stapsdoes101things | 065 Squirrel-proof birdfeeders and birdboxes (Reply)

NB: this is neither my bird nor my bird-feeder. I think it's a South American variety of finch. My photo, though.

What's this about? Why do I want to do it?

I have two bird-feeders. One is the sort that hangs, and one is the sort that sticks up out of the ground on a pole. I have two bird-boxes. One was on the fence when we moved in, and the other was a birthday present, and is in the bedroom because I haven't put it up yet. In each case, the clue is in the name. 'Bird', not 'squirrel'. I wish to keep the squirrels off the birds' food, and stop them eating the baby birds. Why do I wish to do this? As an ex-Isle of Wight resident, it is my solemn duty to regard a grey squirrel as a mangy, disease-ridden, festering tree-rat. No quarter given.

How will I know I've done it?

I will have devised a series of contraptions that prevent squirrels getting at the bird-feeders and stealing the food (the food that the jay knocks out of the upright feeder is the jay's problem, I think), and getting at the bird-boxes and disturbing/killing/eating the nesting birds. A healthy family of blue-tits would be a good indication that this has been successful.

I'll record this in posts in this journal.