Birding

Fixing Flawed Feeders

June 30, 2011 by Mike 7 Comments

Poop Week was a lot of fun around here, but for some people it never seems to end. A reader contacted me with a serious bird feeder problem:

I wanted to get your professional opinion. I’m an avid bird watcher/studier/lover. I mounted 11 six-gallon bird feeders on my deck and have managed to snap some wonderful photos. Unfortunately the birds-while beautiful-have just shit a ton all over my deck. I mean, a lot. I wake up in the morning and it looks like it snowed six inches over night.
Any advice?

As you might expect, my first suggestion was to move the feeders. However, our unfortunate enthusiast here bolted the feeders to his deck with something short of a railroad tie, so he feels removal is not an option. However, the cascade of crap sluicing down to his neighbors is generating much ill will.

Is there anything that can be done here short of full-removal of the feeders?

feeders

Written by Mike

Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds in 2003, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.

7 Comments

wes June 30, 2011 at 11:25 am
Mike you sure this guy isn’t SH***ing you in recognition of POOP week. 66 Gallons of bird seed capacity on your deck is a little extreme….
Nick June 30, 2011 at 12:39 pm
put some tarps down.
Adam June 30, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Seems like he has 5 too many bird feeders on his deck. I’d leave one and replace the others with hanging flower planters, tree branches, etc to capture photos of birds waiting to get a bite from the feeder. He should get better pics than just birds on a feeder and it should alleviate much of the poo problem. A tarp to catch poo and spilled seed would be a good idea too.
Jory June 30, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Don’t fill the feeders.
Renato July 2, 2011 at 9:37 am
Hose the deck down every time you refill the feeders.
Emily July 2, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Try plastic or ceramic plant trays, like those used by potted plant enthusiasts to catch and hold excess water. They should be easy to move and clean daily.
In addition to its unsightly appearance all that feces is loaded with uric acid, which has the capacity to eat holes in concrete over time. Protect your deck.
Danny July 3, 2011 at 12:53 am
Thanks! We hose down every couple days because my landlord has got a bug up her a#$ about this just because a few tenants are complaining about their unit wall being covered in bird poop. In retrospect this whole thing seems like a bad idea.
Best,
Danny.