Northern Flicker at Feeder

[floraphile]

25 Aug 2020 Baldwin co AL

It is our state bird, but...

A Northern Flicker visited one of my loose-seed feeders.  I see them frequently in my yard & neighborhood, but never partaking of the free buffet.  In an effort to deter the $@%! squirrels (who love that particular "squirrel-proof" feeder), I had changed out the seed from black oil sunflower seeds to Nutrasaff.   As it is Summer, there is no shortage of natural food sources.  Comments?

[Charlie Spencer]

Odd are the bird found seed on the ground under the feeder and looked for the source.  Who knows, the flicker might have gone for the sunflower if you were still using it. 

Try sprinkling the seed with some powdered cayenne or similar ground hot peppers.  It won't bother the birds but should make the squirrels unhappy.  It's cheaper than safflower too.

Me?  I use one of these. 

https://www.duncraft.com/index/page/product/product_id/4259/category_chain/1073,84/product_name/4+x+4"+Post+Disk+Baffle%2C+Tan

But there are other models:

https://www.duncraft.com/index/page/category/category_id/84/category_chain/1073,84/name/Squirrel+Baffles+%26+Guards/

Spend the money and don't look back.

Edited August 26, 2020 by Charlie Spencer

[The Bird Nuts]

1 hour ago, Charlie Spencer said:

Spend the money and don't look back.

Yes!  For squirrels - baffles, baffles, baffles!  No feeder is squirrel proof.  And make sure to keep the feeder pole as far away as possible from trees and other things the squirrels can jump from.

In the 16 years we've been feeding the birds, I can recall seeing only ONE flicker on our feeders and it was on the suet.

Edited August 26, 2020 by The Bird Nuts

[Leviticus Plews]

I used to get Northern Flickers at my feeder regularly but haven't seen one in years.  However I do get Red-bellied woodpeckers regularly and they are somewhat similar, in particular, long beaks.  Some of my feeders are enclosed in cages that only small birds can enter.  These are definitely squirrel-proof,  but the Red-belly can get to it, because of it's long beak.  I'll bet the Flicker can get to it as well. Worth a try. These feeders enclosed in cages are available pretty much anywhere that sells feeders. 

[Charlie Spencer]

1 hour ago, Leviticus Plews said:

Some of my feeders are enclosed in cages that only small birds can enter.  These are definitely squirrel-proof,

I've seen squirrels that have learned to swing those feeders so the seed will spill out.

[Seanbirds]

17 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said:

I've seen squirrels that have learned to swing those feeders so the seed will spill out.

That sounds both amusing and frustrating to watch!  Those squirrels sure are clever!