the squirrels,but I was surprised the feeders were emptied that quickly.
They do provide entertainment all winter. Along with the birds which visit.

If you use suet during winter, the thing that will deter squirrel, is cayenne pepper. It will not bother the birds, but will bother squirrels. That's if you make your own suet. But I did sprinkle the pepper on some store bought cake, and it worked.

Hi All
Since this seems to be the advice for bird feeders section....I'm trying to feed my birdies with out feeding the
pigeons. I got a smaller bird feeder and they can't set on it as the perch is too small but they still try and spook the other birds away. Has anyone tried the Lee Valley Tools bird feeder with the spring thingy that shuts when something "too heavy" gets on it?
Ann

I haven't tried the Lee Valley feeder, but I gave up on a similar feeder because the mechanism got jammed with seeds. Also, I heard (does anyone know if this is true?) that if a large bird lands on the feeder while a small bird is feeding the mechanism can close on the small bird's head and injure it.

Pigeons prefer to eat on a flat surface, so you might try luring them away from the small feeder by setting up a platform or bird table just for ground-feeders. In addition to hanging feeders for small birds I have bird tables that are shared by doves, red-wing blackbirds, blue jays, crows, squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks, and sometimes even deer.

June
Thanks for the insight. I will look into the Lee Valley feeder and let you all know.
I don't really want to encourage the pigeons at this time. Just wanted the other birds to have their fair share.
Ann

It will be hard to discourage the pigeons once they found your place. Some have suggested taking down the feeder for a week, so the birds disperse But I think what June said might be your best bet.

Thanks to you all I will give these things a try!
Ann

I bought this today from my local garden store here in Ottawa, the bird feeder pole, baffle and hooks for feeders. This should keep those squirrels away for now, it's too dark to take pics of it installed

http://www.stokesselect.com/products/product_images/BirdFeederPole_whtbck.jpg

http://www.stokesselect.com/products/product_images/DoubleHangerwithPoleExtender_whtbck.jpg

http://www.stokesselect.com/products/product_images/SquirrelBaffel1.jpg

You can also use this

http://www.thewildbird.net/shop/images/squirrelslip.jpg

Mick

New pics

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/aghapymou/IMG_0854.jpg?t=1290288701

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/aghapymou/IMG_0856.jpg?t=1290288793

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http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/aghapymou/IMG_0863.jpg?t=1290289049