Amidst the Birdsong: The Garden Birdwatcher's Journal

Anyone who’s had a squirrel visit knows just how ingenious they can be. They’re strong, clever and persistent – if they can’t eat from your feeder, they might just bring the whole thing down to chew it to pieces. We’ve carefully tested a range of feeders that tackle the squirrel problem. Whether you choose a chew-proof, weight-activated Squirrel Buster or a solid, sturdy guardian cage, you can ensure the little birds can eat in peace.

Corvids - crows, jackdaws and magpies - are clever and strong, and they can easily intimidate the smaller birds into forfeiting their meal. Our Simon King Medusa Feeder Defender is designed to keep these larger birds at bay with chains that create discomfort against their flight feathers. Alternatively, our weight-activated feeder senses when a hefty visitor lands and temporarily restricts access, giving the little birds a fairer share of the food.

Once seen only in tropical climates, parakeets are now a common sight in London and steadily spreading further afield. These vibrant birds are interesting to watch, and they’re also assertive feeders. They can intimidate smaller birds and are brave enough to sit at the feeder for hours to get their fill. Our Simon King Medusa Bird Feeder Defender helps keep them in check by offering a controlled access point. The Starling Resistant Bird Feeder is also hard for them to access - although they can squeeze their heads through the lowest aperture to peck seeds from the tray, they can’t get enough for a worthwhile meal, which leaves them heading elsewhere to eat.

Starlings are an endangered species and need our support, but they can empty a feeder in minutes if left unchecked. Our Starling Resistant Feeder Set is tailored to this challenge. Although starlings can squeeze their head into the bottom aperture to grab any dropped seeds, they soon find the space too limiting for a proper feed. This clever design helps keep starlings at bay, ensuring that smaller, more vulnerable birds aren’t left hungry.

Pigeons can be persistent and may dominate your feeder if given the chance. To deter these determined visitors, you can choose from our range of solutions—be it the versatile Simon King Medusa Defender, the targeted Starling Resistant Feeder Set, or even the robust Squirrel Buster. Each option is designed to keep pigeons at bay, ensuring that your garden remains a welcoming haven for the little birds.

Some people are quite happy for rodents to hoover up food from beneath the feeder, but other people are strongly against it. If you don't want to see rats and mice beneath the feeder, you can use a weight activated feeder (like the Squirrel Buster) or a caged feeder with a tray (like the Starling Resistant Feeder Set) to give them less access to the food.