Hello I'm a new member and new to bird feeding. (2 Viewers)

[Scousegirl]

I live on Long Island : I have tried eight bird feeders with no luck. I can't seem to solve the problem of Doves taking over my cardinal feeders. They litterally lay in the tray feeder and eat till it's empty. I have hoards of sparrows too that are emptying my bank acct. My goal is to feed small birds and cardinals. I have Rose finches coming and a Carolina Wren Blue Jays and a couple of Chickadees. But the majority are sparrows and doves. The cardinals come in early am and then again at 7pm but it's a battle trying to get food to them because of the doves. Ugh!

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum. I hope you enjoy your visits.

Could you try caged feeders? Like the one below?

 

[Lisa W]

Hi Scousegirl, welcome to the forum on behalf of the staff and moderators. I think you will find us a friendly and helpful group.
Have you tried something like this:
What’s the Best Dove-Proof Bird Feeder? (Reviews-2024) | ThePawsAndClaws.com

 

[delia todd]

Hi Scousegirl and a warm welcome from me too. That's an interesting solution that Lisa is showing you, hopefully you manage to find one to suit. I find it's not easy to set up a restaurant for birds, then try to dictate what can eat there LOL. So I now sit back and let them get on with it and watch the action!! Most of the larger birds give way to the Blue Tit (sort of related to your chickadees) one of our smallest tits!!

However, I do have to take some action to protect my window feeder from the Starlings, which come mob handed to it. And another lot which gets attacked by Jackdaws when they're feeding their young ones. Day after day I'd find these feeders knocked to the ground, so I double-tied them, then triple-tied them (that confused them LOL). Then I put them on severe rations, as I couldn't afford to feed them at that rate. There must have been 50 adults in the colony, so goodness knows how many young ones I was feeding!!! Now we're back to normal; the young have dispersed and the adults moved out to the countryside, feeding in the fields.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I hope to hear about all the birds you see when out and about.

 

[Scousegirl]

Welcome to Birdforum. I hope you enjoy your visits.

Could you try caged feeders? Like the one below?

View attachment 1594627

I have tried three different ones they keep the doves away but Cardinals don't go in

 

[Scousegirl]

Hi Scousegirl and a warm welcome from me too. That's an interesting solution that Lisa is showing you, hopefully you manage to find one to suit. I find it's not easy to set up a restaurant for birds, then try to dictate what can eat there LOL. So I now sit back and let them get on with it and watch the action!! Most of the larger birds give way to the Blue Tit (sort of related to your chickadees) one of our smallest tits!!

However, I do have to take some action to protect my window feeder from the Starlings, which come mob handed to it. And another lot which gets attacked by Jackdaws when they're feeding their young ones. Day after day I'd find these feeders knocked to the ground, so I double-tied them, then triple-tied them (that confused them LOL). Then I put them on severe rations, as I couldn't afford to feed them at that rate. There must have been 50 adults in the colony, so goodness knows how many young ones I was feeding!!! Now we're back to normal; the young have dispersed and the adults moved out to the countryside, feeding in the fields.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I hope to hear about all the birds you see when out and about.

Thank for your warm welcome. I'm really distraught regarding the hoards of dove dominating the Cardinal feeders

 

[Scousegirl]

Thank for your warm welcome. I'm really distraught regarding the hoards of dove dominating the Cardinal feeders

I think I'm gonna try Striped Black oil because apparently Cardinals are experts at eating them but not Doves They have a very hard shell and Cardinals can crack them

 

[Chris G6 UXU]

Hello and welcome to the forum, enjoy and all the best.

 

[Fritz73]

Hola! Welcome to Birdforum

 

[Scousegirl]

Hi Scousegirl, welcome to the forum on behalf of the staff and moderators. I think you will find us a friendly and helpful group.
Have you tried something like this:
What’s the Best Dove-Proof Bird Feeder? (Reviews-2024) | ThePawsAndClaws.com

Yes I’ve tried those recommendations. What I have finally come to is the squirrel buster plus bird feeder. It’s expensive but according to the comments it’s squirrel proof and large bird proof but DOES accommodate cardinals. I’m watching my budget and I know I’m going to give in to buying it because my yard was full of doves this am no cardinals in sight😢