I had to Google it - the "fancy space agey lucite conical" thing had me intrigued :-) I can't for the life of me figure out why your birds are avoiding it, unless it is somehow giving off a reflective glare that is scaring them. Its style is not all that dissimilar from other, squirrel-proof feeders I've seen. IME, birds in my garden will feed at any feeder I hang up. The only exception was some woven sock-like thing for finches and niger thistle and that was because the thing just didn't work - they couldn't get the seed out.

The best squirrel-proof feeders I've encountered are simply those dish-shaped plastic baffles that cover the top of any hanging feeder - keeps the rain from the seed very nicely as well.

Reg, I haven't tried your feeder, but if rats are being attracted to the old one, birds don't like the new one, I'd go for Plan C. We had a bit of a temporary rat problem here too from birdfeeders and agreed as a neighborhood to stop feeding birds for a year (while trapping). Yuch. Oddly, we seemed to have just as many birds in our Spring and Summer nest boxes as years when we were feeding - go figure.

Gardengal, finches and siskins loved those thistle socks in my yard - then I realized I was creating a different type feeding station for hawks when that wasn't my intent. I can't seem to win when it comes to trying to supplemental feed birds :( But with no feeders, nesting boxes + bird baths and water available, a mix of shrubs and perennials, we have swallows, chickadees, hummingbirds, robins, finches all nesting where we can enjoy them...not that I don't still chase the occasional wandering cat.

It sometimes takes awhile (a long while!) for birds to get used to a new feeder. Keep it up, keep fresh seed it in, give them time, and they'll start using it.

That being said, they do prefer some feeders over others. Feeders with a platform appeal to a wider variety of birds. Wood or plastic doesn't seem to be an issue.

Sometimes I throw out a handful of seed on the ground/patio to attract the birds that like to feed off the flat surface -- some gets lost to the squirrels but I only do a handful every few days so it's not a big loss, and I get to see birds I wouldn't otherwise see.

They'll use yours. Be patient, and good luck!

We have 5 bird feeders (lucite ones from Wild Birds Unlimited)hanging under the eaves of our home, and squirrels have routinely scampered up the side of the house to hang on the feeders and eat. We recently found an item in WalMart called Squirrel Away that is sprinkled in the bird seed before filling the feeder. It claims not to be harmful to either the birds or the squirrels. It's been working like a charm. A few squirrels still occasionally brave the stuff, but most of them now just stay on the ground beneath the feeders. Also, we've not seen any reduction or change in the birds' feeding. Cost is $1.97 for a packet that "treats" 25 pounds of bird seed, but we've found that a packet per 15 pounds or so works best for us.

I came across this post because we also have the sky cafe and birds appear to be avoiding this feeder. They fly up to it, hover, then leave without taking seed. It’s perplexing given all the positive reviews for this feeder (and all the birds who came to our old feeder before).