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upside down feeders

16 years ago

Another post mentioned using an upside down suet feeder to foil the starlings. Duh! Why didn't I think of that last summer when the large flocks were inhaling a block a day! But, I have such a congregation of different birds using the suet feeder and I don't think they all are capable of using an upside down one. The woodpeckers, chickadees, and titmice would be OK, yes? And another post said Carolina wrens could manage. But I also have cardinals, mockingbirds, blue jays, sparrows, and even an occasional robin feeding on the suet. Could any of them use the upside down type?

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Comments (3)

calliope
16 years ago
Nuthatches do just fine on them too. I have seen English sparrows work at it hard enough to grab a bite now and then too.

Suet is high energy food, and I don't do suet in summertime when other food is abundant. In winter some of the birds need it especially. You will find primarily insectivores going to suet. The seed eaters aren't so dependent on things like that.
chickadeemelrose
16 years ago
I got one of those upside down suet feeders to discourage sparrows; but they are pretty capable of using it, as it turns out.

Our downy woodpeckers love the feeder, as do nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, and also the occasional wren. I don't know about the other birds you mentioned, it seems they would be too large to be hanging off the feeder for long (cardinals, blue jays, etc.). Good luck!
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Keep watching. Most of the birds that use the upside down feeders will be like nuthatches, chickadees and various members of the woodpecker/flicker family. If you were expecting cardinals and finches they generally do not like to eat upside down. If there is enough side space in your feeder they might eat from the side but not bottom. You might want to try haning it higher.
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beckyw
16 years ago
We have had blue jays on ours. And unfortunately we have also had starlings on ours at times. But they really have to work for what they get and don't go thru it like they can if the suet is on a regular feeder.

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