How to Deal with Bird Feeder Thieves and Attackers

How to Deal with Bird Feeder Thieves and Attackers

Whenever you put up a birdfeeder it is inevitable that you will find other birds and animals that will take their share of food from your feeders other than those birds that the food is meant for.

You may consider these uninvited guests to be thieves but they are only doing what comes naturally and trying to survive the best they can in an outdoor environment. They are all driven by hunger and food is essential to them each and every day.

Who are the Offenders?

There are two main categories of persistent offenders. The first are those that are interested in the seeds you put out such as squirrels, chipmunks, mice, rats and also starlings and house sparrows. The second group consists of those that are more interested in attacking your birds at the feeders and these of course include cats and hawks.

Squirrels

If you have trees any where near your yard or feeders then you will get to know all about squirrels very quickly. Some of you may marvel at their antics but this can easily change once you realize that they have taken over your bird feeders. Then you may choose to tolerate either them or you might begin to hate them.

Those of you who like the squirrels will enjoy their visits and you may even encourage them even more by putting up a special squirrel feeder or even toys for them to play with.

Unfortunately whenever a squirrel is at your feeders you will not see birds feeding because the squirrels will always scare off all the birds while they eat the your peanuts or sunflower seed and over time you may find that the squirrels begin to destroy the feeders too. Then your attitude towards them may change.

The simplest solution to combat squirrels is to purchase a squirrel proof feeder or anti squirrel pole to stop them getting at the feeder. Also make sure you store all your seed and peanuts stocks in a metal can of some time kind so they cannot bite their way in.

Rodents

You may also get a problem with mice, chipmunks or rats especially where there is seed and sunflower spillage underneath the feeder location. Try not to use mixed bird seed as birds will just discard what they don’t like and if you do not have a problem with squirrels you can also add a feeder tray.

Other Birds

Problems caused by house sparrows, starlings and crows eating form the feeders cancan be stopped by chossing just the right type of seed for the birds you want to attract and using feeders that the unwanted birds cannot access easily.

Cats

Unfortunately for pet lovers their cats can be a big problem. Feral cats ass well your or you neighbors tabby are a very real and very serious threat to any nestlings, all fledglings and even roosting adult birds. Only too often the wanderings of just a single cat on the prowl in your back yard and around your feeder can take away the whole enjoyment from your backyard bird watching experience.

When a cat is anywhere under your feeder then you are just not going to see any birds around. And you are bound to feel a whole lot worse if you find a pile of feathers somewhere on the ground in your yard.

If the problem cat is your neighbors and they are reasonable people then ask them to fit a bell collar to their cat or fit on to yours if it is your cat. If that does not work then you may have to consider getting yourself a dog. Birds are not really bothered too much by most dogs but cats and squirrels definitely are!

Hawks

If there are no cats at all in your neighborhood, but you still find a pile of feathers near your feeder or nearby in your yard, then it is likely that a hungry hawk has been at work. Monitor your yard around the feeding area and you may see an attack or even see the hawk perching on a tree somewhere nearby.

You should not get upset by this as small birds are the natural prey of all hawks. Just consider that you are fortunate to see a magnificent bird like a hawk right in your own backyard. Both Coopers and the Sharp Shinned Hawks eat birds and are just other members of the natural community.

You must leave the hawks alone as it is illegal to harass or harm them. So never put out poisons or even try to trap them. All birds of prey and that includes all eagles, all owls and all hawks are protected by Federal law.