Common Issues

General Tips:

• It Is Common To Experience Many Types of Issues.
• Rodents and Squirrels Can Be Managed Through a Variety of Techniques.
• Bird Competition Can Be Addresssed By Modifying Food and Feeder Type.

Dirty Looking Feeders - Feeders, especially clear plastic ones, can become very unsightly over a period of time. The obvious solution is to occasionally wash them. This is difficult to do for some feeders, so most Wild Bird Centers stores carry long-handled brushes and other equipment to facilitate feeder cleaning.

Cats - This difficult problem can be addressed in several ways. One solution is to erect a low fence that prevents the cat from charging directly onto birds feeding on the seed directly beneath the feeder. Perhaps the most fundamental approach is to see that leash laws are enforced in those areas that have them.

Squirrels - Some of the squirrel-proof feeders currently on the market are very unattractive to birds. It results not only in an inferior bird viewing experience, but a profound drop in consumption of bird food. It is far more sensible to use an attractive bird feeder such as the Hyde Super Silo and then squirrel-proof it in some way, such as with a baffle. This is better than using a squirrel-proof feeder, such as the Looker or Mandarin feeders, that are relatively unattractive to birds. In some cases, however, purchasing a squirrel proof feeder might be the only option.

Rats - The most effective solution to a rat problem is to have as little food as possible on the ground overnight. This is achieved by using food that is highly attractive to birds so that any food reaching the ground is eaten quickly. People who distribute food should be encouraged to put out small amounts each morning, and never to distribute excessive amounts at one time.

Hawks - The presence of bird-eating hawks at a feeder should be viewed as environmental education opportunities rather than a "problem." The bird feeding public should be educated to realize that seed-eating birds have very high reproductive rates and that bird populations can tolerate a very high mortality rate without being adversely affected. The oft-suggested solution to temporarily stop feeding is inappropriate. There is no reduction in predation since the hawks eat the same number of birds each day regardless of where they catch them. The hawk can return to the feeding situation as readily as the seed-eating birds can.

Dead Birds Around Feeders - Anyone successful in attracting a large number and variety of birds through a combination of habitat and feeding will occasionally find a dead bird. They must understand that what they are seeing is a very normal event. The very high reproductive capability of seed-eating birds actually indicates that these species also have high mortality rates. To find a dead bird in the vicinity of a feeder is nothing to be alarmed about.

Competition Among Bird Species - Probably the most intriguing problem to address in feeding wild birds is how to continue to attract desired species that are being discouraged due to the presence of other species. Examples are American Goldfinches not permitted to feed because of competition with house Finches. These problems can be addressed most effectively by recognizing the ecological basis for effective bird feeding. Unwanted species can be discouraged and the desired encouraged through selection of the kind of food presented and perhaps even more importantly, the manner in which it is presented. For example, the Upside Down Thistle Feeder, patented by George Petrides and designed exclusively for gold finches, addresses this situation.