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Doves scaring cardinals away from feeder

11 years ago

Hi! I am new to bird feeding. I started with a basic feeder made with popsicle sticks and safflower seed. I had cardinals right away and they love it. However, couple of days later at least 7 doves have come to my feeders (I have two, in two different trees) and stormed them. They scared all the cardinals, they threw the seeds to the ground and then they ate all. They came back up to the feeders and, because they are so heavy, broke them. I may need more glue next time, granted.
But, I donÃÂ´t like the doves scaring away the cardinals. I wouldnÃÂ´t mind them if they kept to the ground looking for seeds around the feeders, but if theyÃ¯Â¿Â½re going to scare my beautiful cardinals away, I rather not have them. Any ideas on how I can discourage them to come? IÃ¯Â¿Â½ve read to buy a special feeder, but I wanted to know if I could do something about my popsicle feeders. My children made them and theyÃ¯Â¿Â½re very happy that the little red birds come to their creations to eat. Thanks!

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Comments (5)

kendra2003
11 years ago
While I've never heard of a Popsicle feeder, I have never had a problem with the Mourning doves at a feeder. If you get a regular feeder that has very small perches, it discourages the larger birds from landing there and hogging all the seed. I have one of those squirrel resistant feeders for the Black Oil sunflower, and the doves just eat whatever falls on the ground. Since your children made the Popsicle feeder, I wonder if you could use both to please them, or just use the one they made as a decorative feeder.
PhytoRo
Original Author
11 years ago
thank you! IÃÂ´ve attached a pic of the popsicle bird feeder. One of those Pinterest things. Thank you for the advice, I was thinking to change the feeder, but thought first to try and get a different seed mix. What I got supposedly does not attract doves, but they there were....bullying the poor cardinals that wanted to come. I read that somebody posted once that the doves are scared easily. Not where I live. I actually have to go out and make a scandal before they just jump on the fence and watch me from there. IÃÂ´ll try changing feeders...no fun watching doves eat my seeds.
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First, let me introduce myself. I have been lurking here for a couple of days and couldn't resist signing up because I am learning a lot from this place and enjoy reading the comments and discussions. I enjoy birds and gardening so this place is wonderful to find. I am happy to see a thread like this was started. I am having huge problems with the English Sparrows taking over my two feeders and preventing the other birds from enjoying some of my sunflowers. I have a tube feeder and a gazeebo style feeder and I am filling it constantly. The sparrows waste most of the seed in the gazeebo style feeder and I scoop it up and put it in my coconut shell feeder which a squirrel has taken over. I tried not putting seed in them for a week in hopes the sparrows would find another place to dine, but I always break down when I see a chicadee or a cardinal there trying to get seed when there isn't any. I am going to stop putting seed there again but am getting worried because I want to feed the birds this winter when they need it most, but don't want the sparrows to prevent the other birds from eating. I don't mind the sparrows eating my food, but I don't like how rude they are. :o(, This evening the sparrows tried to gang up on a cardinal, but the cardinal wouldn't budge and I believe the cardinal hissed at them. :'0. I need to come up with some kind of solution before winter and before I go broke.
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I use a mix of millet, cracked corn and sunflower chips for the mourning doves. I use to scatter it on the patio and under the BOSS hanging feeder. The doves love the little seeds and corn. Since I started using this mix I get a lot more doves. Recently I found a company that calls themselves Hurley Byrd feeder company and they build these great big feeders and my husband installed one on a large post. It also has a tray that is made to go under the feeder. This works well since the doves now get on the tray and the feeder. They can be watched a lot better when they sit on the tray and they stay longer. Maybe you can look at theirs and build one yourself. I also noticed I get a lot more of everything on the tray and in this big feeder. Does anyone else use a real large feeders with seed catch trays?
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Pat Z5or6 SEMich
5 years ago
I know it's 5 years later, Phyto, but your 2014 seed looks very expensive to me. If you want to attract Cardinals and really most other birds, all you need is Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS). I wish I could say that Doves hate it, but they don't. I'm 78 years old and forever trying to figure out how to keep them from my Cardinal and Grosbeak food! I even throw food on the ground for the Doves but they gotta be on a feeder. I don't get it.
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Nicolette Marshall
5 years ago
I love your bird feeder! As a new birder, it's given me an idea for craft day for my kids. Thank you for sharing a photo!
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pdy12862
last year
Black oil sunf sunflower seeds bring nasty Blue Jays, they are worsethandoves
0

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