Hello! I am new to this forum, but not to feeding birds. I live in Missouri and this year I added a heated birdbath and have begun feeding safflower and sunflower seeds (unshelled) in addition to the shelled sunflower chips and whole peanuts that I have fed in the past. I was told that the safflower chips would attract Cardinals, which they have but the Cards also like the sunflower seeds just as well.
The problem I'm having is that the unshelled seeds are attracting a huge flock of Mourning Doves. One day we had 18 of them on the deck at one time! They are emptying my feeder by early afternoon and keeping away the Cardinals, Rosy Finches and other smaller birds. In addition, no matter what I do, I seem to have some Starlings that will eat anything I put out. I tried suet in an upside down feeder - supposedly Starlings can't hang upside down and eat - ha. They can. My peanut feeder is inside another cage but they can still get to that too. Does anyone have any suggestions to keep these larger, bully birds away from my feeders? I was told that the Starlings don't like the safflower or sunflower seeds - but it looks like those darn things will eat ANYTHING. :C
I appreciate any advice you can give me! Thanks.
The problem I'm having is that the unshelled seeds are attracting a huge flock of Mourning Doves. One day we had 18 of them on the deck at one time! They are emptying my feeder by early afternoon and keeping away the Cardinals, Rosy Finches and other smaller birds. In addition, no matter what I do, I seem to have some Starlings that will eat anything I put out. I tried suet in an upside down feeder - supposedly Starlings can't hang upside down and eat - ha. They can. My peanut feeder is inside another cage but they can still get to that too. Does anyone have any suggestions to keep these larger, bully birds away from my feeders? I was told that the Starlings don't like the safflower or sunflower seeds - but it looks like those darn things will eat ANYTHING. :C
I appreciate any advice you can give me! Thanks.