Another reason is to prevent a mess below your feeders.  Seed trays prevent seeds, as well as shells that are discarded from birds, from piling up underneath your feeder.  No matter if your bird feeder hangs over your porch, patio, or grass, no one wants to see a messy pile of seeds and shells.  Plus, this pile can attract ground feeding animals to your yard.  With a seed tray, unwanted animals are much less likely to find your bird feeders.

Lastly, many birds like to feed off of flat surfaces, as opposed to standing on perches.  With a seed tray, you will be able to attract more species of birds to your backyard!  Northern Cardinals do not like to stand on perches, which are usually features of the common tube bird feeders, but they will be eager to stand on the seed trays that are attached to these tube feeders.  Large birds also are usually unable to balance on tiny perches, so they would also benefit from seed trays.

The Clever Clean Bird Feeder Tray 11 in., pictured to the right, is a large seed tray.  It can be attached to any Onyx feeder with a simple snap.  Then you will use a wing nut to ensure that the Clever Clean Bird Feeder Tray 11 in. will never fall off.  If you do not have an Onyx feeder, you can get the Universal Seed Tray by Droll Yankees.  This seed tray is a large 13 inches in diameter, which is sure to attract a variety of large birds.  The Universal Seed Tray by Droll Yankees can be attached to any pole mounted feeders.

One of my favorite seed trays doubles as a squirrel guard.  The Giant Seed Tray and Squirrel Guard can be mounted underneath any feeders that are on a pole.  Not only will the Giant Seed Tray and Squirrel Guard catch any seeds and shells that fall from the feeder, but it will prevent any squirrels from climbing up onto the feeder.

The best solution to this problem is to get large storage bins that can hold plenty of bird seed.  The best container for this task is the Vittles Vault II – Feed / Seed Storage, pictured to the right.   You can hod many months worth of bird seed in this container.  The best part about the Vittles Vault II – Feed / Seed Storage container is that it is translucent, which means that you can see when your seed is getting low.  This container is made of durable plastic, and is completely leak proof.  The airtight seal also keeps any potential odors inside the storage bin.  Not only can you use this bin for bird food, but you can also use it for any type of pet food.

You will also need a scoop to transfer the bird seed from the Vittles Vault II – Feed / Seed Storage container to your bird feeders!  You can go with a relatively standard scoop, like the Garden Song Scoop N Fill.  This scoop has a tapered tip so it is easy to fill even the most narrow tube bird feeders.  The Garden Song Scoop N Fill can hold up to 2 cups of bird seed.  A more intricate bird seed scooper is the Heath Bird Seed Scoop – 3 cups.  This scoop is similar to a funnel, with a wide end for scooping, and then a smaller end that is perfect for filling tube bird feeders.  There is a lever on the Heath Bird Seed Scoop – 3 cups that controls the pouring.  It is made of durable plastic.

If you want a scoop to hold huge amounts of bird seed, the Bird Seed Scoop 2 qt is your best bet.  As the name suggests, it can hold up to 2 quarts of bird seed at once!  The Bird Seed Scoop 2 qt is the largest bird seed scooper on the market.  The ergonomic design makes it comfortable to hold and carry around.

The main reason you must clean bird houses is because birds can carry lice and mice.  While these pests cannot affect humans, they can easily spread from bird to bird.  If birds decide to live in a bird house that is infecting with lice, you can expect them to be very uncomfortable, as well as possibly succomb to an early death.

When birds leave bird houses, there is a good chance they are leaving parasites behind.  To ensure that new birds will not come in and become infected with parasites, you need to open up the bird house and remove any materials that are in the house.  You should rinse it out with water, and allow it to dry before you allow other birds to use it.  During the winter time when birds are not nesting, you should close the opening of the bird house to prevent any unwanted guests from inhabiting.

Cleaning out your bird feeder can be a difficult task.  Tube feeders are especially difficult to clean.  For tasks like this, you will require a specialized cleaning brush, like the Birdfeeder Cleaning Brush, pictured to the right. The 24 inch long natural bristles stemming from the thin wire post make for the perfect tool to clean out a variety of bird feeders.   The bristles are strong enough to remove unwanted debris, but soft enough so that they will not scratch the feeder. If you have a hummingbird feeder, you will require special brushes.  I use the Perfect Little Brushes for Cleaning Bird Feeders.  One package comes with 3 tiny brushes that will fit in the tiny opening out of your hummingbird feeders.

