SCOTT SHALAWAY More on the best birdfeeders

Last time I listed some of my favorite bird feeders and explained why they made the list. Unfortunately, I ran out of space before I ran out of feeders, so this week I'll complete the job.
But first, let me review a few key points from last week.
I prefer Lexan (polycarbonate) and metal feeders over wood feeders. Wood eventually rots, and invariably absorbs the odors and oils of seeds, which attract squirrels and even bears. Acrylic feeders fade, get brittle, and crack with age. Feeders made of Lexan are much more durable and most carry lifetime warranties.
The feeders I recommended last week included tube feeders by Aspects and Droll Yankees (ideal for sunflower seeds), Goldcrest's All-Weather Feeder (best for sunflower kernels), Droll Yankee's Big Top (perfect for shelled nuts), and Aspects' squirrel-proof Roller Feeder.
Squirrel discouraging
If you're still looking for a simple way to discourage feeder-raiding squirrels, New Hampshire-based Clear Vision Feeders deserve consideration. Owner Ken Bergman believes that squirrels chew and destroy feeders because they are designed to keep squirrels out. Yet the squirrels can see and smell the food, so they routinely chew through wood feeders.
Bergman makes Lexan platform feeders. If squirrels reach the feeder, they eat the food rather than the feeder. Clear Vision also offers squirrel baffles for poles and poles that Bergman claims are squirrel-proof.
Too good?
Window feeders are a category that sometimes seems too good to be true.
Fastened to windows with suction cups, these feeders bring birds to within inches of our eyes. They are especially effective for small children and anyone who might be bedridden. Birds quickly learn to ignore movement inside the window, so they give the best and closest views of backyard birds. Many companies make good window feeders, but again I strongly recommend you purchase only those made of Lexan.
Some of the most inexpensive, yet effective, feeders are suet cages. Fashioned from plastic-coated wire mesh, suet cages come in a variety of sizes to accommodate one to several suet cakes. And suet cages last a lifetime, unless carried away by raccoons, opossums, or bears.
Durable feeders
Stainless steel wire mesh nut feeders are among the most durable feeders available, and they attract the most popular backyard birds -- woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and titmice. Though all wire mesh nut feeders are essentially the same, Aspects' Peanut Silo is the best thanks to a simple extra component. A Lexan collar holds the top of the tube in place and more importantly, protects your fingers from the wire's sharp edges. I can't count the number of times I've cut my figures on the top of other brands' wire mesh tubes. This is just another example of how Aspects pays attention to small, but important details.
The last of my must-have feeders is a finch feeder, a tube with tiny ports for dispensing nyjer seed (often incorrectly called thistle). Because nyjer is relatively expensive, it's best offered in a specially designed feeder that insures little waste. The small seed ports on finch feeders require that birds pull out the seeds one at a time, and little falls to the ground. Though some people use inexpensive fabric nyjer socks, I prefer the quality tubes offered by Aspects and Droll Yankees. Here I give the nod to Droll because its seed ports are protected by metal armor.
New nyjer feeder
Perhaps in recognition of this competitive disadvantage, Aspects has just come out with its new Nyjer Mesh Feeder. Like wire mesh nut feeders, the Nyjer Mesh Feeder is a perchless, stainless steel wire mesh tube, but the mesh is much finer. Birds cling directly to the mesh so use is not limited by the number of perches. And like the Peanut Silo, a Lexan collar protects fingers from the sharp edges at the top of the tube.
If you're just beginning to feed wild birds, keep it simple. A tube feeder for sunflower seed, a finch feeder, a suet cage, and a nut feeder are all you'll need to make your backyard a true haven for birds.
UContact information: Aspects, Inc. (888-ASPECTS; www.aspectsinc.com); Clear Vision Feeders (603-357-7790); Droll Yankees, Inc. (800-352-9164); www.drollyankees.com); Goldcrest (888-985-2473; www.goldcrestdistributing.com)
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