Starlings! - feeder question

[tuchp]

Hoping for a little advice.

Since, we live on a acreage and are surrounded by grassy fields and blueberries, European Starlings are here by the hundred's. They can polish off a suet cake in an hour. I have done all the usual tricks to discourage them, with no luck. Given time, they seem to be able to figure anything out. Gord, I read in one of your recent posts, the mention of an upside down feeder. My question is would the larger woodpeckers be able to feed from these? I have a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers and 3 or 4 Northern Flickers feeding here daily - the reason I haven't stopped feeding suet altogether! I am sure the smaller Downy Woodpeckers, chickadees etc. would be OK feeding from the bottom. The junco's would still get the bits that fall to the ground.
Not only is it frustrating but I feel as though I am contributing to their huge population by feeding them - it's expensive too! Even making my own mixture from kidney suet isn't cheap. Maybe the upside down feeder would be the answer. Thanks, Pat

[deb&tony]

Hi Pat-
We too live on acreage but are very fortunate to not have any introduced species at our feeders. That being said it seems every Spring about 6 starlings show up and look for nesting opportunities. One year they discovered the suet and the only thing that worked was to hang the suet feeder parallel to the ground. The woodpeckers were a bit put off but soon discovered they could still access it. I also found that it helps if the feeder isn't near a "jumping off" point- if you know what I mean, that way they have a really difficult time hovering under the feeder and soon give up.
Good Luck!
Deb

[tuchp]

Deb, You have given me a great idea. I'll give it a try by attaching a wire suet cage to the bottom of a board, then hang it free from any branches etc. If I make the board big enough, the larger woodpeckers could still brace themselves against it and the starlings won't be able to reach over the edge.
Thank-you,
Pat