Crinda's Quick Tips #1

🌧️ Moldy Seed

• Feeder Fresh

Mix in with seed to keep it dry.

• All Weather Feeder

Keeps your seed dry always.

• Mesh Finch Feeders

Allow airflow so seed can dry if it gets wet.

• Overhead Weather Guards

Place above feeders when it’s raining.

• Store Seed in Metal Containers

Tape a moth trap to the lid.

• Crinda’s “Rain Kit”

Includes overhead baffles for rain, Feeder Fresh mixed into seed, and mesh feeders during wet seasons.

💧 Bird Bath Care for All Seasons

• Erva Copper Disks

Antimicrobial and algicide properties of copper help keep your birdbath clean.

• Bird Bath Protector

Uses natural enzymes to prevent stains, mineral deposits, and sludge, etc…

• Mosquito Dunks

Contain a natural bacterium that prevents mosquito larvae from surviving.

• Water Wiggler

Keeps water moving to attract birds and deter mosquitoes.

• Good Stiff Brush

For regular cleaning.

• Bird Bath Raft

Makes deep planters safer by creating shallow water areas.

• Bird Bath De-Icer or Heater

Keeps your current bird bath from freezing.

• Heated Bird Bath

All-in-one option for winter use.

🐿️ Squirrels and Other Critters

• Squirrel Baffles
  Use wrap-around versions for shepherd’s hooks or slide-on types for 1" poles.
  Keep poles 6–10 ft away from anything squirrels can jump from.
• Raccoon Baffles
  Longer than squirrel baffles, deter both raccoons and squirrels (note: squirrel baffles don’t always deter raccoons).
• Sky Cafe Feeder
  All-in-one feeder with a built-in top baffle. Highly recommended!
• Squirrel Buster Plus (with rain guard)
  Keeps rain and critters out, an impenetrable bird feeder with a lifetime warranty.
• Golden & White Safflower Seed
  Loved by birds, disliked by squirrels, raccoons, and blackbirds. (Mice don’t mind it, so add spicy seed or sauce to deter them.)
• Caged Feeders
  Help keep out unwanted visitors.
• Spicy Cakes/Seed/Sauce
  Deter squirrels, raccoons, and rodents. (Great for apartments or nursing homes where making a mess is a concern.)
• Spicy Suet
  Helps fatten up birds without feeding squirrels and raccoons. (You can still toss dog or cat food out for critters to keep them away from bird food.)

🧩 Extra Solutions

• Seed Trays / Seed Hoops

Catch spilled seed and prevent attracting critters.

• Scare Tape / Window Gems

Stick on windows to keep birds from flying into windows or frequenting certain areas.

• Chimes

Deter woodpeckers (hang near areas where they peck).

• Streamers / Aluminum Foil

Deter woodpeckers (stuff foil into started holes to stop them).

• Bird Spikes

Prevent nesting in unwanted spots.

• Inflatable or Fake Predators

Use fake owls, snakes, etc., in areas where you don’t want birds. Owl decoys are only effective if moved very often

❄️ Winter Reminders

• Birds instinctively don’t bathe in freezing temps, but they still need to drink.
  A small opening in a heated bath is enough for them.
• Winter is a great time to use reward points to invest in a Large-Capacity Seed Feeder, less refilling in cold weather!
• Move feeders closer to windows (before the ground freezes) for easier filling access, birds will adapt quickly to the new location.
• Switch to shell-less blends (like Kraker Jax) to reduce cleanup after snow melts.
• Add a Christmas tree near your feeding station!  They provide cover for birds (especially cardinals). Decorate it with edible bird seed cakes for a festive, functional touch!
• Try a Seed Cylinder Feeder!  They are fun, easy, low-maintenance, and solve several feeding problems at once.

❤️ Happy Birding!

— Crinda