Do you want to support the birds and give them some food? Then don’t forget one spice that will protect them from persistent squirrels.
Life in the conservatory doesn’t have to be boring. Especially if you have a birdhouse frequented by a lot of hungry guests. “We have a habit of putting grains or sunflower seeds there, they are particularly popular,” says Mrs. Jana from a village near Prague.
Together with her husband, they also have a habit of buying tallow balls and hanging them in various places around the garden. Unfortunately, it sometimes happens that they are eaten by squirrels and there is not much left for the birds. And that’s the problem!
Video author, Backyard Nature shows you how to protect bird feeders from squirrels. More on the channel YouTube.com
Source: Youtube
Squirrel repellent
Other people are experiencing a similar situation. And the manufacturers of bird feed themselves began to produce seeds coated with a burning substance, which should deter potential thieves.
“It is capsaicin in powder or oil form,” explains the expert, who bases it on research by scientists from Cornwall, who found that this measure significantly repels, for example, gray squirrels and other mammals. On the contrary, the birds themselves do not mind the presence of a burning substance. How is that possible?
Burning seeds for birds
According to scientists, the reason for some resistance is the fact that birds – unlike mammals – do not have pain receptors. Therefore, they can easily “beak” something hot without it causing them any discomfort in the beak. And that’s not all!
Scientists even claim that birds like the hot seeds. And no wonder. Even in the wild, birds have to rely on what they have to offer. And sometimes they have to make do with what other animals don’t eat. An example is pepper seeds, which supply important fats and proteins to eaters.
Homemade food
So if you want to treat the birds to seeds this year, don’t forget to add something hot to them, such as hot peppers, hot pepper mix or cayenne pepper, which is cheaper. That way, you will be sure that your food will go straight into the birds’ beaks and not be eaten by some voracious bird. How to do it: Pour 1 kg of seeds into a bucket.
If you want to have a lot of visitors in the feeder, add mainly sunflower seeds. They are a “calorie bomb” and attract a large number of birds, especially sparrows and titmice. Don’t forget to throw in a cup of crushed corn, which in turn tastes good to pheasants and grouse… Then, using a wooden spoon, stir in 3 tablespoons of cayenne powder and finally a few pepperoni seeds.
Beware of hot spices
While the sharper spices do not cause much harm to birds, they can irritate the skin and eyes of humans. Therefore, protect your eyes when handling the spices and don’t forget to use gloves when “mixing the bird seed mixture”.
Sources: https://winnipeg.wbu.com, https://www.birdfy.com
