Cardinals seemed to love it, but blackbirds and squirrels did not. So the birds would still be close but not as close as right at the window. Squirrels and bully birds may ignore safflower seed, but many beloved songbirds will still come to your feeders. I don’t have to baffle the nyjer feeders. That's really not true anymore but nobody knows why. We have heard of occasional instances of exploratory animals damaging mesh finch socks; we recommend solid tube feeders with feeding ports specifically sized for Nyjer to prevent this. Bird feeders are made available in abundance for squirrels by humans. Black-capped Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse photos courtesy of ptgbirdlover on Flickr, Back To Top | If squirrels, pigeons, blackbirds, doves and grackles crowd your feeder and chase away the birds you want to see, you may want to try the Safflower So it might be a temporary solution at best. About Us | My results were that Northern Cardinals and Mourning Doves are the only two birds to eat these seeds. It’s possible a Squirrel Buster feeder might help. the Latest Bird Watching News, Hot Birding Spots, Tips & More. And/or get yourself a Squirrel Buster Plus or Squirrel Buster Classic feeder and position them correctly. If feeders are located properly, squirrels at feeders are no issue. One hungry squirrel can clean out a feeder faster than you can say “black oil sunflower seed,” and that drives bird-lovers crazy. You can usually buy these seeds in bulk (40 pounds) for about $0.50 per pound. This means that if you want to discourage these types of visitors then they are the ideal seeds for your feeder. Thistle Seed. Not all birds enjoy eating safflower seeds, and this could result in an accumulation of safflower seeds on the ground beneath your bird feeder. A second basic approach is to fill your feeder with foods that squirrels won’t want: Safflower seed (which attracts species such as cardinals, chickadees and titmice), nyjer thistle (which nourishes goldfinches and others of their kind) or a birdseed mixture that includes a large amount of white proso millet seed (which satisfies the hunger of mourning doves and house finches). Well, there is one seed, but it attracts a very limited variety of birds. Squirrels eat seeds and grains . Home » Bird Feeders, Baffles & Poles » A Seed Squirrels Won’t Eat? They prefer sunflower or peanuts, but if safflower is in reach, they’ll take it. A second basic approach is to fill your feeder with foods that squirrels won’t want: Safflower seed (which attracts species such as cardinals, chickadees and titmice), nyjer thistle (which nourishes goldfinches and others of their kind) or a birdseed mixture that includes a large amount of white proso millet seed (which satisfies the hunger of mourning doves and house finches). A few weeks ago decided to buy a bag of Safflower seeds for the first time. offer birds something squirrels don’t eat is just setting yourself up An added benefit is that most squirrels don't like safflower seeds, either! 3. Again, all creatures are different. But I suspect that if you give them enough time and they can’t get anything else, they will eventually eat it. About five years ago my wife started feeding the squirrels sunflower seeds and several of our neighbors were feeding them peanuts. Neither do grackles, blue jays, or starlings.” Additional sources repeated the mantra. 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