Last year I purchased two bird feeders that were on sale for $5. The first time it rained, I realized why they were so cheap. The bases filled with water and the food on the bottom absorbed the water and turned into sticky goo which I had to dig out. Gross! Sadly too, pretty useless unless you have a covered patio, which I don’t… you know… rain happens.
This year because of the earlier drought I know that the birds suffer and will continue to suffer unless there is food put out for them because not enough stuff germinated and created seeds. I had been thinking about buying a different feeder because I hate to throw the seeds out on the ground when we live so close to a feral colony here in Hamilton. A while back, my friend O and I were at a greenhouse where I was admiring the practicality of $90 bird feeders and telling her about my terrible feeders. She suggested that I buy a plastic bowl from the dollar store to cover them and drill a hole in the top (they have to be flexible plastic). Yesterday, I finally got around to buying and preparing them and I already have a hundred sparrows chattering happily outside. I am not sure if the bowls are large enough but rain is coming so, I guess I will know soon enough if their food will stay dry.