The idea for a log I had, was to lean it Eastward, (I read somewhere that Pileateds like that), drill it with holes so it looks homey, and put a fairly small amount of suet so deep down the holes, that the Starlings couldn't reach it. The problem is, I know they'll re-educate themselves to feed upside down, once they realize that plate is out. They've experienced an educational amount of frustration trying to get this suet. So much so, I removed that plate today, the Pileated Woodpecker showed up and got some food, and I only had to shoo Starlings away from another feeder. But, they got discouraged and I see way less of them now. They also follow the Flickers around to identify suet sources. The plate on the underside is removable to allow upside down feeding, but the Starlings did figure it out. The grate on the underside is narrower mesh, so even with the plate out, the big Pileated still has a bit of a task dislodging the suet.The Downy and even Hairy Woodpeckers, as well as all the smaller birds, can slip in and feed directly. The Northern Flickers can stick their heads in using their long necks and have their fill. The Starlings are completely dumbfounded. Wild birds unlimited has a three cake suet feeder, that is a cage, surrounded by another cage, with plates top and bottom. She said the Starlings would figure it out though. Only it would have narrower and deeper holes for the suet. ![]() I thought about making my own log feeder, with the suet port holes. I can't stand guard on the thing all day though. I removed that protective plate, allowing upside down feeding, and for the time being, the Starlings haven't showed up. They are a grand bird, and I'd love to see them more often. Or, eliminate any chance of a starling getting so much as a beakful by introducing a starling-proof suet feeder. Bushtits, flickers, woodpeckers, chickadees, and most songbirds can feed this way, but starlings have trouble. However, with 2 visits in 6 weeks being the status quo, I'm afraid there will be no learning curve. Covered by a wood or metal roof, upside-down suet feeders force birds to cling and feed underneath. She said the Pileated will eventually figure out how to get their head through the sides, like the Flickers do, and get some food. I called the distributors, a small local shop, and the clerk told me to give them time. That Pileated came back this morning, and again, he wore out his beak, trying to get at the Suet through the plate. The problem is, I had the bottom of the cage obstructed with a little square plate, because the Starlings here are clever enough to get at it, upside down. I think it's the size, compared to other cage suet feeders, that enables them to use that huge, stiff tail to balance while they feed. My first day having it out, six weeks ago, a huge Pileated Woodpecker visited, for the first time in two years almost, of living here. I found a feeder style, cage within a cage, that keeps the Starlings mystified but accomodates the Flickers and smaller birds. The Starlings love their suet and were about to eat me out of house and home. If they can't see the food, such as in an upside down suet feeder this can make the process of finding the food longer.I have Northern Flickers, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers here. Remember birds can't smell well so food is found visually. I wouldn't give up you just might have to be a little stubborn. ![]() Upside down feeders typically take longer for the birds to understand how to feed from it. It also helps if new feeders are close to other feeders that the birds are coming to. Also, has the same suet cake in feeder the whole time? 6 Months is a long time for your suet to be exposed to the weather and it can spoil in this time. I would try putting a high quality suet like WBU SuperSuet in your feeder and see if that helps. Poor quality suets tend to be filled with ingredients that the birds do not care for and can result in little to no activity. Have you fed suet prior to putting the feeder out? It's also important to consider if the suet you've put in the feeder is high quality.
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