Caged bird feeder (photo by Kenn Stearns)

For years our back yard bird feeder has been overrun by larger birds, primarily mourning doves and grackles. These birds move through a large amount of seed in a short time. They also make a mess by plowing through seed in search of favorites while flinging the rest on the ground. Despite a few ground feeders, the spill germinates in the grass and makes a new mess.

Adding a cage surround to the feeder means mourning doves and grackles cannot fit through the wire to get inside. Cardinals, house finches, blue jays, sparrows, and other medium- to small-size birds have easy access. The feed lasts longer, there’s less waste, and the larger birds, now relegated to ground feeding,  help reduce spill so there’s less unwanted growth in the lawn. Add a baffle to the pole and even the squirrels are befuddled.