Birds in the Winter

**Scorpio Rising** 12/5/2015, 9:30 am

OK, I feed the birds inthe winter here. And until this year, I also spend as much or more feeding the raiding squirrels who dominate my shepherd's hook, tipping and spilling the sunflower seed and munching on the suet blocks. Did some online research, found this little baby at my Ace hardware for $32: Audubon 18" Squirrel Baffle!

Boy are the little rodents ANGRY! They are actually coming up to the bay window and sitting there, taunting the dog (who is not a calm soul in the first place) and acting petulant. They even stole the corn cob feeder thing, cob and all! No idea where that is....

**AtlantaMarie** 12/5/2015, 11:47 am

!!

If you REALLY want to set them off, get them a Twirl-A-Squirrel or a Squirrel Whirl Feeder!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIp7V7VcCX8

http://www.amazon.com/Songbird-Essentials-Squirrel-Whirl-Feeder/dp/B001BOBVTI

**Scorpio Rising** 12/5/2015, 1:36 pm

that is hysterical! I bet they get dizzy!

**jimmy cee** 12/7/2015, 8:59 am

I once had a fool proof squirrel proof system and very funny to watch them try.
Attached to a high limb on a tree with a pulley system that I was able to raise and lower to fill
was a plastic soda bottle with a feeder attachment.
I picked these up years ago at a Brookstone shop.
A wire must be used otherwise they chew through the cable,
Squirrels can jump from the tree trunk, however they fall off the loose metal cover on top.
They try sliding down the cable, when they do, it's a fast decent and uncontroled so they fall off....
They sit in the tree for hours and finally give up.

**Kelejan** 12/7/2015, 1:09 pm

How about a video, jimmy? I hope it doesn't hurt the squirrels, but as they keep trying I expect they are OK.

**sanderson** 12/7/2015, 4:33 pm

Another winning creation!

yolos 12/7/2015, 5:05 pm

What diameter is the baffle on top of the bird feeder.

**jimmy cee** 12/7/2015, 6:08 pm

Kelejan..hurt squirrels??? you don't want to debate me on that topic !!! Video, At the present time I do not have these up, that maple tree was removed, I need to figure out how to do it without a tree...Just thought, mabe I can set it up, my web cam is close to the window and I can get a usb extension....hhhhmmmmm
Yolos
Diameter ? about 18 inches to 2 feet.. just enough for the squirrel to drop off when he reaches the edge...after a bit, they don't want to let go of the cable because they know they'll fall.

**Scorpio Rising** 12/7/2015, 6:11 pm

Jimmy, how do you fill the feeder?

**jimmy cee** 12/7/2015, 6:20 pm

I had a pulley with wire attached high in the tree with one end looped around the tree trunk, when I want to fill the feeder I just unhooked the cable from the tree and lowered feeder, filled feeder , then raised it...very simple...
Had to be if I thought of it
Also the pulley had to be attached to the limb with wire, squirrels would chew through anything else.

**Scorpio Rising** 12/7/2015, 6:23 pm

Ahhhh, gotcha!

**Scorpio Rising** 12/27/2017, 8:14 pm

‘Tis the season! I am doing my usual sunflowers , suet, corn for squirrels, and throwing peanuts out and other stuff like crackers, cereal, etc.

Gonna go to TSC tomorrow to get a heated dog bowl for the birds etc. to get water. We are in a deep freeze...

**sanderson** 12/27/2017, 9:16 pm

Heated bowl for water is a great idea for areas with freezing temps. Very Happy

**jimmy cee** 12/28/2017, 10:40 am

When I set my new bird bath in cold weather I am going to try a few additions without using any electric heat. A sheet of black plastic, or maybe even a few of those black plastic food containers that are for take home use. My theory is when left in the sun and during the day those containers become solar heaters and will quickly melt what ice is in container...Of course this will only work where sun is out during days, many areas of the country do not have this such as western PA. I've noticed a huge difference in sun exposure after moving from the western part of PA. 300 miles to the eastern part.
No lake affect here.

**Scorpio Rising** 12/30/2017, 9:35 pm

jimmy cee wrote:When I set my new bird bath in cold weather I am going to try a few additions without using any electric heat. A sheet of black plastic, or maybe even a few of those black plastic food containers that are for take home use. My theory is when left in the sun and during the day those containers become solar heaters and will quickly melt what ice is in container...Of course this will only work where sun is out during days, many areas of the country do not have this such as western PA. I've noticed a huge difference in sun exposure after moving from the western part of PA. 300 miles to the eastern part.
No lake affect here.

True...will be anxious to hear how that works, Jimmy! I got the bowl today, it was $20. Very deep, going to have to put some rocks in there to give some ingress and egress, because of the depth of this bowl! Going to get it going tomorrow, need a shorter extension cord.

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