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I've heard that blackbirds don't like safflower seeds, haven't tried it myself to see if it's true. Supposedly, if you put only safflower seeds in your feeder, with no other seeds mixed in, the blackbirds will move on.
They're blackbirds and devour most of the seed within 24 hours. They're aggressive towards other types of birds that want their share too.
There are birdfeeders that have wire grills set a small distance away from the seed ports. Smaller birds can get their bodies, heads, or beaks through the grill and reach the seed. Bigger birds can't. Also, bigger heavier birds can't cling by their feet as well (except woodpeckers of course). Small birds can. There are many feeders that require the bird to cling to the side or bottom of the feeder in order to pick up suet or seed. They tend to discourage big birds.
We have several very large blue birds eating up large chunks of suet every time they fly by. Enormous ones. The others get theirs, but my husband is putting up suet left and right.
Are you talking about Bluejays when you say "very large blue birds?"
Are you talking about Bluejays when you say "very large blue birds?"
June is prime time for feeding birds, it's actually far more important than feeding in winter. Nesting is in full swing and they need all the energy they can get. I'd say in June we go through 80 lbs of black oil sunflower and ~30 suet cakes. Worth it we have greatly increased the bird population in the immediate area over the last few years,
"Blackbirds" (grackles, red-winged, cowbirds) are infrequent visitors to our feeding station because it is in a mostly wooded area. If you are near fields or in a more open area you might have to resort to the weight-sensitive feeders that others have mentioned.
I don’t have a feeder, but I remember visiting someone who had “solved” this problem by putting out so much seed in such a wide area that the bullies were simply incapable of eating/defending all of it. Though I don’t think this would work though if you live in an HOA. LOL
There are birdfeeders that have wire grills set a small distance away from the seed ports. Smaller birds can get their bodies, heads, or beaks through the grill and reach the seed. Bigger birds can't. Also, bigger heavier birds can't cling by their feet as well (except woodpeckers of course). Small birds can. There are many feeders that require the bird to cling to the side or bottom of the feeder in order to pick up suet or seed. They tend to discourage big birds.
June is prime time for feeding birds, it's actually far more important than feeding in winter. Nesting is in full swing and they need all the energy they can get.
Except in bear country. Providing an attractive nuisance in the form of bird feeders just ends up killing more bears. Feeding birds in winter can be done in an ecologically defensible manner if the timing is right. I don't put my feeders out until the migratory species have headed south. The birds that use the food in winter are residents; they'll be around no matter what. By late spring when bears are active I put all bird food away to avoid habituating them and getting them shot.
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