Cleaning and tuning up feeders

Now is a great time to give your feeders a good cleaning and needed maintenance.  If you need to replace a cracked tube, have missing perches, or whatever the issue, bring your feeder to us to see if we can help.  Many of the feeders we carry offer lifetime warranties and many parts are available and on hand.  We are happy to fix feeders whenever possible. 

We cannot stress enough the importance of cleaning your feeders on a regular basis.  As needed, or every couple of months at the very least, is a good guideline.  Dirty feeders can be a very unhealthy environment and diseases that affect wild birds may be shared.  Wet weather is usually the catalyst for moldy conditions and it’s during those times you need to pay very close attention.  Lately it has been very wet. 

No feeder is maintenance free and moisture finds a way in to even the very best quality feeders.  Follow some of these simple guidelines to keep your feeders in good shape.  To clean a feeder you may use warm soapy water and whatever available utensils you have that will work with your particular feeder.  If a feeder has become moldy you may use a mild (10%) bleach and water solution.  We carry long handled brushes to make cleaning a tube feeder easier.  For platform feeders an old spatula is very handy.  Clorox wipes are handy for tube feeder ports and hard to reach spots.  Be sure to rinse and dry thoroughly before refilling.

Keeping the ground below the feeders maintained is also a good idea. A significant build-up of shells and seed can present problems, again, worse when it’s wet.

Feeding birds is fun and offers us a closer look at beautiful songbirds.  Help them even more by providing a clean, safe environment.

If you see a sick bird at your feeders take them down immediately and give them a good cleaning.  Wait a few days before putting them back up.  House finches and Goldfinches are among the most susceptible to avian diseases passed along at feeders.  Here are some of the brushes we carry at the store. 

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These large brushes work great for birdbaths and cleaning out large feeder trays.

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Use these long brushes to clean out larger tube feeders.

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Hummingbird feeder brushes work well on seed feeders too. especially those hard to reach areas.

Product Profile: High capacity squirrel proof feeder

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This feeder measures 27" tall and 12" wide. The 1.5" wire cage only allows small birds.

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Bail retaining clips keep squirrels from gaining access to seed hopper.

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Quick release base makes cleaning this feeder much faster.

Introducing the high capacity caged feeder by Woodlink. This is one sturdy feeder! Made from thick gauge metal and ¼” PVC, this feeder will provide many years of service and protection against squirrels, starlings, and grackles. At the top of the feeder, there are two large bail clips that keep pesky squirrels from being able to lift the lid and get to the seed. Under the lid is a huge hopper for reserve seed. This hopper easily holds more than a gallon of seed, not to mention what’s in the tube underneath it. The tube itself is made from a 3” piece of PVC, six large seed ports great for sunflower or any favorite seed blend, and a quick release base for easy cleaning of any accumulation that may build up in the bottom of the tube. The cage that surrounds the feeder is a 1.5 inch coated wire grid that works very well at keeping out squirrels and birds cardinal size or larger.

If you’re looking for a large capacity feeder that also keeps out squirrels, starlings, and grackles, stop by and check out this feeder!

Through the month of February, we're offering 20% off all feeders for national bird feeding month.  🐦

Product Profile: Carpenter Bee Traps

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As many of you know April and May can be the worst for carpenter bee activity. This is when the new brood of bees is emerging and can make for a high traffic area. Carpenter bees do not eat wood but do feed on plant pollen and nectar; however, they excavate dry, unpainted and weathered wooden objects such as doors, windowsills, roof eaves, railings, decks, untreated poles, fences and wooden lawn furniture to lay eggs. They prefer pine, fir, Cyprus, oak and redwood, especially if the wood is not covered with bark, is unpainted or unfinished. 

