Exciting News From Our ZIG Trials!
We’ve been trying to protect from squirrels for a long time now. Our solution, Zero Invasive Guarding (ZIG), takes things a step further, supporting and protecting native wild birds.
Squirrel trying to defeat the ZIG
Recorded UK parakeet locations as of 2019 - Journal of Zoology
We have designed and prototyped guards for Cleaner Feeder1 and 2. Our plan is to defeat invasive species and help our native tits and finches to recover. Our primary targets are squirrels and parakeets. grey squirrels have displaced our native red squirrels in most parts of the UK, they have little or no enemies and as rodents, constantly need to wear down their teeth, hence the damage they do to bird feeders. parakeets present different issues, and are primarily based in London and the South East.
In urban areas, nesting sites and food are at a premium for wild birds. It is logical that both parakeets and squirrels have an impact on an already massively depleted and poisonous environment. Trichomonosis has had a real impact on our chaffinches in urban areas, based on conversations I have with our customers, chaffinches numbers are under real pressure in built up areas. This is entirely logical based on a much larger percentage of their overall diet being provided from garden feeders where the parasite thrives.
For us, when developing a system to defeat squirrels and parakeets, we could not compromise on “cleanability”. We had to design around the functionality of our feeders, to ensure that cleanliness can be maintained. We have developed a hinged base, which drops down following the release of two simple spring clips, the base can be removed for cleaning or replaced with ease, the feeder can be released for refill by simply unscrewing the feeder, and leaving the lid attached.
Going back to our primary ethos “food feet and faeces” we continue to provide dry food, minimising contact with feet and faeces to an absolute minimum. We retain simplicity and convenience so that cleaning regularly actually happens.
Three trials began simultaneously, one in Central South London, one in South East London and one with Andrew in Otley, Yorkshire. Andrew has Squirrels but not Parakeets. We wanted to know how quickly our tits and finches would work out the change, accessing the feeder through the mesh. Andrew’s feeders are incredibly busy, it was clear within an hour, that the tits and finches very quickly solved the problem of access. The squirrel on the other hand was disappointed. Two huge ticks for us.
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
Parakeets turn to try the ZIG
There is no panacea for all issues. We were thrilled with the initial feedback from our South East London trial. This customer had simply stopped feeding, because of squirrels and parakeets. They reported the defeat of both, and that the local tits had discovered the food source, and that slowly native birds were returning. Our customer also reported that Starlings could not feed. To be fair, we have had numerous complaints about Starlings mobbing feeders and wasting food. For us they are native, and not having a great time, we would prefer to feed them but we may be in the minority there.
Although it’s early days, It looks as though we have defeated squirrels and parakeets, if we have, we are excited beyond our wildest dreams, we can offer clean dry food, ease of cleaning, free of invasive species. We are unique in the world on this.
It will be interesting to see if our Zero Invasive Guarding, offers protection from the sparrow hawk as well? At this point we don’t know, and the sparrow hawk has to feed her young as well!
We will keep you informed, more ZIG to come!
If all goes well ZIG will be available from finchesfriend.com in April.
Seasons Greetings to all, Dick, Andrew and Claire.
