Reddit reviews Squirrel Buster Standard Squirrel-proof Bird Feeder w/4 Metal Perches, 1.3-pound Seed Capacity

Things you as a regular person can do to help the earth:

1. Avoid using plastic shopping bags, keep reusable bags in your car or bag.
   
   
2. Recycle. Glass, paper, and can recycling is widespread, but you should also recycle your light bulbs and electronic equipment.
   
   
3. Walk, bike and take public transit more. When it comes to longer journeys, the CO2 hierarchy is generally bus/train > carpool > airplane > solo drive. Source
   
   
4. Eat fewer animal products, compost if possible, and consider growing some of your own food. Tomatoes and cucumbers are among the easiest to grow. One source for seeds and another source for seeds.
   
   
5. Diversify the plants in your garden. Plants suck up CO2 and native plants support native pollinators. Audubon has a native plant finder for the US. Limit the chemicals you put on your plants. Also considering adding some potted plants to your home. Some specific plants have been found to improve indoor air quality. These include snake plant, aloe vera, spider plant, and peace lily, all of which can easily be found at big box stores.
   
   
6. Considering adding a bird feeder, solar birth bath, or bee house to your landscape. Here's a squirrel resistant bird feeder and here's another one. Solar birth baths like this one keep the water in motion so mosquitos don't breed (bird bath needs to be in direct sun to work). Mason bees are native pollinators who generally only sting if attacked. A mason bee house like this or this should be put in direct sun.
   
   
7. Buy second hand. More stuff = more waste. Thrift stores aren't just for poor people, most stores get way more donations than sales so shopping there helps support the store. Well made antique furniture can be the same price as buying something new from a big box store. Goodwill, the Salvation Army, etc. usually have a huge stock of stuff. Buffalo Exchange has more fashion forward clothing, the Junior League tends to have higher end older/more professional clothing. Once Upon a Child has higher end kids stuff. Here's a list of the best second hand stores in all 50 states.
   
   
8. Avoid replacing your electronics unnecessarily. 20 years ago, people kept electronic appliances an average of 10-15 years and now we are down to 6-8 years (this includes things like toaster ovens and hair dryers as well as cell phones and computers). This creates a tremendous amount of volatile waste. And when you do replace electronic equipment, recycle it.
   
   
9. Consider weatherstripping to reduce the energy needed to heat and cool your home. EPA guide, This Old House guide, Handyman guide.
   
   
10. Support environmental organizations. I know Reddit is super paranoid about charity scams, but there are good organizations. For example, Earthjustice in an environmental law group with 4 Stars on Charity Navigator and an A on Charity Watch. Environmental Working Group works to on the intersection between health and the environment. It also has 4 Stars on Charity Navigator and an A on Charity Watch. Waterkeeper Alliance works globally to protect clean water and has 4 Stars from Charity Navigator, an A+ from Charity Watch and is one of Consumer Report's Recommended Charities. African Wildlife Foundation has 4 Stars on Charity Navigator, an A- from Charity Watch, and is one of Consumer Report's Recommended Charities.

There’s a bird feeder specifically made to fend off squirrels. I don’t remember what it was called.

Edit: found it!!
Squirrel Buster Standard 5"x5"x21.5" (w/hanger) Wild Bird Feeder with 4 Metal Perches, 1.3lb Seed Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ABGSX4S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gRZPAb0GMY57X

Throw up a bird feeder (I highly recommend Brome, they’re pricey but you make up for it by preventing the squirrels from raiding your seeds) and throw Safflower (it’s the favorite of Cardinals and Res Bellied Woodpeckers will eat it as well). There are alternatives seeds you can try, but if they’re too attractive to Grackles (black birds), you will have 50 of them and 0 of everything else.

Brome 1057 Squirrel Buster... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ABGSX4S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

They have squirrel resistant bird feeders. https://smile.amazon.com/Squirrel-Buster-Standard-Perches-Capacity/dp/B00ABGSX4S/ref=sr_1_4?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1527803457&sr=1-4&keywords=squirrel+proof+bird+feeders

This is my feeder. There is another version where you can adjust the weight that it allows to keep grackles and starlings out but that would keep wood peckers out too. There isn't much you can do for house sparrows since they're the same size as the other birds you're trying to attract. Whatever you do, don't put out millet. That's their favorite food and it will attract flocks of them. I don't get too many with just the sunflower seeds. If you're getting flocks now, maybe you could try not putting out food at all for a while so those birds can move on and find a different food source.

Squirrel Buster Standard 5"x5"x21.5" (w/hanger) Wild Bird Feeder with 4 Metal Perches, 1.3lb Seed Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ABGSX4S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_YVZZBbAXE25B2