The long running struggle of bird feeders Vs squirrels continues in Bingfield Park (click here for some history and video).  After successful trials of a Nuttery seed feeder in the dense branch cover of what may be a mulberry tree I have installed two new Nuttery feeders in the same tree – one for fat and one for peanuts. These feeders have a steel cage surrounding the food that finch sized birds can get through but starlings and squirrels can’t.  In theory.  Repeating earlier tactics I have suspended them on multi-core stainless steel rope and fittings that the squirrels can’t chew through (again from the wonderful Arthur Beale ships chandlers in Covent Garden).  To stop people nicking the feeders i use a ladder to hang them well out of reach.

The big strategic problem is the lack of cover in the park for small birds. In part this reflects the trouble we used to have – when the park was redesigned the undergrowth was all stripped out to improve visibility.  The Council have now planted a shrubbery for cover on the South side, but only half of it has survived – the spot is drier and darker than anticipated.  So I have to put feeders in trees with dense branchesto give cover for the birds – which means the squirrels can always get to them, requiring effective squirrel proof feeders.