posted December 05, 2005 04:03 PM         

There are generally three types of bird feeders: hopper, tuve and platform. My advice is to forget the so-called "squirrel-proof" feeders, which are hopper-feeders. Go for platform and/or tube feeders. Some tube feeders are designed for nyger seed, most others for mixed or sunflower seed. Platforms are preferred by jays, cardinals, juncos (yes, they will use feeders, Virginia!), white-breasted nuthatches, etc.

Above all else, ensure that seed will remain dry! Make your own "roof" if you have too. Moisture plus seed equals mold and bacteria - not great for our feathered friends.

If going on winter vacation, ensure that a neighbour or friend can come by and keep feeder filled.

A great setup involves knowing squirrel behaviour. go post mount, no bones about it. Squirrels can leap up to 10 feet (3m) through the air to get to a feeder, so your feeder must be at least 10 feet from fences, trees and any other object that is "leap-able". Squirrels are great climbers, so your post-mount feeder should have either a) a 6-inch diameter plastic tube that runs from the ground to the feeder, or b) a commercial product like a tubular squirrel-baffle. One advantage of having a complete tube-to-feeder setup is that this also precludes our masked bandit friends from partaking of your offerings.

Use black oil sunflower seed as a general feed, nyger seed for finches, and a mixed-type for ground feeders. A suet feeder, hung from your squirrel-proof setup, will attract smaller woodpeckers and various other avians.

Oh, and put out some peanuts-in-the-shell for our squirrely friends too!

posted December 13, 2005 05:44 PM         

Thanks for the many great suggestions. We decided in the end to build our own platform feeders, with roofs. They are post-mounted and by inverting extra large coffee cans (picked from recycle bins) over the tops fo the posts, beneath the platforms, we are hopeful these feeders are squirrel-proofed. One of the feeders went up yesterday and the other two are going up tomorrow. Already we've had chickadees, woodpeckers and mourning doves (lots of them)! I'll try to post a photo or two for you to see.

Meanwhile, thank again Steve for your very thorough and helpful response.

Sincerely,