Subject: [Tweeters] Truly Starling-Proof Suet Feeder?
Date: May 17 09:30:05 2011
From: retief at deweydrive.com - retief at deweydrive.com


We have one that is very similar, purchased from Wild Birds Unlimited. Flicker,
Hairy and Downie have no problems at all. To stop the Starlings you need to be
sure that the bottom metal plate is on. While they can't hang upside down,
they quickly figure out how to fly under and grab chunks on the fly. As you
note, the Downies just crawl inside. The Flicker can hang anywhere and reach,
our experience watching the Hairy is that they tend to hand on the side and
reach in, but they all seem to get well fed.

Good luck, now if we can just fully stop the danged Pigeons in the
neighborhood.

Quoting Kristi Hein <khc at picturesandwords.com>:

> Hello Tweeters,
>
> It's that time of year, when the starlings are nesting in the attic next
> door and the frantic parents are all over (and into) our
> "starling-proof" cylindrical cage suet feeder. Soon the young will
> fledge, and then they'll descend like screeching harpies.
>
> Outside of nesting season, they aren't such a problem.
>
> Has anyone had success with a square-caged, metal-topped suet feeder
> with hanging chain that I am seeing online? (Example:
>
<http://www.pet-dog-cat-supply-store.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-3464>)
>
> It looks a bit tougher for starlings to crack, although I worry that the
> Hairy Woodpeckers will be shut out too (they can access the suet in the
> current feeder). The Flickers have a better reach, and the Downies can
> slip inside, so they should be OK.
>
> Thanks,
> Kristi Hein
> Anacortes
> khc
> at
> picturesandwords.com
>
>