There are many ways to reduce carpenter bee numbers but using a trap can be effective without spraying chemicals. We are stocking a new trap that should be more effective and easier to use. The way the trap works is the bees are attracted by the half inch holes and enters the box. The bee then follows the light into the jar at the base and is trapped. This new trap has the option of being mounted to a structure or it can be hung. The collection jar is a mason jar which is very handy for relocating bees after being trapped. Simply cap the jar with a mason jar lid and place a new jar on the trap. We find we catch the most bees in April and May when their activity is at its peak.

Tips for carpenter bee trap success.

Mounting or hanging your trap: get it right up against a wooden structure that has the most bee activity. If the trap is off by itself it is unlikely that you will catch any bees.

Baiting the trap: bees will find their way into the trap on their own but if you want to speed up the process try and knock a bee down and get it in the jar alive. The trapped be will release a pheromone that will attract other bees into the trap. Trust us we have seen it work.

Don’t let bees die in the jar: As quickly as a live bee will attract other bees into the trap, dead bees will discourage other bees and lower the effectiveness of the trap until cleaned.

Product Profile: Extended Reach Poles

Ever try putting your squirrel proof feeder on a shepherd’s pole just to find out that it isn’t as squirrel proof as it should be? It’s not the feeder but it is the wrong pole that’s the problem. A squirrel proof feeder like the Squirrel Buster is very effective on the right pole and less effective on the wrong pole. The main thing to consider when pairing a weight activated squirrel proof feeder with a pole is how far your feeder hangs away from the pole. If it hangs too close squirrels may gain access by leaning out to the feeder leaving most of their weight on the pole, thus not triggering the feeder to close. Most feeders recommend a measurement of 14”- 18” from pole to hook. This ensures the squirrel climbs down on, or jumps to the feeder putting his full weight on the feeder. We have a few long reach options here at the shop that work great with the various weight activated feeders. The extended reach pole gets your feeder an ample 20” out from the pole and even allows for an extension to make the pole taller. This pole is also available in a deck rail mount option. We also have a super duty Shepard’s pole that has a 16” reach. This pole is great for larger feeders and is available in single and double hook options.

As always if you are having trouble with squirrels on your bird feeders stop by the shop and we will be happy to help.

Drippers, Misters, and Moving Water

One of the best ways to attract birds to your backyard is with a birdbath, but adding a supply of fresh, moving water will make your birdbath even more appealing. There are many ways to add moving water to your existing birdbath, such as water drippers, water misters, water wigglers, and small fountain pumps that circulates water. Below are some examples of ways you can add moving water to your birdbath at home.

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Side mount dripper.

Rock base dripper.

Water Drippers: A water dripper usually consists of a small curved metal tube that can be affixed or set in your birdbath. Then long flexible plastic tubing (that can be buried) is run from an outdoor water spigot to the dripper on your birdbath. Each dripper set up comes with an adjustable valve that lets you adjust the flow of water to a nice consistent drip. In the hotter months of the year this is a great way to keep ahead of evaporation, and help cut down on mosquito's in between birdbath cleanings, and the birds will love the fresh moving water source.

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Water Wigglers: Similar to the Water Dripper, the Water Wiggler will agitate the water and help cut down on insects and make your birdbath more attractive to birds. Instead of using a fresh water source from your garden hose it runs on two D batteries and simply agitates the water causing constant water ripples. We find the water wiggler to be the most effective option when running a power cord or a fresh water line to your birdbath is not a viable option.

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Available in hanging and rock base Misters.

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Water Misters: Like the water dripper, the water mister attaches to your garden hose via small plastic tubing and creates a small constant water mist that birds love to fly through and sit under and bath. Most of these misters can be mounted to your bird bath, and some misters can even be attached to a large tree limb or zip tied up the side of your current shepherd’s pole with your bird feeders.

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Stone Creek Rock: This option will basically turn your birdbath into a recirculating fountain. This small plastic resin stone rock houses a small fountain pump that will circulate the water and also give birds a place to perch and bathe. All you need is a minimum of 2” of water and a 110 power source.