Patent ID: 8413605

Claim:
A bird feeder for storing and dispensing bird seed comprising: an upstanding feeder housing formed along a vertical axis, including side walls, a roof and a floor adjacent its lower side for containing bird seed; a support for supporting said feeder in an elevated position; a squirrel guard comprising a generally planar tray having a generally circular tray opening through which a pole is received, said tray being mounted beneath said floor and lower side to prevent squirrel access to said bird seed and as a collection tray for spilled bird seed; a tilt connector operatively associated with said pole and said tray beneath said lower side for supporting said planar tray in a generally horizontal seed collecting position generally perpendicular to said vertical axis when bird seed is carried by said tray and for allowing said tray to tilt about said pole to a discharge position generally diagonal of said vertical axis when engaged by a relatively heavy weight; said connector comprising a pole in pivotal engagement with said squirrel guard tray along said axis, said pivotal engagement including a space defined in said tray opening between said tray and said pole so that said tray tilts between said discharge position and said horizontal position in all directions; wherein said tray normally remains in said collecting position collecting spilled bird seed but is moved to said discharge position when engaged by a squirrel, and the like, causing said squirrel to fall from said tray and away from said bird feeder.