Advice needed for pileated woodpecker suet feeder

pcs2008

11 years ago

Hi- I have recently spotted two (I think a pair) pileated woodpeckers on my property. I would love to make a suet feeder for them and have been doing research on best type to build. Looks like the log type feeder is the most preferred.

Also have many suet feeders that are "attacked" by squirrels so would like to find suet that they don't like if there is such a thing.

Would appreciate any links to log feeder plans and anti squirrel suet...

Pete in NC

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Comments (8)

Aurore
11 years ago
Hi
I have squirrels that love to eat my suet cakes and would devour them if they weren't in a caged suet feeder, but the cage isn't big enough for the pileated woodpeckers to use.
Someone told me that squirrels like the suet with nuts and seeds mixed in, but probably wouldn't eat just the plain suet.
I know that sometimes hot pepper is added to birdseed to keep away squirrels. Maybe it can be added to suet?
I am still questioning having the downy and hairy woodpeckers come to my suet feeder. I see all the nearby trees have had patches of bark pecked away.
jomuir
11 years ago
no advice, just chiming in to say I'm jealous! If I saw a pileated wood pecker on my property I'd be thrilled. I hope you're successful in finding a suet feeder the squirrels won't monopolize.

this is an interesting feeder, the pileated is enjoying it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXePlTk8sFg

The long bottom looks like it's so they can brace themselves against it or stay steady (cause they're so BIG!)

this one says that bottom is a 'kick stand'. They show a suet feeder that is 'somewhat squirrel resistant' ymmv

http://wildbirdsunlimited.typepad.com/the_zen_birdfeeder/2010/04/bird-feeders-for-pileated-woodpeckers-think-big.html

no ideas here, just a really cool video of one eating suet w/a view from above

http://www.care2.com/causes/hungry-woodpecker-chowing-on-suet-video.html

this lady had a good idea
'You have several options. Pileated tend to like tailprops. So, my suggestion is to baffle a tail prop from a tree with an erva disk (green). It has to be positioned 10 ft from the tree trunk, as squirrels can jump laterally 10 ft. It also has to be high enough that they will not jump from the bottom. When the squirrel attempts to go over it, the baffle will dump the squirrel to the ground. This will take a few times, but the tenacious little guy will give up and move on. Hope this helps.'
the site her post is on
http://community.birdsandblooms.com/forums/t/4063.aspx

baffles seem to be the best bet. That was what was suggested to me earlier this year on this forum when I was having trouble with squirrels on my suet feeders. I ended up w/a cage-type suet feeder which isn't used as heavily as the reg. cage feeder, but the squirrels can't get to it, so it does work. Pileated are just too big to bother w/a cage I think.

They say cayenne helps keep squirrels out of suet & birdseed. Years ago, I tried sprinkling it in w/dry birdseed but didn't see enough difference to continue. Also, the hot pepper can be dangerous to other wildlife. Maybe if you can find suet that has it added already, you could try? Good luck, it's great seeing them & having them on your property would be really cool!
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well, Zyperiris, heheh I think I was definitely "wearing my brains" on backwards; I can't believe I missed out on that important descriptor-- prehistoric and wild and rough! I never thought of a bird being wild and rough except for a parrot that doesn't get enough attention from its owner, lol! So that descriptor should have caught my eye. I think I just saw the first 2 responses and jumped to the gun with mine, ridiculous me! Anyway, I am hoping one of these days we'll be able to enjoy a photo of your Pileated woodpeckers and your wood beaver! But again, it's so difficult to catch a real-live photo of wildlife and who cares about the photo compared to just the joy of seeing the real thing in person! You must have some really tall massive trees on your property. I would imagine one would need those kinds of trees to attract those woodpeckers. Keep us updated when you! get the chance to see these amazing birds! am crossing my fingers you'll get to see one soon, soon, soon!
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I make my suet mixture using suet or lard. I melt the fat in a glass bowl in the microwave until liquid. Then I add crunchy peanut butter, which melts in the hot fat. Then I add the dried ingredients - corn meal, flour, oats (usually ground in blender), ground eggshells, crushed nuts, a little jam or jelly, etc. The mixture is about 1/2 fat, 1/2 dried ingredients - maybe a little more dried. I aim for a mixture that is the texture of Play-doh - it clumps together easily for the suet log, but also crumbles into pieces that I spread in a tray feeder. I made the suet log over 3 years ago out of an old red Pine log and glued lots of perches and branches. It did not have much bark on it - which is fine, except that over time the log has darkened quite a bit, perhaps because of the oils in the suet mixture. Also, most of the perches and branches have broken and fallen off. This birds don't seem to care. If you put perches on the log, this will enable many more birds to eat more easily. However, this isn't necessarily a good thing because with mine, it enables the Starlings and Blue Jays to hog the suet log, and it encourages House Sparrows. My suet log is pole-mounted with a squirrel/raccoon baffle, so nothing gets onto the log but the birds. Here's what the suet mixture looks like - Some Bluebirds on the suet log a couple years ago. They don't eat that much on the suet log any more, because I usually spread crumbles in a tray for them.
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I discovered this past year that always having suet available made a huge difference in the number and type of birds that visit my yard. The 4 suet feeders are the only feeders outside the kitchen window and seed feeders are located some distance away. This allows the smaller birds that like suet to easily feed. The Pileated Woodpecker in the pic below showed up this winter but I have to be standing in the kitchen to know when he has visited. He doesn't hang around very long!
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Lucky for me starlings are only an occasional problem in my yard. Hordes fly in, stay a week or so and vanish. When they come I use a recycled recycled plastic upside-down feeder like this: (from Suet Bird Feeders) I am loving the recycled plastic over wood, it's so easy to clean and you can even use bleach against mold. Don't think I haven't done a load of bird feeders in my dishwasher. BUT it's not perfectly starling proof - one starling will always figure it out. As an alternative I have a ground table feeder for starlings like this one: from Ground Table Bird Feeders. I use super cheap chicken feed cracked corn (was about $6 for a 50lb bag) and a super cheap millet/milo seed blend ($6 a 25lb bah) that I buy at a local feed store. The ground feeder is a lot easier for the starlings to use, plus they seem to prefer the corn food, so it at least keeps them busy and out of my other bird feeders to a great extent. They don't go through my pricey seed as fast. I've found offering starlings and grackle sort of birds alternative food works pretty well since they are going to be there no matter what I do. Jays also like the ground table.
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beegood_gw
11 years ago
Mine just get fed from the suet cages. They hang on and eat with no problem.Also just a bag of fat trimmings from a butcher hung in an onion bag is great. If you have 2 the male is the one with the red stripe on his cheek. The female just ahs the crest.
beegood_gw
11 years ago
This my large suet feeder which is their favourite
pcs2008
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you all for the great ideas!!

Pete
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
11 years ago
C&S makes a Hot Pepper Delight Suet that I've used and the squirrels avoided it.

Home Depot and Lowes sometimes carry it and I've seen it at Agway.

Claire
jomuir
11 years ago
nice pic beegood!
beegood_gw
11 years ago
Thank you Jomuir They will also eat off the ground.

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Advice needed for pileated woodpecker suet feeder

Comments (8)

Aurore

jomuir

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beegood_gw

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pcs2008
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claireplymouth z6b coastal MA

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Advice needed for pileated woodpecker suet feeder

Comments (8)

Aurore

jomuir

Related Discussions

beegood_gw

beegood_gw

pcs2008Original Author

claireplymouth z6b coastal MA

jomuir

beegood_gw

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CONNECT WITH US

pcs2008
Original Author