When searching for the right bird feeder you may be overwhelmed with options. From the tray style to the birdhouse types and the cylinder to the suet balls, it can feel like there’s nothing quite perfect for what you’re looking for. Maybe you’re looking for a unique feeder, or possibly a second feeder to mix things up. The fly through bird feeder is a great solution for either. In this article we’ll go over what is a fly through bird feeder. Then, why you might want to consider one. Finally, some of the potential drawbacks.
Why Choose A Fly Through Bird Feeder?
Whether it’s the first or fifth bird feeder on your property, a fly through bird feeder is one of the most interesting bird feeder types. Unlike more traditional bird feeders, the fly through feeders have a more sculptural look to them. The basic premise of a fly through bird feeder is a hanging donut shape. Though this description doesn’t sound all that glamorous, the options are boundless from there.
Best Fly Through Bird Feeder: A Ting Hanging Bird Feeder
One of our favorite bird feeders is the A Ting Fly Through Bird Feeder. This feeder is made of glass and plastic, shimmers in the sun, and like most fly through bird feeders, is naturally squirrel proof.
- Easy to fill bird feed and easy to clean,can be filled with any type of seed.Holds approximately 1 cup of small birdseed blend, may vary depending on…
- Glass mosaic cemented on plastic circle which can reflect beautiful lights in the sun.Attractive design: Includes one round mosaic bird feeder with a…
- Birds can eat from the rim or hop inside during bad weather. There is a small hole on the bottom to let the rain flow out.Fly-through design allows…
Beauty is not the only reason you should consider a fly through bird feeder though. These feeders create a new kind of challenge for birds. As flying creatures, they are used to getting themselves into tight situations up in the trees. The way a bird will use the fly through bird feeder is usually to fly into the circle in the middle, perch on the edge, and pick a seed from the inside. This is true of the A Ting feeder, as well as the teardrop shaped Byer of Maine Egg Fly Through Bird Feeder.
- Byer of Maine’s Egg Fly Through Bird Feeder is an avant garde, elegant hanging bird feeder that naturally fits in your backyard or garden. Glossy…
- Birds will flock to this uniquely designed bird feeder for outside that is easily accessible to eat from and rest on. This wild bird feeder has a…
- This hanging fly through bird feeder is lightweight at 2 pounds, but sturdy enough for birds. Accessible and simple design makes it easy to refill and…
The Byer of Maine Egg provides a simple yet elegant solution to your outdoor fly through feeder. What we like about the Egg is the size of the center hole. It is a bit larger so you may find smaller birds like chickadees or titmice may choose to fly through as they explore the feeder before landing.
Benefits Of Fly Through Bird Feeders
Fly through feeders are also great for windy locations. When you have a larger feeder like a tray style, you may find it’s blowing around quite a bit in the breeze. The aerodynamics of the fly through bird feeder means it won’t jiggle around nearly as much in the breeze. The less the feeder moves around, the more likelihood birds will choose to use it in bad weather. Additionally, unlike a tray style feeder, there is a built in roof with a fly through feeder. This gives birds the ability to get out of the rain or snow.
Speaking of snow, the additional benefit of the roof is keeping snow removal to a minimum. Though a cylinder bird feeder can get clogged with snow in the worst of conditions, for the most part they will stay clear. Much like the cylinder bird feeders the fly through bird feeder is naturally protected from being inaccessible during a snowstorm. You’ll notice birds tend to feed continuously. Just because you are cozied up indoors when it snows, that doesn’t mean the birds take time off from feeding. They will appreciate your choosing a bird feeder capable of being accessed in all weather.
Setbacks Of Fly Through Bird Feeders
One of the major drawbacks of a fly through bird feeder is typically only one bird uses it at once. Unlike multi-perch cylinder feeders and tray style bird feeders, the fly through is a solo endeavor. This means if you get a blue jay on the feeder, they may just hang out there and eat seed after seed without moving. However, for the most part, birds like to grab a seed. Then, they like to fly to a safe perch to eat it, and eventually fly back for another. This means you’ll wind up with a constant parade of birds flying and landing on your fly through bird feeder.
Best Fly Through Bird Feeders
Fly Through Bird Feeder Alternatives
The fly through bird feeder is not for everyone though. In some circumstances it may not be ideal. For example, maybe you don’t have a lot of space for birds to perch near the feeder, like tree branches or large shrubs. You may want to consider another type of feeder first, like a tray style bird feeder. Though you may want another bird feeder to supplement the fly through, having a bird feeder of any kind is a great idea for your home. Once the winter comes, the birds will be glad you made the plunge and set them up with an easy source of nutritious seeds.