Christmas Present Blues

[Axeman]

This Christmas, a thoughtful person gave me a large bird feeder -- it's sold at Home Hardware with the endorsement "mark's choice" referring to mark Cullen. It's a tall cylinder with a dish capping the bottom. The cylinder is divided vertically into 2 so you can put in 2 different types of seed. There are a number of small perches and openings along the height of the cylinder. The feeder holds 3.6 litres of seed or 1.8 in each half.

When I opened it up I thought "Hot Digetty" and then immediately switched to...."How am I going to afford to fill this thing?"

I didn't let my worries of how I was going to afford it stop me -- I hung it as soon as I could topped up with my favourite seed (sell for $27 / 15 kg bag at the Co-Op). I was delighted to find that there was more than enough left over to fill my other seed feeders so I did. And then I sat back for the frenzy. Well they did come but they cleaned out my other feeders faster than they normally do and really aren't touching the seed in the new feeder. It's been a week and a half since I filled the new feeder and it's only down about 10%. I don't see anyone other than the chickadees going to it. The Jays, Cardinals and Juncos stick to the other feeders (along with chickadees). Not even the red squirrels or our lone black phased Eastern Grey are hitting the new feeder.

Does anyone else have a similar feeder? What am I doing wrong? I know it's not the seed b/c I have used this seed successfully for years.

[Freddie]

Perhaps it has a lingering scent from the manufacturing process or some such other. Maybe a good wash out with a mild soap and a thorough rinse will help.

[Walter Fisher]

Hey Axeman,

Hmm, interesting.  I have a similar feeder (same design, not quite as big) that I had given to me by a relative last fall and I have had the same issue so far this winter - few species.  Like you, I too have had mainly chickadees visiting the feeder.  A White-breasted Nuthatch now seems to be okay with the feeder as well as the occasional House Sparrow and goldfinch and back in early December a Pine Siskin spent a couple of days eating from it.  At first I too was concerned about the lack of birds using the feeder but now my hope is that something good will show up at it and be able to stay awhile and eat in peace - my other feeders get swamped by House Sparrows many times a day.  I too use proven bird seed on each side - my usual sunflower seed and nyjer seed.

Good birding in 2019,
Walter

[Axeman]

Thanks!

Well the feeder is definitely getting more use...I did change seed for it though....I put in a mix I made up from the bulk boxes at the co-op: striped sunflower, black oil sunflower, shelled peanuts and nyjer seed...I don't think they enjoy the nyjer seed so much. But the big feeder is nowhere as popular as the other feeders.