Suet is a high-energy food I’ve offered at my feeders for many years. I’ve enjoyed watching woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, and even Carolina Wrens cling to the various styles of feeders I’ve tried over the years.
It’s important to note not all suet is created equal. In my early years of backyard bird feeding, I thought I was saving a few bucks by purchasing suet from big box stores. As a result, I had very little action at my feeder. Over the years, I learned inexpensive suet sold at these retailers contains a lot of filler including milo. Milo is a seed not eaten by birds in eastern North America and is found in cheap seed and suet. For many years I watched my suet hang with little activity and I often ended up throwing it out having wasted money rather than saving.
I recently acquired a new suet feeder from Urban Nature Store. This feeder is made from recycled plastic which means it will withstand exposure to the elements and be easy to clean. This feeder is incredibly well-made with a strong wire hanger and fits a standard-size suet cake. The top of the feeder simply slides up the wire making it a piece of cake (pun intended) to add the suet. This feeder also features a tail prop which helps the woodpeckers balance just like they do when clinging to the trunk of a tree.
The suet I am offering in this feeder is insect and nut suet also obtained from Urban Nature Store. I love this suet for several reasons. First, it’s made right here in Ontario by Mill Creek Seed Co. Second, it’s high-quality made from real insects, chopped peanuts, and beef fat. I’ve been using the Mill Creek brand for years (after realizing my error that where I buy my suet matters) with great success.
Within minutes of hanging this feeder a Red-breasted Nuthatch was already feeding at it. This happened so quickly I hadn’t even made it back in the house. Now I will admit I do have several other feeders in my yard and have an established population of birds coming to feed regularly. That being said, I have not offered suet at all this winter as I have limited the number of feeders out in preparation for an upcoming move.
This is the first time I’ve used a suet feeder with a tail prop and it seems to make a huge difference, especially for the larger woodpeckers like the Hairy and Red-bellied. To say I’m impressed with this feeder would be an understatement and my only regret is why I didn’t have this feeder years ago. I’m looking forward to more enjoyment watching the birds at this feeder and know I’ll have it for many years thanks to the high-quality construction.
If you are in the market for a suet feeder, I highly recommend giving this one a try, I’m sure glad I did.
Good birding,
Paul Roedding
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