I wish this orb feeder was as functional as it is stylish because it does look great hanging from the magnolia! It's designed to fill at the top (the orb is hollow) and the seeds will fall into the center as the birds eat. That might happen if you lived in a climate without moisture, humidity, or God forbid rain. But what actually happens here in the Midwest is the seed gets stuck inside the orb and then gets super moldy. It does not continue to fill the center feeding area. So I only bring it out from time to time and if I'm lucky I might one day photograph that cool, blue orb with some rare, beautiful bird in it. Obviously I never fill the orb anymore - I just put a scoop of seed in the center and that amount is good for about a day or two and the goldfinch and sparrows do eat from it (and the grackles and starlings). The good, ol' tube feeder on the other hand...no style yet functions like a champ! The birds pick that one first everytime.
Good to know...I've been wanting to get one of these for ages and wondered about this exact problem...suspicion confirmed! Maybe you can drill holes in the bottom and put some mesh in to hold the food in, but allows it to drain?
ReplyDeleteThere are 4 of the tiniest drainage holes on the bottom. The real problem with the design is the seed that's stored inside - it is supposed to trickle down from both sides and keep the center feeding area full. But it just becomes a moldy clump of seeds instead that you have to hose out! My birds can eat all the seed in that center area in one day. The tiny holes do the trick there. Good thing I don't mind filling it up everyday!
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