Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Bird feeders, roosting houses and squirrels
We’re gearing up for the migration of many birds. It’s time to clean out those bird feeders, get rid of the old bird seed and refresh them. I highly recommend Spike’s feed, seed and pet supply. Their bird feed is locally sourced and milled daily.
I spoke with a bird expert who said does not recommend anything but vinegar water to clean them. Do not use bleach or soaps due to residue from those chemicals that COULD harm them. With baby season over, it’s also time to clean out the houses too. Again, it’s not recommended to use any chemicals.
So you’ve cleaned out the feeders, now how do you deter those squirrels.
Talking with Bonni the expert she says don’t use hot pepper. It may deter the squirrels for a while but not forever. They’ll get used to it and Cornell Ornithology says there’s not enough research that says it’s not harmful to birds who DO eat it.
However, there is a bird feeder she highly recommends called the Droll Yankee Whipper designed to assist cardinals as well as other birds to eat. Bonni has a lot of great information including some very interesting information on HOW cardinals eat!
To keep the squirrels out of our containers now filled with mums, Bonni recommends “Squirrel Repellent” from a place called “I Must Garden” and it’s a completely safe way to keep them out.
Also, this time of year, it’s time to think about leaving up roosting houses. These are transitory homes where, when it’s bitterly cold, those little chickadees or whoever is flying through, has a cozy way-stop in a tree to rest.
