Squirrel-proof bird feeding apparatus and method

Abstract

A bird feeder includes a vessel for holding seeds. One embodiment comprises a removable access tunnel external to the vessel is coupled thereto at a seed opening in the vessel. The access tunnel, as well as a bar across a bottom portion of the access tunnel opening restricts access to seeds by other than birds. A removable seed cover for the opening held on by the access tunnel is made of a flexible material and includes a seed opening sized and shaped to restrict a number of seeds extractable on a given attempt.

1 . A bird feeding apparatus, comprising: 
 at least one seed opening enabling birds to remove said seed therethrough from behind said at least one seed opening; and    at least one barring structure establishing at least one access opening with access opening dimensions thereof, and separated from said seed opening by a separation length therebetween; wherein:    said access opening dimensions are sufficiently small and said separation length is sufficiently large such that rodents outside said at least one barring structure are prevented by said at least one barring structure from reaching their mouths past said at least one barring structure far enough to feed on seed behind said at least one seed opening; and    simultaneously, said access opening dimensions are sufficiently large and said separation length is sufficiently small such that birds outside said at least one barring structure are enabled to reach their beaks past said at least one barring structure far enough to feed on said seed behind said at least one seed opening.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said separation length is greater than approximately one inch; and    said separation length is less than approximately one and one half inches.    
     
     
         3 . A method for feeding birds while barring rodents from feeding, comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one seed opening enabling birds to remove said seed therethrough from behind said at least one seed opening;    further providing at least one barring structure establishing at least one access opening with access opening dimensions thereof, and separated from said seed opening by a separation length therebetween;    preventing rodents outside said at least one barring structure from reaching their mouths past said at least one barring structure far enough to feed on seed behind said at least one seed opening, using said barring structure, by making said access opening dimensions sufficiently small and said separation length sufficiently large; and    simultaneously, enabling birds outside said at least one barring structure to reach their beaks past said at least one barring structure far enough to feed on said seed behind said at least one seed opening by making said access opening dimensions sufficiently large and said separation length sufficiently small.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing said separation length to be greater than approximately one inch; and    providing said separation length to be less than approximately one and one half inches.