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I'm sure this has been asked before, but I need some advice on buying a bird feeder. I want one that will feed most backyard birds, including cardinals that like to perch as they eat. I need one that squirrels can't get to the feed, but birds can...I've seen some feeders that small birds can use (finches, etc.), but not others like cardinals. We bought a "squirrel proof" feeder at Walmart a year or two ago, and here is a picture of it.

We buy the wild bird feed that has mixed seeds and the squirrels like to dig it out, pouring it all on the ground as they look for certain ones (I assume sunflowers). Anyway, please let me know if anyone has a feeder to recommend. Thanks.

I had a birdfeeder that had perches on both sides. The doves would be the sentries and when I filled the feeder they would call the finches. The finches, in their feeding frenzy would drop seed on the ground for the doves.

I did have cardinals visit but they did not come at the same time as the finches.

I did learn though not to give them too much sunflower seeds. They started going after my sunflowers.

We have three feeders in the yard. One a platform feeder for suet cakes for the six varieties of woodpecker. That one has an inverted metal cone on the pole. That works very well on squirrels but not raccoons or deer so I bring in the suet cakes every night. Next we have the finch thistle seed feeder on a shepherd's hook pot holder. Squirrels don't bother it at all nor do raccoons or deer. The main feeder is on another shepherd's hook (a tall one). This feeder is pretty big and in the shape of a house with a hole in the top covered by a chimney that comes off to load the feeder. We purchased a bell shaped squirrel keeper outer. This one also works great. Again the feeder gets taken down nightly so not to feed larger animals who also eat birdseed.

Squirrel proof inverted cones and the bell shaped ones really do work. We have had up to eight squirrels feeding on the spilled seed on the ground under the feeders and they don't even try to climb the poles any more. It was easier for me to purchase rather than make the squirrel proofers since I am not a metal worker.

Thanks for the suggestions. The problem is we would like to keep it hanging under this particular tree because it's right out my office window where I can watch the birds during the day. We have lots of trees in our yard and woods beyond them, so squirrels are plentiful. I was just hoping there was a feeder that I could replace this one with that they couldn't get on or to, but most birds could. Thanks again and Merry Christmas!

The only other thing I could think of is to either fill only enough seed for one feeding. If you fill it on a schedule the birds will watch and show up every time they see you fill it. Take the feeder inside, it needs to be cleaned once in a while anyway, when it is not in use. If you are watching the birds the squirrels will probably learn the schedule too, have your pea shooter ready.

I use this type, which seems to work pretty well, and the price is reasonable also. To be honest, I don't think there is an absolute squirrel proof feeder out there. They are quite the ingenious critter. https://www.birdfeeders.com/store/wild-bird-feeders/351