How To Keep Blackbirds Away From Bird Feeder

How to Keep Blackbirds Away From Your Bird Feeder: A Comprehensive Guide

Are blackbirds dominating your bird feeder, leaving little for other feathered friends? This comprehensive guide offers effective strategies to deter blackbirds while still attracting a diverse range of birds to your garden. We'll explore various methods, from simple adjustments to more advanced deterrents, helping you reclaim your bird feeder for a wider variety of species.

Blackbirds, while beautiful, can be aggressive and outcompete smaller, more desirable birds at your feeder. Understanding their behavior is key to developing a successful deterrent strategy. This article will cover practical solutions that won't harm the birds but will encourage them to find food elsewhere.

Understanding Blackbird Behavior

Before implementing any deterrent, it's crucial to understand why blackbirds are attracted to your feeder in the first place. They are intelligent birds and often drawn to:

• Easy access to food: Open feeders are a blackbird buffet.
• Abundant food sources: Large quantities of readily available food attract them in numbers.
• Lack of competition: If there are no other deterrents, blackbirds will happily dominate the feeding area.

Effective Strategies to Deter Blackbirds

Now, let's dive into practical solutions to discourage blackbirds from monopolizing your bird feeder:

1. Choose the Right Feeder:

• Weight-activated feeders: These feeders close when a heavier bird lands, preventing blackbirds from accessing the food.
• Smaller perches: Blackbirds have larger feet and may struggle to grip smaller perches, making it difficult to feed comfortably.
• Tube feeders with small perches: These feeders limit access for larger birds like blackbirds. Consider squirrel-resistant designs for added protection.
• Suet feeders with cages: These protect suet from larger birds while allowing access for smaller birds.

2. Adjust Food and Feeding Techniques:

• Offer smaller seeds: Blackbirds prefer larger seeds, like sunflower seeds. Switching to smaller seeds like nyjer or millet can make your feeder less attractive to them.
• Reduce the amount of food: Smaller quantities of food will discourage larger flocks from gathering. Regularly refill your feeders to avoid creating a large, persistent food source.
• Feed on the ground: Scatter seeds or offer a ground feeder. This may attract blackbirds but will also provide food for other ground-feeding birds and help diversify your garden's avian visitors.

3. Visual and Auditory Deterrents:

• Shiny objects: Hang reflective objects like CDs, aluminum foil strips, or mylar tape around your feeders. The movement and reflections can startle blackbirds.
• Predatory bird silhouettes: Place realistic-looking silhouettes of hawks or owls near your feeders. This may deter blackbirds, but the effectiveness varies.
• Motion-activated sprinklers: These sprinklers activate when birds approach, startling them and encouraging them to move on. This is a more effective option for larger areas.
• Ultrasonic bird repellents: These devices emit high-frequency sounds that are unpleasant to blackbirds but generally inaudible to humans. The effectiveness can vary depending on the device and the birds.

4. Create a Bird-Friendly Environment:

• Provide natural food sources: Plant native shrubs and trees that provide berries and insects, offering alternative food sources for other birds.
• Offer water sources: A birdbath will attract a wider range of birds and can encourage them to spend time in your garden.

Important Note: Always prioritize humane methods. Avoid using harmful chemicals or traps. The goal is to deter blackbirds, not harm them. Experiment with different strategies to find what works best for your specific situation and location. Remember that birds are adaptable, so you might need to adjust your tactics over time.