Review on Natures Hangout Weatherproof Feeders Watching by Tina Coleman

First of all I would like to dispel the myth that window liners are dangerous for birds. Birds run into windows for two reasons: either they're trying to escape predators, or they're unfamiliar with the area. Placing a feeding station in the middle of your window will ruin the reflection of your garden that the birds see and they will be less likely to try to "escape through your window". I have found that birds who are new to this feeder may have difficulty landing squarely on the perch and may fly around the glass for a second. But once landed and oriented, subsequent landings go smoothly. Birds that have visited the feeder several times may accidentally land on it before flying to the perch, but not flapping at the window. Installing this feeder in a place where there was no feeder before may result in a long delay for the birds to find it. For one of mine it took three weeks for the first bird to arrive. However, once a bird is on it, others will quickly notice the food source and fly more often. If you're having a hard time getting the birds to find your feeding spot, scattered piles of the same birdseed on the ground in the area can attract birds that are accustomed to foraging on the ground for seeds once the initial pile is gone . , look for similar seeds nearby and find a feeder. Design-wise, this feeder is top notch. The construction is great and the plastic is very thick (1/8" Plexiglas) and durable. It weighs about a pound overall. The removable sample box and feeder have drain holes that work well. The suction cups are large and adequate, although mine was a bit warped because it was crumpled in the bag during transit.You can just let them return to their natural shape in warm/hot water for a few minutes.Dry them well and then (I know that sounds weird) rub yours Nose with a Suction Cup The oils from your nose will help seal tiny cracks and prevent the air leakage that using a suction cup to secure a mug to a clean window can cause, and it will stay within for years to come one to two months.If it rains, depending on the seed variety, mold may form in the feed trough.You will see when this happens and you can remove the feed pan and i n throw it in the dishwasher. (I think bleaching instructions are overkill. Your dishwasher will kill anything that grows on the feeder.) Depending on your window, you might even be able to remove the feeder from the inside if you don't have a window screen. . (If you try this, attach the feeder to a non-slip window.) I can move the window up, tilt it slightly, reach for the feeder, grab the center divider, and lift it. Even though mine is only on the first floor, it prevents me from pushing through my hydrangeas to get to the feeder. Servicing the feeder from inside the house will not be difficult for those who live on the second floor or higher. I appreciate the fact that the included food tray is removable. (Apparently previous versions of this product didn't have a removable feeder pan.) As the feeder pan is also split you can also have two different types of feed to see what your birds prefer. (I've had the best luck with sunflower hearts, but your native birds may have different tastes. Or you can choose smaller seeds to bring small birds instead of jays.) Although there are drainage holes, small seeds aren't a problem. such as milo, sorghum or thistle. It will not fail. (Some of these can get caught between the pet pan and the outer casing, so you will need to blow or wipe them off when you replace the pet pan. The "roof" of the pet pan hangs down far enough to keep most items out, and I've had no problems with this, I've seen some feeders without this strip, and I think it would be a lot harder for the birds to land so easily (no way of telling where the edge of the plastic was if there wasn't a strip. ) Birds often poop when they're done eating and fly all over the ground. Some birds will also break through the seeds and knock some of them to the ground. I have mine over the flowers and they don't need to handle feces or buildup of seed shells.round.Feeder a is a resonant box so when the birds land there is a tangible sound I can clearly hear tiny finches landing when I am in the room although the sound is h is barely audible. I can easily miss this when typing on my laptop when they land. Landing of larger sparrows results in a loud clicking noise, which I hear from neighbors mowing the lawn if I'm in the same room. (Grab a sunflower seed and toss it out the window as quietly as possible and you'll get a rough idea of what sparrow ground sounds like.) Larger birds like jays are unmistakable, but the sound is unobtrusive. (I mean, but really, when you set up a feeder like this, do it so you can see the birds. Why don't you hear them coming in?) The feeder is completely clean, so it can be difficult to find a feeder to window when the birds arrive without noticing you and without flying away. One approach is to go slowly. Turning off the interior lights will also make you less visible. You can also lower the blinds if you have them and rotate them so they are slightly open. This allows you to comfortably walk up to the window and peek between the slats to see the birds up close. However, over time, guests will get used to the general movement in your home and will not fly away unless there is sudden movement. It is not uncommon to walk slowly up to a window with birds that have been feeding at the feeder for several weeks and stand nose to nose and watch them up close from the window. The only downside of this feeder (and it's a small downside). - picky) is that the bird is often emphasized. That means they are in the shadow of the house and everything is sunny in the background. As a result, it can be difficult to photograph the birds in this feeder, except at times of the day when the sun is mostly overhead. At other times of the day, shots tend to be underexposed, while the surroundings look juicy and well-lit. I had better luck with the lights in the room. The flash photography was a total failure, and the pre-flash startled the birds instantly. But I'd rather have mediocre close-ups than well-lit photos of birds in the garden. Or do I just have to wait for the light to be just right. Overall I am very happy with this feeder. This is my favorite feeder I have and I'm sorry it took me so long to find it. I highly recommend it. (You can see in my video how pine siskins sometimes protect the feeder!)