You want to attract and feed birds in your own backyard. You spent hours researching what birds are common in your area. You purchased the right foods to attract them, and you set up your feeder. You’re excited and happy. It seemed like such a noble task that would prove to be many happy hours watching birds come to your backyard feeder as you observe from the comfort of your home through a window. What could go wrong?
Squirrels!
That’s right! If there is food around, squirrels will find it. Anyone with even just a few minutes of bird watching experience will be able to tell you that the first wildlife to find your feeder will probably be a squirrel.
Let’s face it, squirrels may look adorable, but don’t let their bushy tail and dark, sweet eyes fool you. They are still rodents. They just happen to present themselves in a more adorably furry way. However, these little furry rodents with personality become bothersome in no time as they use their acrobatic skill to get at the food intended for your feathered friends to find. Instead, these squirrels tend to find it quickly and not only devour the food meant for the birds but also scare the birds away. It;s maddening and causes many would-be bird watchers to give up.
The good news is that there are squirrel proof feeders, poles, and baffles to keep them at bay so the birds you want to attract find your food and feel safe enough to stick around long enough for you to enjoy watching them in your own yard. These gadgets are designed to work in three different ways.
First, consider the squirrel proof feeder that may be designed in a number of different ways. Mostly, the feeders detract squirrels by offering holes that are fit for a bird but not a squirrel to get at the food. Some use wires to fence off the food from squirrels while allowing birds to still feast. Others use a small shock delivered to the squirrel when he attempts to pilfer the bird feed. Some shut off the food openings when the weight of the squirrel triggers the switch. Others spin the squirrel off.
Poles and baffles are another way to deter squirrels by keeping the food out of their reach. The baffles are placed around the pole or the bird house and acts as a topsy-turvy ejection seat when a squirrel lands on it, it tips knocking them off. Others are shaped in a way to make it difficult for the squirrel to climb up it.
When the feeder is placed on a pole instead of tree branches, it makes it harder for a squirrel to travel from limb to limb which they are quite good at. But, which ones are the best? And, which ones really do what they claim to do by keeping squirrels out of your bird feeder?