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| Chickadees eat safflower. |
If you switch over to straight safflower seed you will
decrease the activity of all those guests except hawks. Safflower is a
small white seed about the size of oil sunflower that is savored by Cardinals,
House Finches, Black-capped Chickadees, and more. Blackbirds, starlings,
squirrels, and sparrows avoid safflower. When you start feeding safflower there
will be a dramatic drop in the number of birds at the feeder but then different
birds will appear gradually.
It’s also important to buy suet without seed in it because that's what the sparrows
like. Our Wild Birds Unlimited Peanut Butter Suet contains just suet and
peanuts no seed or we have the straight beef suet that the just the chickadees,
woodpeckers, and nuthatches like. And the Hot Pepper Suet repels all mammals
including squirrels.
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| Goldfinches can eat Nyjer bottoms up. |
If you’re still overrun with flocks of sparrows and
starlings, hawks may actually help you take care of a few of those unwanted guests.
Unfortunately they may also tote off a couple of the birds you like.
To deter hawks, place your feeders where there is ample
natural protection. Evergreen shrubs and trees can provide an easy escape for
the birds. Federal and state laws prohibit the capture, killing, or possession
of hawks and owls. So keep in mind that hawks may eat a few sparrows and
squirrels but only tend to settle in at feeders for two or three weeks and then
they are off again to different territory. Ultimately, the only thing you can
do when a hawk comes to dinner is wait it out.
If you want to attract the widest variety of birds Wild Birds Unlimited has several other blends that are formulated to attract the birds that live in our area. We do not include cheap filler grains like oats, wheat and milo that decrease the price per pound of a mix and aren't eaten by the birds in Michigan. Wild Birds Unlimited blends actually end up costing less to use while attracting more of the birds that you want to watch.
The only blend I use is Wild Birds Unlimited's unique No-Mess Blend which features seeds that have had their shells removed so only the meat of the seed is left. No hulls on the seeds means no hulls on the ground and the seed won’t sprout either.
Pound for pound, our No-Mess Blend offers the best value because you do not pay for the shells. The birds eat everything. One 20# bag of No-Mess contains at least twice as much seed as a bag with shells.
Whichever seed you choose to use, you'll know Wild Birds Unlimited always has fresh bird food full of the high fat and protein the birds need right now. Seed comes in every Tuesday. If you come early enough you can watch me load tons of seed into the store. And if you want to buy bags of seed right off the pallets, you are very welcome.
- Best food for birds in the winter http://goo.gl/WXXcp
If you want to attract the widest variety of birds Wild Birds Unlimited has several other blends that are formulated to attract the birds that live in our area. We do not include cheap filler grains like oats, wheat and milo that decrease the price per pound of a mix and aren't eaten by the birds in Michigan. Wild Birds Unlimited blends actually end up costing less to use while attracting more of the birds that you want to watch.
The only blend I use is Wild Birds Unlimited's unique No-Mess Blend which features seeds that have had their shells removed so only the meat of the seed is left. No hulls on the seeds means no hulls on the ground and the seed won’t sprout either.
Pound for pound, our No-Mess Blend offers the best value because you do not pay for the shells. The birds eat everything. One 20# bag of No-Mess contains at least twice as much seed as a bag with shells.
Whichever seed you choose to use, you'll know Wild Birds Unlimited always has fresh bird food full of the high fat and protein the birds need right now. Seed comes in every Tuesday. If you come early enough you can watch me load tons of seed into the store. And if you want to buy bags of seed right off the pallets, you are very welcome.
Related Articles:
- What’s the best suet for Michigan wild birds? http://bit.ly/nImz5g
- How to have more colorful birds at your feeder http://bit.ly/qizlNh
- How to Prepare Your Yard for Winter Birdwatching http://bit.ly/q93Men
- What is the best bird feeder? http://bit.ly/qVr7i8 - Best food for birds in the winter http://goo.gl/WXXcp
we have 4 x 12 beams for rafters and chickades are pecking them out and nesting in them,ido not want to hurt them just get rid of them
ReplyDeleteStrategies to Control Bird Damage
DeleteTry the following strategies:
1. Check for insects. Some birds feed on insects in wood.
2. Cover all damage as soon as possible.
3. Scare the bird away using one or more of the following:
- Mylar tape: Wild Birds Unlimited has some Mylar tape (1-inch-wide strips) flutter ribbon you can hang in the area and Mylar Wind Socks.
- Mylar balloons: The dollar stores usually have shiny Mylar balloons you can hang in the area.
- Garden hose: One animal damage controller recommends placing a garden hose with a sprinkler set at an angle to reach where the bird is pecking
- Attack spider: This is a relatively new (2003) technique. A large spider drops down at the first knock to scare woodpeckers through sight and motion. These can be found at party stores now. It also scares little trick or treaters. Bonus!
- Owl effigies and rubber snakes placed in the area can scare the birds away for a little while.
- Exclusion techniques: If birds are damaging your house, hang some netting down to the ground. If the net is extended away from the house wall, the bird can't get close enough to damage the wood.
5. Put up a bird house and fill it with woodchips that the chickadees can excavate and nest in instead of your house.