Bird feeder

Abstract: A bird feeder comprising a body for housing bird seed and a perch or perches for a bird, attached to the body, each perch having at least one aperture in the body proximal to said perch wherein the aperture is above and offset to one side or the other of said perch.

Description: The invention relates to a bird feeder and in particular a feeder for niger seed and other seeds for small birds such as Goldfinches. It is known to provide a bird feeder for feeding niger seeds to Goldfinches which feeder comprises a body for housing the bird seed, a perch attached to the body and a slot positioned approximately 1 inch (2.54 cm) directly above the perch, wherein the slot is approximately 2 mm wide by 10 mm long. This type of feeder is only found to be suitable for Goldfinches and is not thought to be particularly attractive to other types of small bird. US 5642689 discloses a tubular bird feeder with a self contained seed scoop and means of inserting perches within the tube in mutually orthogonal directions. US 5235935 discloses a bird feeder having a series of vertically spaced feed stations with perches located below feed apertures. US 5823135 discloses a bird feeder having a storage jar mounted on a rotatable base with means of metering feed from the jar to opposed cavities within the base. US 5452682 discloses a tubular bird feeder with a tubular extender that provides a perch below the lowermost feeding opening . An object of the invention is to provide an improved bird feeder for small birds. An object of the invention is to provide a bird feeder being more attractive to and easier to use for Goldfinches, Tits and other small birds. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bird feeder comprising a body for housing bird seed, a perch for a bird, attached to the body, and an aperture in the body proximal the perch to allow a perched bird unobstructed above the perch, characterised in that the feeding aperture is offset to one side of the perch by a horizontal distance of less than 25mm, and allows a perched small bird unobstructed access directly to feed within the body. Another aspect of the invention provides a bird feeder comprising a body for housing bird seed, a perch for a bird and an aperture in the body proximal the perch to allow access to the feed, wherein the aperture is substantially circular. In this arrangement the aperture can be directly above the perch. Preferably the centre of the or both aperture(s) is/are offset or displaced a distance (S) greater than 0 from the centre line of the perch and preferably greater than 5 mm and/or the radius of the aperture. Preferably the offset (S) is less than or approximately equal to 50 mm, more preferably less than or approximately equal to 25 mm and more preferably still within the range of 10-20 mm. The preferred form of offset (S) is approximately 13 mm. Preferably the centre of the aperture is a distance (H) above the top of the perch which distance (H) is preferably greater than 30 mm. More preferably, the distance (H) is less than or approximately equal to 70 mm, more preferably still within the range of 40-60 mm, and still more preferably between 45 and 55 mm. In a preferred form, the distance (H) is approximately 50 mm. Preferably, the diameter of the aperture is approximately 4 mm. Preferably the diameter of the perch is approximately 4 mm. In a preferred form a plurality of perches and associated apertures are provided in a single bird feeder. More preferably, the perches lie on a spiral line about the body of the bird feeder which is preferably cylindrical. Also the apertures can lie on a spiral line preferably parallel to the line of perches. An aperture can be placed on either or both sides of the perch. In one form the offset distance (S) is the same for both apertures. In another form one aperture is offset more than the other, preferably the difference is offset between 5 and 20 mm and more preferably in the order of 10 mm. In another form the diagonal separation (R) between the perch and the aperture is in the order of 40 to 60 mm and more preferably about 50 mm. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic plan view of a bird feeder according to the invention; FIGURE 2 is a schematic side elevation view of the feeder shown in Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 is a schematic enlarged view of a perch and aperture on the feeder shown in Figures 1 and 2. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a bird feeder 10 according to the invention comprising a substantially cylindrical body 12 for housing bird feed such as niger or thistle seed. In this embodiment six perches 14 are attached to tubular body 12 in a spiral arrangement. Associated with each perch 14 is an aperture 16 in body 12 allowing access for a bird to seed contained within the bird feeder. Referring to Figure 3, it can be seen that aperture 16 is displaced to the side of perch 14. The extent of offset S can be defined as the separation between the vertical centre lines CA and CP passing through the aperture and perch respectively. Additionally, it can be seen that the aperture 16 is positioned a distance or height H above the top of perch 14. This separation can be defined by height H as being that between the horizontal centre line HA through aperture 16 and parallel line HP the top of perch 14. Referring to Figure 3 it can also be seen that the perch and aperture can be defined as having diameters DP and DA respectively, which are separated by a distance R. In a preferred form, the side ways offset S is in the order of 10-20 mm and more preferably approximately 13 mm. The offset S can be to either or both sides of the perch 14. In a preferred form, the height separation H between perch 14 and aperture 16 is within the range 45-55 mm and more preferably about 50 mm. However, the following arrangements are also possible: S > 0, S > 5 mm, S ≲ 50 mm, S ≲ 25 mm, 10 mm ≲ S ≲ 20 mm, S ≃ 13 mm and/or S > DA/2; H > 30 mm, H ≲ 70mm, 40 mm ≳ H ≲ 60 mm, 45 mm ≳ H ≲ 55 mm, H ≃ 50 mm; 30 ≳ R ≲ 70, 40 ≳ R≲ 60, 45 ≳ R ≲ 55, R ≃ 50 mm; 2 mm ≳ DP ≲ 6 mm, DP ≃ 4 mm; and/or 2 mm ≳ DA ≲ 6 mm, DA ≃ 4 mm

