Attracting birds without turning the feeder into an easy squirrel buffet usually takes more than one tactic. A good baffle can fail when a squirrel can jump around it, and a seed that discourages squirrels in one yard may be eaten in another. The most reliable approach is to combine smart placement, a properly installed … Read more
Safflower can discourage many squirrels, but it is not squirrel-proof seed. Some squirrels avoid it, while others will eat it, and the response can vary by individual animal and location. The most useful way to think about safflower is as a low-cost seed preference test: if squirrel pressure drops while the birds you want keep … Read more
Northern Cardinals eat both sunflower and safflower seed. Black oil sunflower is usually the stronger all-around attraction, while safflower’s practical advantage is that some squirrels, starlings, House Sparrows, and other competing visitors are less interested in it. That makes safflower useful when the birds you want are being crowded out, but it is a deterrence … Read more