How to keep Squirrels out of window feeder
Where there's bird food there's a nuisance squirrel ready to bounce, fortunately the rare to use window feeder must be free of pests if wild birds are ever to use it.
It should be easy to keep squirrels out of window feeders as a glass panel can't be climbed on. If the feeder is risen high enough, it should be enough to stop squirrels. And if that doesn't work you can rely on a squirrel proof window feeder, which will primarily prevent squirrels descending on the bird food tray.
Despite a great big panel of glass with a window feeder stuck on the center of it, which should be the ideal location to secure the window feeder, squirrels still somehow manage to access it one way or another.
OK, so window bird feeders are used less by birds but what good is using a window feeder of this kind... if the pests that deter wild birds are allowed to stay in this kind of feeder which is usually situated low on your window.
What to do first thing is actually feed squirrels in their own space, far away from the window feeder to keep them well out of reach. Simply replicate what is in the window bird feeder - or else they will continue to reach what is missing in their own dish.
If you have the time in deterring squirrels while hoping it doesn't discourage all birds in the meantime, would be to basically raise the window bird feeder higher up on the glass.
Now the seeds, suet pellets or peanuts in the window feeder remain out of reach, with a 5 feet or so height which should prevent jumping squirrels, via the windowsill below.
With the window feeder sitting higher up, the attention could now be on squirrels accessing the window feeder from above; a squirrel proof window bird feeder can be utilized instead of an open to all, traditional clear plastic open window tray.
Birds will use the window feeder as they normally would every once in a while, with squirrels having no choice but to sit on top of the squirrel proof feeder roof, with nowhere else to go than back up.
Raise feeder to top of window
Unfortunately, unlike the traditional use of a bird feeder hung off a bird feeder pole, where we would use a squirrel baffle installed on that; no such device or squirrel proof gizmo can be utilized on a window bird feeder.
Luckily, the glass window itself can become an effect deterrent to keep squirrels out of the window feeder.
And with that, a window bird feeder positioned too low down on the glass would as expected, be too accessible to squirrels.
Its easy, squirrels climb onto the exterior windowsill thus will reach over or jump up to get on to the window bird feeder to feed.
Squirrels are good jumpers with a 5 feet or so jumping range which would make a window feeder highly accessible.
What you can do to great effect though is slide the window bird feeder farther up the window. Success may not come first thing, but in time you'll find a sweet spot of which the feeder will be out of range.
With window bird feeders usually sitting low to the windowsill to provide you a way to watch birds feed, you will lose some visibility when observing birds on a window feeder that is sat higher up the window - which is a downside to deterring squirrels.
And you must be sure squirrels can't access what could be a delicate window feeder, as the safety of the suction could be compromised under the weight of squirrels.
Default to Squirrel Proof feeder
When you've found the ideal spot to raise your window bird feeder to, now it could be possible for squirrels to descend on the feeder from above.
Unlikely I know, as squirrels have nowhere to be above a window or window frame, but if they manage to one way or another, you can be well prepared. I would then utilize what is a squirrel proof window bird feeder, which will prevent descending squirrels.
Its a simple solution, instead of an open to all clear plastic window bird feeder tray, this squirrel proof style window feeder tray, would be covered with a roof.
I know some window bird feeders are made with a roof, only ones that are intended to deter squirrels would be made with a large, wide roof overhang to prevent squirrels descending down into the bird food dish below it.
Bit like hanging an upside down squirrel baffle that normally hangs above a feeder, with the bird feeder hung below it.
Squirrels could be allowed to sit on this window bird feeder roof, if you can be sure it won't collapse, but that is all squirrels can do.
Birds barely visit a window feeder as it is, let alone with a squirrel present, so it mustn't be allowed, with measures taken to stop squirrels sitting on the roof.
By default window bird feeders aren't squirrel proof, but they can be if it has a roof at the very least, whilst utilizing a special wider than normal cover.
In the meantime, its essential to remove accessible bird food for squirrels on the ground directly under the window feeder, or sweep up feed that has landed on the windowsill.
Squirrel issues at the window can only persist if you continue to make wild bird food readily available to them.
Direct squirrels to own feeder
You know what, what it could come down to in an effort to attract birds to an old or new window bird feeder, while keeping nuisance squirrels out of the way... can rely on simply feeding squirrels some distance away.
What is the best way to keep squirrels of bird feeders of any kind, including those hung on the bird feeding station, is to provide a squirrel feeder of their own.
You could leave out a dish of nuts on a high surface so squirrels will find it with ease.
What you commonly put in a window bird feeder is what you can feed squirrels, including mix seeds and peanuts, in or out of the shell.
Squirrels will also be interested in suet of any kind, thus to provide suet pellets will ensure everything a squirrel wants on the window feeder, is openly available for them in a dish sat some distance away.
Determined squirrels may be interested in one thing on a window feeder that they can't quite reach, so will continue to try and access it, even if its means continuing to jump, climb or stretch up to a bird feeder stuck on the window.
Its vitally important then to replicate this bird food mix on their own feeder or dish, to be sure everything they want, can be eaten.
Try to feed squirrels in their own food source located outside your property boundary, but at the very least at the farthest part of the yard - which will be well away from your window bird feeder location, so birds can feed in peace again.
Conclusion
While its perfectly normal for anyone who uses a window bird feeder to sit it low as you can, to provide an unimpeded view of birds at the window feeder; unfortunately this view may become limited as it will force you to raise the feeder to a higher position.
I can assure you a higher position for the window feeder doesn't mean you can't at least observe birds as they come and go, as its just a matter of finding a common ground.
Squirrels will climb onto your windowsill in order to reach up or jump onto the window feeder, which is often only a few inches above the windowsill.
Baring in mind squirrels are still able to jump up at some 5 feet, you'd need to continue to change position until the best location is finally found.
If squirrels are expected to descend on a window bird feeder, with help of a ledge or window frame above the window feeder, then be sure to utilize a squirrel proof window bird feeder, as they really do work with great effect.
When a squirrel is prevented access to a window feeder from below, any squirrel able to reach the feeder from above will land on the feeder topside with ease.
Squirrel proof window feeders will make use of a wide overhang roof, thus squirrels can sit on top of the feeder, yet will be unable to access the bird food in the open tray.
In the end you may be forced to direct squirrels to their own little feeding area in the yard, which is a last resort as it can make a squirrel issue worse.
Birds do come to a window feeder at times, thus you don't want to waste the opportunity with a squirrel who is constantly scaring them off with its presence on the feeder, like if a squirrel is loitering above or under the window feeder.
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