Expert: Roger Lederer - 1/7/2011

Question
Hi!

I have a metal bird feeder pole, that is T shaped. At the top of the main pole is where I hook the cage of suet, so the woodpeckers and nuthatches can climb the main pole and get to the suet, and the starlings seem to have trouble with it.

The problem is, when it gets colder and the suet really hardens, the woodpeckers peck at the suet, and they wind up sliding down the pole, and have to climb back up. I was curious if I would wind sisal around the center pole to provide better traction for them, or if their claws would wind up caught in the sisal.

Thanks!

Answer
I guess I can't picture exactly how your feeding situation is set up. Normally, woodpeckers and nuthatches just land on the suet cage bars and peck. I don't understand why they have to climb a pole. That said, I don't think I'd recommend sisal or anything else that they might entangle their claws in. Might be best if the suet cage were accessible so they can just land on it. Or perhaps, put perches or a platform just below the suet cage so the birds can perch on them.