Do you have Grackles, European Starlings, House Sparrows or Pigeons frequenting your backyard bird feeder? Are you spending most of your time wishing these birds would move and make way for more desirable songbirds? Like it or not, many birders consider the grackle, pigeon or starling a nuisance and want to discourage or deter these species from visiting their bird feeders. Birds such as the house sparrow or European Starling are cavity nesters. This means they establish their nest is hollowed out tree areas or other types of cavities. This bird species does not have the ability to create their own nesting cavities, so they tend to take over the nests of woodpeckers and blue birds. For this reason and several others, it is important to keep from attracting and feeding these species.
While platform bird feeders are wonderful for attracting a variety of birds (especially larger species), they are also great for attracting nuisance birds. One of the first tips to utilize in deterring nuisance birds is to switch from a platform feeder to a hanging bird feeder (usually a tube bird feeder. Grackles and pigeons will not typically eat seed at a tube bird feeder.
Another way to deter these types of nuisance birds is to switch your bird food. If you are using a mixed bird seed or the black-oil sunflower seed, consider changing it to the striped sunflower seed. This bird seed has a much harder shell which makes it difficult for birds like Grackles to crack open. Lastly, make certain to keep bird seed from spilling onto the floor beneath the feeder. Spilled bird seed will most certainly attract birds like the pigeon. In order to keep your seed from spilling on the floor, use a seed hoop or seed tray. These bird feeder accessories can be purchased at most online and brick and mortar bird supply stores.
While platform bird feeders are wonderful for attracting a variety of birds (especially larger species), they are also great for attracting nuisance birds. One of the first tips to utilize in deterring nuisance birds is to switch from a platform feeder to a hanging bird feeder (usually a tube bird feeder. Grackles and pigeons will not typically eat seed at a tube bird feeder.
Another way to deter these types of nuisance birds is to switch your bird food. If you are using a mixed bird seed or the black-oil sunflower seed, consider changing it to the striped sunflower seed. This bird seed has a much harder shell which makes it difficult for birds like Grackles to crack open. Lastly, make certain to keep bird seed from spilling onto the floor beneath the feeder. Spilled bird seed will most certainly attract birds like the pigeon. In order to keep your seed from spilling on the floor, use a seed hoop or seed tray. These bird feeder accessories can be purchased at most online and brick and mortar bird supply stores.
