How to Choose the Right Bird Feeder

(Music Playing) Hi, I am Dave Epstein, welcome to Growing Wisdom and we are here today with Susan Morano. And we are talking Bird Feeders. Dave: You gave me one of this several years ago. If I had to only had one feeder, honestly this would be it. Susan: Really? Dave: Because I love the birds that I get there. It is consistent and the squirrels do not bother it. So tell me a little bit about this type of feeder. Susan: This is a Mesh Finch Feeder. And it holds thistle seed, finch mix or Niger depending upon what you like to call it. And as you can see, the Mesh is very, very tiny because thistle is an extremely fine seed. The birds that really like the thistle, particularly the American Goldfinch, what they will do is they will take their talents and they will cling all over it to feed. Dave: This is a Humming Bird Feeder right? Susan: Yes, yes. Dave: And a couple of things that I have questions on the mix, what do you put in here and how often do you change it and I think is will go close to my house right? Susan: Yes, it sure can. You are right, it is a Humming Bird Feeder and it is designed to hold nectar. So what you are going to do is you put the sugar water solution and it is four parts water, one part sugar. If it sits out in the sun during the spring and summer, it can ferment and go bad fairly quickly. I change my Humming Bird Feeder about two times a week during the spring and summer. If it gets really hot, three times a week. I would recommend initially at least putting it near something that is blooming. Once they found it, you can then move it to a better viewing location. Dave: So what other types of feeders have we got? Susan: Well, one of the things Dave that I really like is this Covered Tray Feeder. I referred to as a Smorgasbord kind of feeder because you can feed so many different things in it depending upon the time of year. Dave: This is a Peanut Feeder. Susan: Right. Dave: And who would come to this guy? Susan: Woodpeckers, chickadees, chip mice, nut hatches, just all of the guys that hang out in the tree. The birds will cling right to the middle and peck and pull the peanut pieces out. Dave: Cool. One of the questions that I get to ask emailed all the time when it comes to bird feeding is the squirrels are driving me nuts, no pun intended. What do you do? Susan: Well I would like to recommend particularly if it is on the pool, but you put a baffle on the pool to keep the squirrels from climbing up. Squirrels do not have any shoulder development so they can not open wide enough to hug up the baffle. This is a great squirrel proof tube feeder. This smaller, this is an inch and a half square, smaller birds like chickadees and chip mice and nut hatches even downy woodpeckers will fly right through the feed. The guys like him, Dave: I cannot get in. Susan: Can not get in. Dave: Now what is this thing? It says “The Yankee Flipper?” Susan: That is actually a bird feeder that is going to deny access to grade schools based on weight. Go ahead! Dave: That scares the heck out of me! Susan: (Laughing) Dave: So he will go on there and, Susan: He will flip right off. Dave: Flip right off. And this particular one is another weight one? Susan: Yes, it is another weight one. If you press down, you can see that, Dave: Now, the hole is close. Susan: The hole is close. Dave: So on he comes, he pulls it down, he cannot get in there. Susan: Exactly. Dave: Susan, thank you very much. Susan: Thank you! Dave: This was great. I am well educated on feeders now and I hope you are well educated on all of your bird feeders. Come back every week for all of our hints, tips and helps here at GrowingWisdom.com. And if you have a question, go to garden chatter. We guaranteed to answer it in 24 hours. (Music Playing)