We have two of our six feeders enclosed in wire cages (from
Agway) --- one has a seed tube inside, the other has a suet cage.
i have written before how a persistent red squirrel sits INSIDE the
cage all day, eating everything and keeping birds away. I don't mind
the eating, but the birds can't even try for the food !
Last weekend I wrapped both cylindrical outer cages with
chickenwire fence, hexagonal 1.5"x1.0" openings, smaller
than the 1.5x1.5 openings in the cage. The red-squirrel have been
frustrated and in a frenzy to get in, so far. (The big grays too,
can't reach in as they used to.)
I was worried about the birds, since not all hexagonal openings
line up with the cage openings. The smartest birds were the
chickadees. After a few perplexed tries yesterday, the chickadees now
jump around until they find a fully open hexagon and flit in and out.
The nuthatches were next. The two WBrNH held back at the strange new
appearance of the cages-- but soon they could learn to get in and out.
The two RBr nuthatches learned quickly to find the openings and go in
and out -- one holds back a little, still getting used to it.
The goldfinches simply have not figured it out yet. They give up
easily and go to the nyger or safflower feeders. The bigger birds
(woodpeckers & Bluejays) can get at the suet at the edges of the
suet cage, as they did before. I am hoping the Carolina Wrens who come
for the suet will not give up too easily, and find a way in.
On the same topic, the squirrels simply leave the safflower
seed alone -- they don't like it. The birds will eat it happily,
unless sunflower is easy to get. Cardinals love the safflower,
particularly.
Nari Mistry, Ellis Hollow Rd.
--
Nari B. Mistry,
Ithaca, New York
For my paintings, see http://www.artbynari.com
Ithaca, New York
For my paintings, see http://www.artbynari.com
