FreeLists / tn-bird / [tn-bird] Re: Crow problem

[Linda Kuczwanski <kuczwanski@xxxxxxxx>]

My solution for suet has been to abandon traditional feeders in favor of
net bags you find on bags of fruit at the grocery store.  I put two
blocks of commercial suet in a bag and suspend it from a rod that has a
hook at each end and hang that from a tree branch.  The problem with
feeders is that they provide places for the squirrels to sit and stuff
their pouches, and return multiple times after burying your seed in the
garden somewhere. They don't seem to like sliding down a rod or hanging
from a net bag. If left unattended, a squirrel might defeat this system,
but mine is very visible from a window and allows me to chase squirrels
off if they get too inquisitive.

I have problems with muscovy ducks, problems probably similar to your
crows.  The long-term solution is to provide smaller grassy areas
surrounded by shrubs in which songbirds can take cover, and abandon
feeders in favor of sprinkling a few scoops into the grass at least a
couple of times a day. If larger birds visit an area, the smaller birds
tend to stay away for long periods with each visit, so the smaller grassy
areas tends to minimize the size of the flocks of larger birds that often
travel together, and minimizes the take-off distance required for the
single crow or small flock of crows.  

The short-term solution for finch feed is to use long cylindrical feeders
with as short a perch as possible so the larger birds can't get a grip,
and put the feeder very close to a wall or building structure so that the
larger birds can't use the strategy of simply flying into it and then
eating the seed that falls out on the ground.  I've had to separate
instances of feeding sunflower or other large seed in feeders by months
of feeding nothing at all because the muscovys learn the location and
figure out a way to get it.  They aren't as inspired by thistle.  Crows
are, I suspect, much smarter than the muscovys, but I know from
experience that they can be defeated by the long-term solution mentioned.
 Hope this helps!

Linda Kuczwanski
Memphis, TN  


On Sat, 11 May 2002 11:36:49 -0400 Will Wright <spider@xxxxxxx> writes:
> 
> First I like squirrels and crows! We just can't keep feeding their
> bottomless pits.
> 
> I had to get a Mandarin Sky Cafe to keep the squirrels from emptying 
> our
> sunflower feeder about every other day. They also have had no luck 
> with
> the perchless thistle feeder for the goldfinches or interest in the
> hummingbird feeder.
> 
> Now it looks like I will have to put a cake of suet every day in one 
> of
> our two suet feeders the way the crows inhale them. We only have 3 - 
> 4
> crows at at time. We want to leave the suet out year round to attract
> the various types of woodpeckers and nuthatches that are regular
> visitors.
> 
> We have only seen the type with 2 wood finish boards that you put 
> peanut
> butter between. I don't  think putting suet cakes in that type would
> work.
> 
> We would like suggestions for suet cake feeders that are crow 
> resistant.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Will Wright
> Tellico Village
> Loudon County, TN
> 
> 
> 
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=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with
first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation.
-----------------------------------------------------
To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
----------------------------------------------------- 
To unsubscribe, send email to:
tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
          web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
    TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
        jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx      (423) 764-3958
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