And finally, you need to clean your bird bath!  People may think that since the bird bath is filled with water that it isn’t dirty, but this could not be further from the truth!  Using a formula specifically made for cleaning bird baths would be best.  I recommend you use the Birdbath & Statuary Cleaner 32 oz, which will sterilize the bird bath to prevent the spreading of infectious diseases among birds.  Use it as often as you wish, but I would recommend using it at least once every 2 weeks.

Baffles:

Your first defense against squirrels should be baffles.  Not only do baffles protect hanging bird feeders from squirrels, it can also protect the bird seed from rain and snow!  Baffles hang over feeders like a dome, although some baffles may be placed below. The goal with a baffle is that the bird will not be able to find his way around it and onto the bird feeder.

I would recommend the Super Dome Squirrel Baffle, shown to the right, for your pest problems!  It is the largest baffle on the market at 18 inches in diameter.  This huge baffle minimizes the risk that your bird seed will become soggy from rain or snow.  Wet bird seed becomes moldy, which can make birds get sick.  You do not want birds to associate your bird feeder with bad bird seed!

If you want to make a home-made baffle, you can use an aluminum pie plate.  Just cut a whole in the center and string it above the feeder.  If your bird feeder is close to the ground, you can put a baffle underneath the feeder.  Be sure to have your lower baffle at least 4 feet above the ground so that squirrels can not leap over them.

Decoy Feeding Station

Believe it or not, some people enjoy having squirrels in their backyard.  I am actually one of these people!  I love having animals of all kinds in my backyard.  However, I do not want squirrels to eat my expensive bird seed.  What I do is set up a wire basket and fill it with dried corn and put it near the trees that the squirrels like to climb.  Having cheap food easily accessible to squirrels makes them less likely to try to attempt to steal from a bird feeder.

Set Up Live-Traps

Live-trapping squirrels and relocating them is an option.  When relocating a squirrel, be sure to take them far away from the nearest bird feeder.  More squirrels will most likely show up, so you will have to set up more live-traps.  Therefore, it would be easier to try baffles and decoy feeding stations before trying live-trapping!

Updated:  October 11, 2010 

Two elements that can destroy your bird seed are rain and snow.  These two elements can make it soggy and wet, which can harbor bacteria and mold.  To help prevent your bird seed from becoming ruined, a rain guard on your bird feeder can be very beneficial for protecting the bird seed and keeping it fresh. 

Here are a few feeders that are great for a variety of feeders. Brushed Copper Weather Shield by Aubudon Woodlink. 

This beautiful rain baffle is made of copper that weathers nicely with age. It may be easily attached to the top of your bird feeder for protection from rain and snow.  In addition, it is 18 inches in diameter and that is great for offering birds some shelter from the elements while they eat.  It also looks great with a variety of copper bird feeders for a coordinated look.

Another fun, decorative rain guard that looks great with a variety of bird feeders is the Decorative Bird Feeder Dome 14 in. .  This attractive rain guard is made of a durable polycarbonate that is virtually unbreakable and the dome is 14 inches in diameter to offer birds plenty of shelter when eating from your tube feeder.  The decorative design on the cleardome will instantly add character to any tube bird feeder and it is very easy to install on top of the feeder.

The Seattle Rain Guard for Bird Feeders is a simple and easy-to-install rain guard that looks great any tube bird feeder.  It is designed to easily slip on a variety of Droll Yankee bird feeders or other tube bird feeders that are two and a half inches in diameter. The UV stabilized polycarbonate dome is resistant to breaking and won’t become discolored from exposure from the sun.  Not only is it great protection from your bird seed, but also protects the birds from rain and snow.

“I was sitting in my kitchen one day watching the birds eating when I noticed that I could not see the birds on the opposite side of the feeder. I tried to move from one window to another to get a glimpse at the birds but was frustrated in that I could not figure out what kinds of birds they were!

That is when I thought of the initial version of the ‘Twirl-a-Squirrel™’ invention! Except this version would be for rotating birds very slowly.

“So about a week later I had a crude prototype made that had a wire that went from the top of the feeder to an on/off switch inside my house. Then when birds landed I turned the on/off switch on and was pleasantly surprised to see that at certain RPMs, the birds did not mind at all the rotating bird feeders. In fact I think they liked it more since now they too could see 360 degrees around them, which was great for looking out for predators like house cats trying to sneak up on the feeding birds.

