FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] Low-Cost squirrel-foiling woodpecker feeder

["Les Harrison" <hlharrison@xxxxxxx>]

Hi-

I had a similar problem in my backyard in College Station, TX, but with the
added annoyance of Raccoons who liked to get into the suet at night.  My
solution worked pretty well and was pretty simple.

I got myself a
<http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?q=%22suet+haven%22&pid=1933066167
984159382&oid=17224824446768895927&btnG=Search+Froogle&lmode=&addr=&scoring=
mrd&hl=en> Duncraft Suet Haven Suet Feeder (looks like ACE Hardware might
carry them).  They're available for less than 20 dollars and consist of a
cylindrical cage around a standard suet feeder.  The squirrels gnawed on the
outer cage of mine extensively, and one took to napping on top of the feeder
for about a week, but eventually they just gave up.

Optional: To prevent the raccoons from pushing the suet out the top of the
cake holder, I bought a second square suet feeder and cut off the top (one
of the narrow sides).  To load, I'd put the suet brick into the second suet
feeder and place that upside down into the Suet Haven Feeder, securing it
with a twist-tie.

What brought the woodpeckers was mounting this to the top of a standard 4x4
fence post -- I just drilled a hole into the top of the post and used a
couple of washer and a big wood screw.  The woodpeckers, especially downies,
would work their way up the post stopping just below the suet feeder and
then feed by extending their heads up towards the suet.  When the wrens and
warblers had really been at the suet, the woodpeckers would just pick up the
crumbs off the top of the pole with their tongues.

Hope this helps-

Les



> -----Original Message-----
> From: va-richmond-general-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [ <mailto:va-richmond-general-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
mailto:va-richmond-general-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of katya
> Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 12:16 PM
> To: va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [va-richmond-general] Backyard feeding in general
>
> I can't get Woodpeckers or don't know how.  I put out a suet
> feeder for about two days.  The squirrels went nuts and
> wouldn't let any other animals near it.  They were hopping
> through pots of pansies breaking their stems.  When I took
> the suet feeder down, Hell really broke lose.  Windchimes
> were flung around.  It was getting pretty savage.  I had done
> them wrong and now, I am afraid of further damage.  I have no
> hanging feeders.  The metal one I used last year, I padlocked
> to a metal plant post.  The squirrels got to it just fine (by
> trampling pansies to death), but at least they didn't knock
> it down and fling it in the alley.  I'd love sugestions. 
> Please, don't recommend anything expensive.  I had heard of
> hanging a suet-feeder horizontally.  Has anyone tried that?
>
> In order to learn birdsongs, I have been using "Songs of some
> New York State birds" on-line.  Could anyone recommend
> another website?  I have the cd "birding by Ear."
>
> Thanks for any suggestions,
>
> Katie Holzback
> South of the James
>
> 
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