Upside down feeder for chickadees and titmice (1 Viewer)

[RCBirder]

Recently, I have been brainstorming ways to attract chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and other small clinging birds to feeders that exclude other birds. I have had trouble with house finches and house sparrows crowding out chickadees and related species.

What I want is a feeder that allows chickadees to feed but is not accessible to house sparrows, house finches, jays, and blackbirds. I have tried Beck's Chickadee Feeder, the Clingers Only plastic feeder, and various Duncraft products with mixed results. Then I spotted a plastic tube feeder made by Perky Pet that holds thistle and is designed to cater only to birds that can hang upside down. It's a great feeder for attracting goldfinches and pine siskins while keeping house finches and house sparrows at bay. Some of you may be familiar with the feeder I am talking about. Here is a link to Amazon with pictures and a description of the feeder I am referring to: http://www.amazon.com/Perky-Pet-399-Patented-Upside-Thistle/dp/B000ARMH4A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1306788726&sr=8-1

Here is what I was wondering: if this feeder were modified so that it dispenses sunflower seeds, would it be good for chickadees and other clingers instead of just small finches like the goldfinch? If I were to enlarge the seed ports and fill the feeder with sunflower seeds, would the feeder be good for attracting chickadees and excluding less desirable species that can’t hang upside down?

House sparrows and house finches would certainly be excluded. Would jays or grackles leap onto the feeder and attempt to get seeds? If so, would switching over to safflower seed instead of sunflower be a good idea? I could mix thistle with the safflower and attract goldfinches, chickadees, and a broad range of other small clingers. Safflower and thistle are generally unattractive to jays, grackles, and starlings.

Of course, placing sunflower seed in this feeder would attract squirrels, but I could probably solve that with a baffle. Squirrels are not big fans of safflower, though they will eat it, and they don't like thistle, so a safflower/thistle mix might discourage them unless they are really hungry.

Any thoughts?

 

[Mal92]

Hi
Why not simply use half a coconut shell, hung upside down and filled with the seeds you want, mixed with a little fat to hold it together. I use these all the time and the titmice love them. Stops most other birds getting at it too.

 

[fugl]

. . .plastic tube feeder made by Perky Pet that holds thistle and is designed to cater only to birds that can hang upside down. It's a great feeder for attracting goldfinches and pine siskins while keeping house finches and house sparrows at bay. . . .Here is what I was wondering: if this feeder were modified so that it dispenses sunflower seeds, would it be good for chickadees and other clingers instead of just small finches like the goldfinch? If I were to enlarge the seed ports and fill the feeder with sunflower seeds, would the feeder be good for attracting chickadees and excluding less desirable species that can’t hang upside down?. . .

Interesting idea. If you end up giving it a try, please let us know how it comes out.