Those cheap nyjer seed tube feeders with small slits killed 3 finches in my yard last spring

I found the tangled bodies hanging from the same type of feeder you can get at any big box store so please check your feeder slots every morning or switch to the mesh sock style has anyone else found a bird stuck like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_logan21d ago

I used to think those tube feeders were just fine, but "check your feeder slots every morning" really hit home for me. I had one of those cheap plastic ones for years and never saw a problem, so I figured people were just being dramatic when they warned about them. Then last fall I found a goldfinch stuck by its wing in that narrow slot, barely alive by the time I got it out. It was a terrible feeling knowing I could have prevented it with a different feeder or even just checking more carefully. I switched to the mesh sock style right after that and I haven't had a single issue since, plus the birds seem to like it better anyway. Good on you for speaking up about this, because too many people including myself just assume those feeders are safe.

kaib1821d ago

Oh man, that story you shared is exactly what gets me. How long did it take you to get the goldfinch free without hurting it worse? I'm always nervous about making things worse when I find one stuck like that. The mesh socks are definitely the way to go, but I wonder how many people just never see the problem happen and keep using those tube feeders for years without a clue. What made you finally look closer at your feeder that day?