Again, very inventive idea Konrad, how do you hang the pop bottle and is it tedious to fill with seed?

Thats neat. But then you are limited on the birds you feed on it, right. A cardinal can't cling to that. I love my cardinals.

Thank you all!

>>how do you hang the pop bottle and is it tedious to fill with seed?

I have to think.....this feeder I took down about 10 Years ago with seeds still inside, think I used a funnel, cut the end of another bottle... filling could be a slow process, but ones filled, it's good for many weeks. Remember, if you have no sparrows, feed last along time.
This feeder had a base, sparrows would sit in it.... just removed it and hung it up again.
I'm thinking of using a larger plastic bottle, 4 liter with a larger neck for easier fill.
For hanging up, I have put a hole in center and attached about a 8" long spring, so it can bounce. I don't think I will do this anymore, all you have to do is, drill, or burn a hole with a soldering iron, put a line thrue and make a knot on the other side.

A feeder what swings, also helps to keep sparrows away.

Birds have to work to get there feed!....they do it in nature too.

I'm trying to copy the feeding habits of our native birds, mostly woodpecker, and chickadees by watching them feeding on the sunflower heads upside down.
My next feeder [have to build it yet] I'm trying to have something on top of the feeding hole, [for holding on] so the bird have to eat upside down? [I'm thinking on using window screen]
Falling seeds...if you have any, can also be solved by putting, or attaching a tray, [covered with coarse screen] so the seeds can fall in, but the bird can not get it and it is recyclable.
You could drill some small holes in the bottom tray, so any water [snow melt] can drain.

>>Thats neat. But then you are limited on the birds you feed on it, right. A cardinal can't cling to that. I love my cardinals.

I have not seen cardinal here, I think they are home in the south, south east.
Not sure, how there feeding habit is...but if you put your mind to it, allot can be done.

One really needs to see there natural feeding source. Most likely they are just doing fine on there own, especially when there is no snow.....sometimes we can feed them way tooo... much.
Also, feeders should be put away comes Spring.

My best bird feeder are the sunflowers I plant every year out in the country about 200 of them...comes winter, birds clean them up and store some seeds in cracks, holes in trees and other hiding places for winter store.

I will keep you posted on the progress of "friendly feeders" as I go on.

Please post yours if you have something what works for you!
It's sooo.. much fun, when you build something yourself.
Konrad

Applause for you,

My best feeders are the Rudbeckia and Gaillardia this year as I only had a few sunflowers. In four years I have pitched 6 store bought feeders. Attracts crows, too hard to clean, holds moisture (seeds germinate in feeder), to many seeds fall to ground. Yikes.

I'm currently testing two more store bought feeders. I don't mind the sparrows so much but I think the designs of the new feeders will really help with the other problems. I've actually spent quite a bit of time looking at feeders this time before I purchased.

I hope your design works out for you... If the two in my yard don't work out for me I'm going to start investing effort in designing something that does work too.

- Andrew

Just wanted to add that I really don't mind sparrows until about 30 or so come to the feeder and literally empty it in half a day, with most of the seed on the ground. While visiting a friend out in the country, I noticed that he had 1" chicken wire around his bird feeder and chickadees and nuthatches had no problem flying through the holes but sparrows were too big. Perfect! I bought some and attached a ball of this wire to the feeder and no more problem. As soon as I can, I will send a picture.