The presence of crows at backyard feeders is a common challenge for bird enthusiasts who wish to cater primarily to smaller songbirds. Crows, belonging to the highly intelligent Corvid family, are opportunistic and quickly learn to exploit readily available food sources, often dominating feeders and consuming large amounts of seed. Deterring them requires a multi-faceted approach that goes beyond simple, static solutions. Successfully maintaining a feeding station involves strategically modifying the feeder structure, employing varied scare tactics, and adjusting the types of food offered.
Structural Modifications to Restrict Access
One effective strategy involves altering the feeder’s physical design to make access difficult for a bird of the crow’s size and weight. Caged feeders, often marketed as squirrel-proof, provide a physical barrier that smaller birds can easily pass through. The wire mesh around the seed reservoir should have openings large enough for chickadees, finches, and nuthatches, but too small for the wider body of a crow. Creating a cage around an existing feeder using two wire hanging baskets secured together is a common do-it-yourself solution.
Another mechanism utilizing physical restriction is the weight-activated feeder. These feeders feature a spring-loaded perch or platform that seals off access to the seed ports when a weight threshold is exceeded. By setting the weight tolerance low (typically 4 to 8 ounces), the feeder remains open for lightweight songbirds but closes automatically under the weight of a crow or a squirrel. This method leverages the difference in body mass between desired species and the heavier Corvid species. Additionally, using baffles or wide domed roofs above the feeder prevents large birds from perching directly overhead and maneuvering down to the feeding ports.
Visual and Auditory Scare Tactics
Crows are known for their high intelligence, meaning any static deterrent will likely fail as the birds quickly habituate to its lack of threat. Visual deterrents rely on creating an unpredictable environment that signals danger or instability to the wary birds. Reflective materials, such as Mylar tape or old compact discs, create erratic flashes of light and motion when caught by the wind and sunlight. Birds perceive these flashes as disruptive and potentially threatening.
Reflective devices must be placed in a way that allows them to move freely and should be relocated frequently to prevent the crows from adapting. Similarly, using plastic decoys that mimic predators, like owls or hawks, can initially deter crows, whose eyesight is highly developed. However, because crows are clever, a motionless decoy will soon be ignored or even used as a perch. Decoys must feature realistic details and be moved every few days to maintain the illusion of a patrolling predator.
Auditory deterrents, like noise makers or recordings of crow distress calls, can signal danger to the flock. These methods create an atmosphere of alarm, but they can be problematic in residential areas due to noise ordinances and the potential to frighten away smaller, desired birds. Rotating the type of deterrent, combining unpredictable light and sound, and frequently changing the location of the devices are the best practices.
Adjusting Food Offerings and Placement
The type of food offered significantly influences which birds are attracted to the feeding station. Crows are particularly fond of high-fat, high-protein options like peanuts, cracked corn, and black oil sunflower seeds. Replacing these preferred foods with alternatives that crows find less palatable can drastically reduce their visits.
Safflower seed is a popular choice because its bitter taste and hard shell are disliked by crows, grackles, and squirrels, yet it remains attractive to Northern Cardinals, chickadees, and House Finches. Another option is suet cakes that incorporate capsaicin, the compound in chili peppers that provides heat. Capsaicin acts on a specific pain receptor found in mammals, making the suet unpleasant for squirrels and other pests. Birds lack this receptor, allowing them to consume the suet without any burning sensation.
Feeder placement also plays a role in crow deterrence. Crows prefer to approach feeders from open areas where they have a wide field of view for spotting potential threats. Positioning feeders under low, dense tree canopies or beneath a deep eave makes it difficult for a large bird to land or maneuver. Limiting the crow’s ability to easily access or land near the food makes the area less appealing for their opportunistic feeding habits.