“Well one day, while I was testing my new invention, a squirrel jumped on the feeder, which of course scared away all of the birds. This was when I asked myself, ‘If I rotated the hanging feeder fast enough, would the squirrel want to jump off? So I took my prototype down, made some minor modifications to the gearbox and motor and hung it back up again the next day. This time when a squirrel jumped on, I turned the ‘high-speed’ switch on and was so excited to see that my new invention ‘Twirl-a-Squirrel™’ worked fantastic! The squirrel did indeed get dizzy after about five seconds of riding the ‘merry-go-round’ feeder. As the days went by, it was even more fun watching the squirrels all try and defeat this invention. Of course they never did!”

Slot ‘n Pin features heavy-duty steel hangers, hooks and mounts with a patented design that allows color-coded accessory hangers or hooks (with a pin) that simply slide into matching colorcoded mounting receivers or clamps (the slot).

• Double Horizontal Deck Clamp
• Shepherd Hook – 24 in.

Slot ‘n Pin accessories can be installed in just minutes on pole connectors that allow for single, double, triple and quad combinations of various accessories; wall mounts that allow for single and double hooks and hangers; or deck clamps that allow for single or double hooks and hangers on either vertical or horizontal deck rails.

This ingenious design provides limitless combinations of accessory design for the consumer who wants to create their own unique backyard sensation.

• Unique designs that provide limitless combinations
• Mix & match
• Easy to change and add new accessories to create a new look

The NEW Slot n’ Pin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKH2ZEdcA4E

A bird seed tray provides birds a place to perch and also catches seed that would otherwise fall to the ground. 

The droll yankees tray pictured to the right is a cinch to attach using the threaded plug that comes with it and removal for cleaning is just as easy.

It can also be attached using the Pole Adapter so that you can pole mount your tubular bird feeder with the tray attached. The ADPT is included with the Garden Pole and Ultimate Yard System or can be purchased separately.

Attach the seed tray with a Suet Link and hang a suet cage or another feeder beneath.

The A-6 Seed Tray fits the Droll Yankees “A” Series Classics, the “TH” Series Classics, and the “CJ” Series New Generation, as well as some other brands.

Made of UV Stabilized Polycarbonate, it will provide years of perching for your birds.

To clean your bird feeders properly, use hot soapy water to kill any bacteria or mold.  Dish soap is great for removing grim and mold from the feeder and rinsing clean.  Use a brush like the Perfect Little Brushes to get into the corners and crevices and to thoroughly clean out the feeding ports. 

A kit like the Bird Feeder Accessory Starter Kit by Droll Yankees is also great for starting off your bird feeding season.  This kit contains a soft brush for cleaning out your bird feeder, a great scoop for scooping out and pouring bird seed and a chain for hanging up a bird feeder.

If you have a collection of hummingbird feeders, the Hummingbird Foam Cleaning Mop is great for cleaning out your feeders.  This soft, sponge is designed to get into all of the crevices of the feeder.  It is ideal for cleaning out a tube style hummingbird feeder or an irregular shaped feeder.

After you have scrubbed down your bird feeders, carefully rinse them out and allow them to air dry in a warm, indoor spot.  Once dry, your bird feeders are ready to be filled and hung.  Use a variety of birdseed to start off the season right!

• Use a baffle on top of the bird feeder to help keep the rain and snow away from the bird feeder.  A baffle will also help prevent the squirrels from getting to the bird seed, while helping to keep the bird seed dryer and fresher.  The Clear Hang or Mount Baffle for Bird Feeders is wide enough to completely cover your bird feeder and also helps to keep the birds dryer when feeding from the bird feeder.  The clear baffle won’t distract from the beauty of the surrounding nature or your bird feeder.
• Use a wire brush to thoroughly clean out your bird feeder before filling it up with new bird seed.  The Birdfeeder Cleaning Brush by Droll Yankees is made with bristles to help scrub down the side of your tube bird feeders.  Use the scrub brush with hot soapy water to kill germs and bacteria that cause mold and diseases.  Thoroughly rinse the tube feeder out with clean water and make sure it is completely dry before adding the bird seed.
• Use a wall mount bracket, such as the Audubon Birds of Paradise, to hang the bird feeder near your home or garage under an over hang.  By keeping the bird feeder closer to shelter, it will help protect the bird feeder from blowing snow or rain.  When choosing a location to mount the bracket, place it in a location that is away from the direction of the wind and where rain and melted snow won’t drip down onto the bird feeder.