Sooooo.... you just need to hire the hawk to stay around your feeder......

Go to the pet store and get a few white mice to feed him!

 

That is just inviting them in....no spring loaded feeder to keep them out??

 

I haven't had much luck with the spring loaded feeders in the past....... I'll just use up the rest of the 5 lb bag somewhere.....

And not try it again!

Maybe I'll try and do something to make the squirrels work for it?

Make them jump for it, like in the past!

 

Any schematics and stats on how to make a capacitor discharge squirrel and racoon deterrent out there?

gary

 

Our spring loaded feeder works great. We don't have any problems with squirrels.

 

Liberty and Justice (one of the eagle pairs in the DC area) have an egg in the nest. Here's the link:

LIVE Eagle Cam - Washington, DC - Earth Conservation Corps.

 

And this is what it's like when they start to grow up. The wife's been watching this one for weeks.

Eagle Cam - Live Feed

 

Yeah, I like that site, too. So now I have three - one with nothing yet, one with an egg, and one with a baby!

 

With our stormy weather, the feeders are busy. I've been re-filling often, The snow does seem to get into the feeders a bit, and I end up tossing some seed on the ground vs having wet seed in the feeders. It doesn't seem to go to waste, the ground feeders are hanging around. The Dark Eyed Junco is generally a ground feeder, but I've got few that seem quite content to perch on the feeder to dine.

Caught this finch in the pine tree yesterday. Not an easy shot...in the darkness of the tree and white sky behind him.

 

Squirrels have not been a problem in the 24 years I've been feeding the birds here......until this past week. I noticed the suet feeder was laying on the ground a few days ago. Went out to investigate and it looked like my fault. I had recently filled it and it appeared that I hadn't tightened the nut/hanging loop that holds the top on the cage. The nut/loop was still hanging from the Shepard's hook, but the feeder was on the ground. Refilled it and secured the top. Fast forward to Saturday and I see a squirrel on top of the suet feeder trying his best to get in. Turns out he had climbed the tree next to it and dropped 4'-5' on to the feeder from a branch above. Moved the feeder out from under the tree and the squirrel has gone back to grazing under the feeders. Saw him later making an attempt to climb the pole for the main feeder, but the squirrel baffle did just that...baffled him.