Table of Contents
If you enjoy feeding birds in your backyard, you may have encountered some unwelcome visitors that take over your feeders and chase away other birds. These are the so-called bully birds, such as blackbirds, grackles, pigeons, European starlings and house sparrows. These birds are often larger, more aggressive and more social than other feeder birds, and they can consume large amounts of seed or suet in a short time. They may also guard the feeders and attack or intimidate other birds that try to feed.
Bully birds can be frustrating for birders who want to attract a variety of species and enjoy their beauty and behavior. Fortunately, there are some effective ways to discourage bully birds from your feeders and make your backyard more welcoming for other birds. Here are some tips and tricks to stop bullying birds at your feeders.
Choose the Right Food
Bully birds won’t go where they don’t like the food, so fill your feeders with foods they don’t like (but which will still attract other backyard birds). Safflower seed, Nyjer seed, cracked corn, millet, milo, and wheat are all options that will keep your feeders bully-free. Avoid cheap wild birdseed mixes that contain sunflower seeds, peanuts, corn or milo, as these are favorites of bully birds. You can also offer suet that contains hot pepper or bitter ingredients, which will deter bully birds but not harm other birds.
Choose the Right Feeder
The type of feeder you use can also make a difference in how attractive it is to bully birds. Hanging tube-style feeders with short perches will attract finches and other small birds, but grackles find them hard to use. A suet feeder that can be accessed only from the underside will work for chickadees, nuthatches and other acrobatic birds, but may discourage grackles. You can also place a wire cage around a feeder—use wire with openings too small for grackles to squeeze through but big enough to let in finches, chickadees, juncos and other small birds.
Another type of feeder that can help prevent bully birds is one with a weight-activated perch. When a large bird or squirrel lands on the perch, it closes the feeding ports, preventing them from accessing the seed, but smaller birds are light enough to feed easily.
Choose the Right Location
The location of your feeders can also influence how accessible they are to bully birds. Bully birds tend to prefer open areas where they can see predators and other threats easily. By placing your feeders near shrubs, trees or another cover, you can provide more security for smaller birds and make bully birds less comfortable. You can also use baffles or domes above your feeders to prevent bully birds from landing on them or reaching them from above.
Choose the Right Time
Bully birds may be more active at certain times of the day or year than others. For example, grackles and starlings tend to feed in large flocks in the morning and evening, while house sparrows may be more numerous in the winter when food is scarce. By adjusting your feeding schedule to avoid these peak times, you can reduce the chances of attracting bully birds. You can also temporarily remove your feeders if you notice a large flock of bully birds in your area, and resume feeding when they move on.
Choose the Right Strategy
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, bully birds may still persist in visiting your feeders. In that case, you may need to try some more creative strategies to deter them. For example, you can use a water spray bottle or a hose to gently squirt them when they land on your feeders. You can also use noisemakers such as bells, whistles or clapping to scare them away. Some birders have even used decoys or scarecrows of predators such as owls or hawks to frighten bully birds.
However, be careful not to harm or harass the bully birds excessively, as they are still living creatures that deserve respect and compassion. Remember that some bully birds are native species that play important roles in the ecosystem, such as dispersing seeds or controlling insects. The goal is not to eliminate them completely from your backyard, but to balance their presence with other bird species.
Summary
Bully birds can be a nuisance for backyard birders who want to enjoy a diversity of feeder visitors. By choosing the right food, feeder, location, time and strategy, you can discourage bully birds from your feeders and make your backyard more inviting for other birds.