Claims: 1. A bird feeder, for feeding small birds such as Goldfinches, comprising a body for housing bird seed, a perch for a bird, attached to the body, and a feeding aperture in the body above the perch, characterised in that the feeding aperture is offset to one side of the perch by a horizontal distance of less than 25 mm, and allows a perched small bird unobstructed access directly to feed within the body. A bird feeder according to Claim 1 wherein there are there are two apertures proximal the perch one offset on each side of the perch. A bird feeder according to Claim 2 wherein each aperture is offset from the perch by a different distance. A bird feeder according to Claim 3 wherein the difference in offset is between 5 and 20 mm. A bird feeder according to Claim 4 wherein the difference in offset is in the order of 10 mm. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim wherein there are plurality of perches each having an associated proximal aperture or apertures. A bird feeder according to Claim 6 wherein at least some of the plurality of perches lie on a spiral line. A bird feeder according to Claim 6 or 7 wherein at least some of the plurality of the perches lie on a spiral line about the body of the bird feeder. A bird feeder according to Claim 6 wherein at least some of the plurality of the perches lie on a spiral line parallel to a line of associated apertures. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim wherein the perch or perches are substantially cylindrical in shape. A bird feeder according to Claim 10 wherein the diameter of the perch (DP) is approximately 4 mm. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim wherein the body of the feeder is substantially cylindrical. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim or independent thereof wherein the aperture or at least one of the apertures is substantially circular. A bird feeder according to Claim 13 wherein the aperture diameter (DA) is approximately 4 mm. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim wherein the offset (S) is in the order of 5 - 50 mm. A bird feeder according to Claim 15 wherein the offset (S) is in the order of 10 - 20 mm. A bird feeder according to Claim 16 wherein the offset (S) is in the order of 13mm. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim wherein the height separation (H) of an associated aperture and perch is in the order of 30 - 70 mm. A bird feeder according to Claim 18 wherein the height separation (H) is in the order of 40 to 60 mm. A bird feeder according to Claim 19 wherein the height separation (H) is in the order of 45 to 55 mm. A bird feeder according to Claim 20 wherein the height separation (H) is in the order of 50 mm. A bird feeder according to any preceding claim wherein the diagonal separation (R) of an associated aperture and perch is in the order of 40 to 60 mm.

Inventors: WHITTLES CHRISTOPHER JOHN, WHITTLES, CHRISTOPHER JOHN
Applicants: WILDBIRD J C FOODS LTD, C J WILDBIRD FOODS LTD.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A01K39
IPC codes: A01K39