Super Suet Feeder

Over the years, I've used a number of different kinds of feeders to put suet out for the birds.  Everything from a plastic mesh onion bag to a small log with holes drilled in it, to a handmade knotted string bag, to a store-bought wire box for square suet cakes.  They all work just fine.  However, I was having a problem this spring with too many blackbirds and starlings.  They could devour a suet cake in a couple of hours.  So I went to our local Agway store and found this:

Suet feeders that only have access to the suet from the bottom are supposed to keep away the 'undesirable' birds.  Well, it took quite awhile for any of our birds to figure it out.  But I left it up, figuring during the warm spring weather they weren't going to starve without it.  (Not that they would in the winter either... God makes sure they have natural food).

Anyway, after awhile some of the birds started using it.  Like this Black-capped Chickadee...

and other birds who don't mind being upside-down or who even make a regular habit of it, like this White-breasted Nuthatch.

But, a couple of blackbirds even managed to figure out a way to eat from it.  Ever see a blackbird hover almost like a hummingbird? That's sort of what they did... 

At least they weren't able to be quite the gluttons at this feeder-- and it was fun to watch them.

Finally more of the other birds started catching on to the new feeder as well.  Woodpeckers really like suet.  Here's a Hairy Woodpecker:

And a Downy:

Some days the woodpeckers line right up to take turns at the feeder.

One leaving, one eating, and one waiting in the wings.

Most of them fly right up to it now,  swing under and grab on, like this Downy:

But this Hairy came down the chain hanger first:

The last of our regular woodpecker visitors just figured out how to get suet from it today.  (They have been coming to eat sunflower seeds from the other feeders).

female Red-bellied Woodpecker

Someone else figured it out today, too... oh no!

This Blue Jay was quite the awkward bird for its first several attempts.  Actually, I would say all its efforts were not exactly graceful!

It did manage to get some suet and even hang on after awhile.  Notice, however, the piece of suet on its belly!

And then, it drops to the ground! (the piece of suet, that is, not the bird!)

I'd highly recommend this type of suet feeder.  It saves on wasted suet (for the most part!) and it provides a lot of entertainment, too!