![]() ![]() They help keep the feathers supple and in good condition in part by discouraging the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi that break down and digest keratin, the basic component of feathers. Secretions from the preen gland are waxy, fatty secretions, but they provide no water-proofing. ![]() However, recall that oil spills, even small ones, are deadly to any birds that encounter them. After all, aren’t oils from the preen gland naturally spread throughout the plumage during preening? This may sound counter-intuitive at first. Keeping the body feathers in good condition provides an insulating barrier to keep the bird warm. The matting of the feathers in the tail or wings will decrease the ability of the bird to fly efficiently or at all if enough feathers are involved. Once that occurs, the feather will lose its ability to be water-proof and to provide insulating capability.Ģ. Oils cause the feathers to become matted down. Once on the feathers, the feather can be damaged in a number of ways.ġ. When this occurs, the oils in these products (as well as in the petroleum-based products) will be picked up by the feathers. The danger is not from consumption, but from the physical damage that they can do to the feathers.īirds often will land on metal poles (see photo) or they may brush their feathers against the pole when approaching the feeders. These “natural” oils are not naturally-occurring fats that wild birds would come in contact with to eat, but they are of a type that could be used by a bird’s metabolism so they are not toxic and safe if eaten. However, I can NOT recommend the use of such products because they could cause potential harm to birds. I suspect that this is safe for squirrels because the ingredients are not toxic. One such product is called Squirrel Slip. One “solution” sometimes offered to this problem is the use of so-called “natural products,” usually soy or coconut oils. Our desire is to prevent or discourage squirrels from reaching the bird food, not to cause them harm or to kill them! They can also be irritating and potentially cause damage if such products get into the eyes. Severe lung damage can occur if aspirated into the lungs. Small amounts ingested may act as a laxative but larger amounts can cause greater damage. Squirrels that get these substances on their paws will clean themselves by licking and will thereby take these petroleum products in internally where they are potentially toxic. Such petroleum-based products can be harmful to animals. ![]() It may be effective and funny to watch, but please, do NOT do this. At least initially, the animal slides down the pole while trying. Many people use products such as Vaseline, WB-40, axle grease or another greasy or oily products, with the idea that this provides a slippery barrier that the squirrel can’t get past. There are also some things that you should NOT do to prevent squirrels from climbing such poles. There are, however, many things that you can do to prevent squirrels from reaching or eating the bird food you provide. So, if you hang your bird feeder on a hook from a pole, squirrels will certainly want to and try to climb the pole to reach the bird food. Squirrels are “professional climbers”! So, yes, they can easily climb your poles and they love your birdseed. Oils on poles? NO! Please NEVER use oily or greasy products! Keeping Squirrels (& Other Pests) Off of Bird Feeders Home Nature Centered Podcast North Eugene Store Website Ways to Help Birds Avian Flu 2022 Information Feeder-cleaning Tips Bird Walks & Birding LInks Turn Your Yard Into A Certified Wildlife Habitat Eugene WBU Location & Hours Daily Savings Club Hobby Guide Online Orders Optics & Field Guides Bird Food Essentials Bark Butter Bird Bath Basics Birdseed Comparison Mealworms Peanuts Seed Options Seed Characters Seed Cylinders & Stackables Suet & DoughĪPS Pole System EcoClean® Feeders EcoTough® Feeders Finch Feeders Hummingbird Feeders Peanut Feeders Quick-Clean Seed Tube Feeders Squirrel-Proof Feeders Tidy Cylinder Feeder Window Feederīird Baths Water Fountains & Movers Window Strike Solutionsīirds and Hot Pepper Deter Rats & Squirrels Don't Oil Your Pole Flicker Damage Solutions Mealworms - Separating Truth from Misguided Information Migration Needs Molting Help for Birds Salmonella in Wild Birds Survival of the Fattest Starling Solutions Bird Trivia Bird Tales by Dan Gleason American Crow Angel Wing Anna’s Hummingbird Barn Owls Band-tailed Pigeons Black-headed Grosbeaks Bushtits Cedar Waxwings Dark-eyed Junco Downy Woodpecker European Starling Pine Siskins Mistletoe, Holly & Birds House Finch Hummingbirds Hummingbird-Flower Mites Ruby-crowned Kinglet Wild Turkey Western Tanager ![]()
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