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From: wsg@cbnewsk.cb.att.com (wendy.grohol)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: OUTDOOR: Distracting squirrels from bird feeders
Summary: Need advice on dealing with squirrels
Keywords: bird feeders, squirrels
Message-ID: <1991Jan31.014757.25677@cbnewsk.att.com>
Date: 31 Jan 91 01:47:57 GMT
Sender: wsg@cbnewsk.att.com (wendy.grohol)
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 28

I have established a few feeders at the edge of some woods
near my new apartment. While enjoying the chickadees, titmice,
downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, a red-bellied woodpecker,
nuthatches and juncos, I've had to tolerate what I guess is a
well behaved squirrel - he hasn't done any damage to anything - YET.
He finally found a way to get to a feeder where I have mixed seed.
I don't want to switch to seed the squirrel won't eat because I want
to keep attracting a diversity of birds. I've been putting out
peanuts for him but it doesn't seem to be enough.

1. What foods and possibly what quantity will keep him happy?
   (Should I even be feeding him in the first place? I may
    attract more squirrels or other critters.)
2. There is only one branch he uses to access the feeder. What
   can I grease the branch with that won't be harmful to him
   or the birds? I can't move the feeder...there are very few
   low branches near my apartment where I can hang the feeders.

Because of how he accesses the feeder and the feeder type, I
can not use any of the devices I've seen to keep squirrels
out of feeders.

				Any ideas?
				Thanks,
				Wendy

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