Oriole Jelly Feeder and Robins

[Dee-O-Gee]

Trying to get Robins off the Oriole Jelly Feeder.

I love seeing the Robins floating about my yard but I have 2 Robins that frequent the jelly feeder for the Orioles and are leaving their "markings" in the feeder full of jelly.

I venture out in the morning and come home after work only to find droppings mixed in with the jelly. Every other year, the morning and evening feeds were bone dry with just the Orioles but now I'm having to discard contaminated feed with the Robins leaving their marks.

Any suggestions?

[hazelrunpack]

Are they eating the jelly or just using the holder as a perch?

[Dee-O-Gee]

They're eating the jelly in full force Hazel. The other day, I saw one Robin and an Oriole duking it out and the Oriole chased it away but the Robins keep venturing back.

I went out tonight everytime I saw a Robin and shoo'd it away. Hubby now calls me, "Dancing With Birds!"

[hazelrunpack]

Actually, 'cept for the poopin' part, I'd be happy with robins at my grape jelly! Can you jury-rig a cover with beak-sized holes in it? Big enough to poke a beak through but small enough to keep most of the poop out? You'd have to keep your jelly container pretty full, though, so the orioles could reach it through the holes....

[Dee-O-Gee]

Thank you Hazel for your suggestions. I'm gonna have to rig something up. More poop tonight when I got home from work and most of the jelly still in the feeder.

Think, think, think!

[hazelrunpack]

We're having similar problems although I'm not sure if it's the orioles, catbirds or grosbeaks doin' the poopin'. My solution is just to put out a few dollops of jelly, just enough to get them through the day, and then wash everything out each night. It helps to have a spare so you can bring the fresh one out each morning when you bring in the dirty one. Maybe that would work for you, too?