Chapter
Problems & Pests
Squirrels, window strikes, bully birds and sick birds.
Squirrels raiding feeders, birds hitting windows, aggressive visitors and signs of illness are familiar frustrations for backyard birders. This section helps you understand why these problems happen and what practical, humane steps can reduce them. It answers questions about baffles and feeder placement, window safety and what to do when birds look unwell.
For specific fixes, see keeping squirrels off your bird feeder and stopping window strikes. If you notice sick or lethargic birds, take feeders and baths down, clean them, wait a while before putting them back, and avoid handling wild birds yourself; contact your state wildlife agency or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for guidance.
- How to Stop Birds From Hitting Your Windows: Fixes That WorkProblems & Pests
Why birds fly into glass and how to stop it: the 2-inch spacing rule for decals and paint, low-cost window fixes, and where feeders are safest near a window.
- How to Keep Squirrels Off Your Bird Feeder: What Actually WorksProblems & Pests
Baffle heights, the 10-foot placement rule, safflower and hot pepper seed: what Cornell, Audubon and extension sources say about keeping squirrels off feeders.