Bird feeder limiter shields

Specifically designed for the EcoClean® Large Seed Tube Feeder, these “shields” fit around each portal, making a sort of porch. By making it harder for larger birds to perch, they reduce the rate at which they can consumer seed from the feeder, while leaving smaller birds such as finches and sparrows largely unaffected. Woodpeckers can generally also still use the feeders - Downy Woodpeckers are small enough to use the perches normally, while Red-Bellied and Hairy Woodpeckers will happily hang from the bottom perches and feed.

The main birds this attempts to dissuade are Common Grackles, and is in no way 100% effective at keeping them away, but as they have to either perch precariously or flap frantically, it's been shown to be effective - so far - at reducing their take from the feeders significantly. Full exclusion of Grackles, which are persistent and ingenious birds, is likely to require either a wide-radius cage, or embedding the feeder in concrete, and even then I'd be on the lookout for Grackles with cutting torches or dynamite. Better not to escalate things that far.

The shields need to be fitted in pairs, using #10 × 3/8" (or if you use real money, M4 × 10mm)  nuts & bolts, with optional washers. They are custom fit to the specific feeder model, but you may be able to adapt to other feeders by modifying values in the included ArcShield.scad file.

This model will need supports whichever way up you print it; my recommendation is to print it “on its back” such that the axes of the screw holes are vertical, and they sit against your build plate, and to use organic supports and a brim. Note that brim separation on the included GCODE is quite high, as the filament I used (Inland Olive PLA+) seems to spread somewhat.

The photos show multiple iterations of the model; the one included here is the last iteration, at the top of the feeder in the full-length shot (though lowest differs only in the fact of being a couple mm too large to perfectly fit the feeder).

For another model designed for use with this feeder, see my Funnel / mixing hopper for filling 2.75" bird feeder.