This request for help (original text below) elicited
several off-list responses.  This seems like the
perfect (rainy, lazy) day to revisit this subject. 
I’m including the suggestions received (with editing
and attributions) for general interest.  For the
record, I’ve yet to purchase a thistle feeder, but
have narrowed my search to either the tube kind with a
mesh enclosure rather than individual perches, or the
tube feeder with the slits below the perches.  Both
are types described below.  Thanks to all for the
GREAT advice & insights…!!!

Jim Speicher
jugornought—at—yahoo-dot-com
Bethesda @work :(
Broad Run_S. FRED Co @home :)


Anyone have a recommendation on the “best” feeder for
thistle?  I have used the cheapo plastic kind (with
the dowel perches below the slit access holes without
the catch-tray) in the past.  The birds seemed to like
them, but I was never sure how much seed I was losing
to the wind. Thanks

--- Cathryn Reid wrote:
I have one of those fancy plastic tube thistle feeders
and one of the finch socks--the birds LOVE the finch
sock and continued to go to it even when it was almost
empty and the brand new fancy thistle tube was
full....

However, I've a friend in Carroll Co with a fancy
thistle tube feeder and she is inundated with
goldfinch, so much that she refers to them as 'Bugs'
(in a nice way)...hers is a big giant torpedo tube
thing with lots of perches…

Goldfinches at any rate seem to like it best when lots
of them can get on and feed at the same time,
otherwise they argue and tussle and fight.  It occurs
to me also that they can also maintain control of the
feeder when there are a lot of them and I think this
might appeal to them as well, no sharing with sparrows
is a plus I guess.

--- "jayrjones" wrote:
My suggestion would be to exchange your current tube
feeder for one that features the slit ports BELOW the
dowel perches.  COOL feeder birds (Goldfinches,
Redpolls, Crossbills, etc.) have no problem hanging
upside down to access the seed.  UNCOOL feeder birds
(House Finches, House Sparrows, etc.) don't manage as
well and ultimately leave the feeder alone.  You'll
find your niger seed lasts a lot longer.  

I don't think you need worry about wind catching the
seed inside the feeder.

--- Jason Waanders wrote:
I use a Droll Yankees THMINI thistle feeder. 
Price-wise it probably doesn't count as "cheapo," but
it is still basically just a nicely-dressed up thin
plastic tube with slits, with metal perches mounted
underneath.  It has some metal reinforcement that goes
around the plastic, and some heavy duty metal at the
top and bottom, but the business portion of it is just
some well-shaped slits for the birds to peck through. 
You can add a tray or other stuff to the bottom, but I
haven't done that. It's been a good feeder for my
neighborhood in Friendship Heights.  If I had a bigger
yard and a larger resident finch flock, I'd get a
bigger one, but this size has worked out great for me.

Assuming the feeder itself doesn't blow down to the
ground, I've never thought of wind as much of a
problem, even with our recent big gusts.
My neighborhood goldfinches went for months without
showing much interest and have only recently become
regulars again and I never lost any noticeable amount
of seed during that time.  The house sparrows often
take a shot at getting some, but don't seem to have
much success.
 
--- Cliff Comeau  wrote:
I have used the type of feeder you describe for a
number of years. The  goldfinches seem to like it, and
other birds find it difficult. I don't  know about
spillage, but the Mourning Doves like what they can
get on the ground.
 
My grandson likes the mesh bags, as do the birds. They
may last a year.  Not all bags are created with the
same mesh size, and he says the birds  prefer the
larger mesh--the seeds are easier to get--however
there is more spillage

--- Al Haury wrote:
I used to use the tube-type feeders, the ones with the
small vertical slits, both the ones where the
goldfinches, etc., perched upright or hung upside
down. I switched a couple of years ago to the type
that have stainless steel or powder-coated screens.
The finches seem to like these much more, plus, many
more birds can feed at the same time. Here in Maine I
have had up to 10 goldfinches hanging on one feeder at
the same time. And in the winter, when there have been
60+ Common Redpolls at the feeders at one time, there
have been up to 15 on the feeder at once. The feeders
I have are the ones about 12-14 inches long. They are
available at Wild Birds Unlimited, Wild Bird Centers
or Duncraft (mail order).

--- Arlene Ripley wrote:
I have several of the Magnum thistle feeders and find
them best suited to my  needs. They hold a bunch of
seed so I don't have to fill them constantly.  They do
have to be cleaned occasionally as thistle seed is
small and when it  gets wet.......well, it does get
messy but this style feeder allows for many  more
birds to partake than those with individual holes.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15181&N=2005+114027

--- Albert Goetz wrote:
We have a catch tray below the feeder you describe. 
Each week I have to knock a small mountain of uneaten
seed off the tray.


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