Table feeder for birds.

What's happening all! I wanna find how can I draw more morning doves, blue jays, juncos and other type of ground birds this winter. I wanna build a ground feeder that's shaped like a table from cardboard or another type of flat surface. How can I prevent rodents such as squirrels from landing onto my surface feeders? I'd like to find out more ideas to draw more ground type birds this winter by smashing into this box over here. Thanks!

Not long ago, dear hubby set the bird feeder on top of something.  The wind blew the lid.  When I found the feeder something, probably a raccoon had scooped the seeds out and had a great time munching on seeds.

To me, the only way to do what you are describing is to put the feeder inside a cage of some sort that has openings large enough for the birds that you want to attract.

Maybe use something smaller than field fence since I feel that size opening would let a squirrel or rat in.

It's pretty tough to guard a scatterboard feeder against rodents.

If your pests are nocturnal, clamping a hard cover over top at night may help. Or sweeping off the feeder entirely.

Around here, red squirrels are the main culprits and they are active during daylight. I put up with a certain amount of loss. I also have several scatterboards spaced well apart so the squirrels can't constantly dominate them all. When the squirrels become too many or are too aggressive with the birds (incl. killing them), we have a "chat" that temporarily restores the peace.

An old window or sliding door screen is perfect for this application; drains water, lightweight,  easy to maneuver. The large flat surface makes ground feeders comfortable,  regardless of height.

Suspending this from above (clothesline?) and/or clearing it each evening will limit ground rodents.  Suspending it or supporting with an unclimbable frame (metal/pvc) at an appropriate height should eliminate jumpers and climbers.

Squirrels are not fond of whole corn - choosing appropriate feed should help deter the unwanted.  Check what is appropriate for the birds you want to attract.

Good luck!

Hi Blake,
I have two thoughts. First, to expand on what Lorinne said about the un-climbable pole. Those are what I have had the most luck with, (that and a BB gun). I would suggest building a platform on top of a pole that is too high for deer and too flimsy for bear. Put it far enough away from anything that squirrels and rats cannot jump to it. Then install a some kind of baffle. There are different styles, but I included a picture of one type.

My second thought is something that attaches to the bottom of a normal bird feeder (assuming those are already reasonably protected from non-bird guests). There are some style of feeders like Droll Yankee, who let you attach a "saucer" at the bottom. The one I had was not big, maybe 10 inches across, so only 3 or 4 inches on each side. But this caught the seeds from messy eaters, and I had cardinals, juncos, and morning doves all eating from it.  

**Edit - PS I got the picture from amazon.com to satisfy any copyright stuff.

Blake Lenoir wrote: What's happening all! I wanna find how can I draw more morning doves, blue jays, juncos and other type of ground birds this winter. I wanna build a ground feeder that's shaped like a table from cardboard or another type of flat surface. How can I prevent rodents such as squirrels from landing onto my surface feeders? I'd like to find out more ideas to draw more ground type birds this winter by smashing into this box over here. Thanks!

I did away with feeders, homemade or otherwise a long time ago. I just pitch the food out on the ground and let it get lost and scattered in the dry leaves or snow, if there is any snow. The birds seem very happy scratching around looking for it. Scratching around on the ground is what they naturally do for a living anyway. There's no need to present it all concentrated in one spot and no one or two birds or one or two types of birds can hog it all. If squirrels want to join in, that's ok too because they can't get it all either.

It's fun looking out the window and see all the birds you mentioned and more, plus an occasional squirrel all happily foraging together.  If you can add a source of clean unfrozen water to mix, they are in heaven.

Mark Reed wrote:

I did away with feeders, homemade or otherwise a long time ago.

I agree with Mark. I switched to this method. I see less Blue Jays and Grackles but a lot more Juncos and other Passeridaes.  

How come you scatter your seeds in the ground? Aren't they gonna get moldy and rotten that way?

I've found traditional bird feeders that hold an accumulation of feed to be a target for critters I'm not intentionally trying to lure. There is nothing like waking up in the morning to find a bear has had a happy little snack while you slept.

I endorse the "sprinkle-on-the-ground" method for feeding birds these days. I make sure to spread it out through tossing handfuls and have had a great diversity of birds start showing up. Yes, you do get the occasional squirrel but they are not as destructive as when they are trying to pry open a feeder.

My frequency of having to do feedings have increased over from having a feeder but I have developed a rhythm with my frequent flyers.

What about just planting a crop especially for birdseed?

Doing the sprinkle on the ground can do just that.

It was really fun watching all the different birds that we didn't know that we had.