Keeping squirrels out of bird feeders takes patience, imagination

Q I have stopped feeding birds because there are too many squirrels in our yard. What can I do to keep them away?

A If you feed birds, you're going to attract squirrels. But you can keep them out of your feeders if you're creative, patient and willing to make a few changes. Here are some suggestions:

• Mount each bird feeder on a shepherd's hook pole that is at least 6 feet high and place a squirrel baffle around each pole to prevent squirrels from climbing.

• Place feeders at least 10 feet away from trees, fences, your home or garage to keep squirrels from jumping onto the feeders.

• If you hang a feeder from a branch, use an extra wide baffle above the feeder and be sure to hang the feeder at least 10 feet from the trunk of the tree.

• Attach seed-catching trays beneath feeders to catch the seed that the birds kick out. If little or no seed falls to the ground, fewer squirrels may show up to forage.

• Consider giving the squirrels their own feeder, either a corncob on a stake or just a bucket of whole-kernel corn. It may keep them so busy that they leave your bird feeders alone.

Affordable finch feed Q I really enjoy feeding goldfinches, but I don't think I can afford the nyger seed anymore. Don't they migrate anyway?

A No, goldfinches are around all winter. The birds that were in your back yard this summer may have moved south, but they've probably been replaced by finches from farther north. By now, however, finches have molted into their drab-colored feathers, so they look very different.

If you want to continue feeding finches through the winter, you can cut costs by switching to black-oil sunflower seed. It's cheaper than nyger seed and finches relish black-oilers, which are a good source of energy.

A brrr-dbath Q We haven't put a heater in our birdbath in winter because we're worried that birds that bathe in the water might freeze on those days when the temperatures dip to 20-below.

A You're right to be concerned. Birds need to bathe to keep their feathers in prime condition, but once the temperature drops below zero, bathing is not safe.

No muss, no fuss feeders Q Some members of my condo association are opposed to bird feeders, but I love to have the birds visit my balcony. What can I do to convince them that bird feeding isn't all bad?

A If your neighbors are concerned that feeders are messy, consider switching to shelled sunflower seeds or sunflower pieces. That eliminates the mess from dropped shells.

You also could use suet cakes or shelled peanuts in a wire mesh feeder to provide a treat for chickadees, woodpeckers and nuthatches. Again, there's no muss and that should reduce the fuss about feeding birds.