Many people have bird feeders outside their homes, usually mounted in trees or on posts driven into the ground. Bird feeders attract many species of beautiful birds that are pleasing to watch. Unfortunately, these feeders also attract undesirable birds such as blackbirds and sparrows. These birds often scare away the small, pleasant birds and consume birdseed at a very fast rate.
The most obvious way to get rid of these pests is to use avicides, or bird poisons. However, avicides are not designed to kill specific birds and could kill the birds you want in your feeder. Another option would be to adopt a cat; but, again, the scent of the cat would scare away all birds, not just the bothersome ones.
Below are some effective instructions to make your bird feeders specific to the birds you want to watch and feed.
Instructions
1. Place two four-inch strips of light-reflective tape on the roof of each bird feeder and at intervals on surrounding trees or fences. The light flickering off the tape will frighten blackbirds and sparrows.
2. Buy safflower seed birdseed or milo-free birdseed for your birdfeeders. Blackbirds and sparrows love milo in wild birdseed blends. They are less likely to eat safflower or sunflower seeds.
3. Staple chicken wire over your birdfeeder's opening or purchase a birdfeeder cage. The small holes will prevent larger, troublesome birds from getting to the seed.
4. Saw the perches on tube-feeders and hanging feeders to about one-inch long. Larger pest birds will not be able to perch on the small perches.
5. Place a recording of owl and hawk calls into a portable tape player, CD player or I-Pod. Plug the outdoor speakers into the music player and place outside, with the player under protective plastic. The predatory bird calls will frighten blackbirds and sparrows.
6. Place a statue of an owl or a hawk with its wings spread on a fence post or in a tree so it is very visible. Blackbirds and owls or hawks are natural enemies, so a blackbird will avoid feeding where owls and hawks nest.
Tags: blackbirds sparrows, bird feeders, birds want, frighten blackbirds, frighten blackbirds sparrows