How to Defeat Squirrels
Some see squirrels visiting feeders as an issue. We see a solution. With the proper food, feeders and accessories, you can enjoy your birds and limit squirrel incursions.
Hot Pepper: Our exclusive WBU hot pepper foods help deter critters, saving the food for the birds. Birds love our hot pepper foods, whether they are the seed or no-melt cylinders, stackables, no-melt suet cake or Bark Butter Bits. For best results, use feeders that have a roof to prevent wet weather from diluting or washing away the hot pepper oils.
Safflower: Offer safflower; a small, white seed that is high in protein and fat. Most song birds eat safflower, while squirrels (and blackbirds) typically do not.
Guard Against Them: Take delight not only in seeing the finches, chickadees and other colorful birds you enjoy, but also in frustrating the squirrels, blackbirds and pigeons. With our On Guard™ cages, you control the size of bird that dines at your feeder. Cages allow small birds to go in and out to get their food but stop larger birds and animals from entering. Our cages will fit a variety of feeder styles and sizes.
Top-of-the-Line Option: The Eliminator™ allows you to stop squirrels from eating your seed. Featuring a unique, weight-sensitive technology, the feeder's seed ports are closed when a squirrel touches the perch ring. You can set the sensitivity level to also exclude large birds. It's easy to hang and holds lots of seed. It works best when used with our APS Short Extended Deck Arm.
Baffle Them: Our Advanced Pole System® (APS) Squirrel Baffle is designed to help make your bird feeding station squirrel-resistant. Made of durable, powder-coated steel, these baffles are very effective in stopping squirrels before they reach your feeders. Place the baffle on your setup so the top of the baffle is 4½' - 5' from the ground. Place your setup 10 ‘ away from other horizontal jumping points like a tree, deck or house.
August birds to watch in Central Illinois
By August, your backyard is humming with activity as summer winds down. Northern cardinals belt out their cheerful calls while fledgling cardinals practice hopping and fluttering among the shrubs. House wrens flit through brush piles, chattering like tiny comedians, and song sparrows add earthy riffs to your daily soundtrack. It’s part nature’s audition and part family reunion, all happening just outside your window.
Look for ruby-throated hummingbirds zooming between feeders and flowers. These pint-sized acrobats bulk up on nectar for their southbound journey. Tree swallows skim ponds for insects, putting on an aerial show that rivals any tightrope act. Don’t miss American goldfinches visiting thistle feeders, their bright summer plumage giving way to a more subtle fall wardrobe.
At dusk, you may glimpse purple martins gathering in swirling flocks above communal gourds, a pastel cloud of wings and chatter. Indigo buntings perch along hedgerows, glowing electric blue before slipping silently into the night. Meanwhile, goldfinches undergo a neat feather swap, trading their vivid breeding coats for a drab basic dress in a live costume change you can watch unfold.
Keep feeders full of nyjer, sunflower hearts, and fresh nectar to support these summer stars. A clean birdbath or gentle mister will make your yard a cool oasis on hot afternoons. Stop by Wild Birds Unlimited for expert advice, quality feeders, and all the foods your feathered friends crave. Let’s make your August backyard the birdwatching hotspot it was born to be!
What's on Sale?
Did someone say 20% off? Take a look at our Monthly Specials page to find this month's deal, plus a bonus 25% off rocks and minerals!
Live Raptor Series
The Illinois Raptor Center of Decatur will present every other month starting February 22. Our February program kicks off at 9 a.m. and features a live Red-Tailed Hawk. Seating is limited, so please call or visit the store to reserve your spot. If you’re unable to attend after reserving, we kindly ask that you let us know so others can take advantage of the opportunity.
Dates and raptors for the year are:
April 26 Barn Owl
June 28 Ferruginous Hawk
August 30 Great Horned owl
October 25 Snowy Owl
Red Tailed Hawk
The Perfect Gift for Every Nature Lover
Every nature lover is different, so finding the ideal gift for them can be difficult. That's why our gift cards are the perfect gift for every occasion. They allow your friend or loved one to choose what part of nature he or she wants to enjoy. The best part: our gift cards are redeemable at every Wild Birds Unlimited location.