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My current setup resides on one pole. At the top of the pole, I have a cedar barn feeder with two suet cages. On one arm, I have a finch station with seed socks, on the other arm I have a platform feeder.
On my feeding station, I stock black oil sunflower seeds, suet, and a finch blend. The black oil sunflower seeds are very popular. Just about everyone nibbles on the suet; I’ve never seen the blue jays eat anything else. I’ve noticed no great interest in the finch blend in the first month of my setup.
I’ve read from different sources that birds are attracted to the sound of running water, and greatly appreciate a spot to bathe and drink. I placed a recirculating water fountain near the feeder, and find that birds take advantage of it, on occasion.
My biggest problem has been squirrels. For every defensive approach I take, they come up with new strategies to raid my feeders. I will continue to observe and adapt to their techniques.
Feeders
| Item | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Barn Feeder | A main seed compartment and two suet cages | $22.97 |
| Platform Feeder | With drainage and grate for big birds | $24.82 |
| Finch Station | Two fabric mesh socks small birds perch and feed on. | $15.97 |
| Feeder Pole | Connecting pole segments cause feeders to sway. I use rope and stakes to stabilize | $14.97 |
Food
| Item | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 10lb bag Black Oil Sunflower Seeds | So far, one bag lasts a month | $7.47 |
| Suet | Birds love it | $.92 a block |
| 5lb bag Finch Blend | Chickadees peck at it, haven’t seen many finches yet | $9.47 |
Fountain
| Item | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Two tier cast iron fountain | Recirculates water. Purchased from Lowes | $169 |
| Bag of Gravel | To surround fountain and pole | $4.34 |
| Three Prong Outlet Timer | I operate fountain only during the day | $8.70 |
| Extension Cord | I run power to the basement to protect timer | $12.24 |
Protection
I have two problems, squirrels and cats. For the cats, I surrounded the feeding area in a small fence. For the squirrels, I’ve added baffles and vaseline. I noticed the vaseline has minimal effect, I may try pam, or some other spray in the near future.
| Item | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 3x Squirrel Baffle | I find the stock mounting parts useless. I’ve made my own mounting using closed cell foam and pins. I try to keep it loose so when squirrels land, they wobble off | $14.94 each |
| 5x fence post | 4ft height | $2.80 each |
| 24in x 50ft lawn fence | Seems to be enough to deter cats | $27 |
Grand Total
For feeders, fountain, fence, and one month supply of food, the total comes to $377.61. New York takes $26.43, leaving a grand total of $404.04. I could drastically cut the cost by having only the cedar barn feeder and pole, and still have similar bird traffic, but I am looking to build a larger sanctuary over time, with more feeders and bird houses. I will report as things progress.
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