The Magic Halo is a hand-crafted device for the sole purpose of deterring House Sparrows (HOSP) from hanging bird feeders. The Halo is hung first on your shepherds hook, then the feeder on a hook inside the Halo. The original Magic Halo was invented and patented by the University of Nebraska. The original study papers can be viewed in PDF format HERE & HERE.NOTES:
- Before purchasing a Magic Halo, please read our disclaimer. Halos over feeders serve as an adult HOSP deterrent, though for many it is HOSP-proof. As with anything birds, results can vary. At this time, our survey results indicate that roughly 80% of customers achieve 80-100% of adult HOSP eliminated from their feeder(s), This appears to make the device quite successful overall.
- Two lengths of hanging wires are offered. 38" should be long enough to ensure that the weighted ends fall several inches below the lowest feeding station(s) on most large sized tube feeders, e.g. Droll Yankees, Brome, etc. A custom wire length can be determined by measuring the total length of your feeder (including the hanger) and adding 6".
- Resist feeding non-native invasive HOSP to encourage native species
- 20" diameter works for most hanging feeder designs (email us with any questions)
- Hunter Green enamel-finished crossbar (Deluxe upgrade available)
- 12 AWG (3/32") thick galvanized hoop, marked for symmetrical wire placement
- 24 AWG clip-on galvanized weighted hanging wires
- Designed for hanging feeders using 1/2" diameter Shepherd hook
- Simply hang between hook and bird feeder
- With more targeted feeding, expect lower volume and cost of birdseed
- Price reflects materials cost, ~2 hours labor, and packaging of item
- Easy assembly in only a few minutes, requiring only a phillips head screwdriver
The birds flying up at, and then away from the feeder in the above video are adult HOSP. The Magic Halo serves as as deterrent, allowing native birds more access to your feeders. If you find it is not at least reducing HOSP, you may return your Halo for a complete refund (+ one-way shipping).
Working 100% so far! I haven't seen the cardinals yet but woodpeckers and chickadees are not bothered. I did a three prong approach - covered their favorite bush in bird mesh and feed cracked corn on the ground.
ReplyDeleteSo great to hear! Thanks for the feedback. Cardinals: according to the original study papers, they are one of the few other birds effected by the halo, albeit moderately (on the other hand, HOSP are highly effected). Cards should eventually come around. If not, you may need to modify your setup to include something more of a platform-style feeder (if you don't already have one) which they readily take to. Keep us posted! :-)
DeleteNot working for me - the house sparrows (Boston area) are all over this within an hour of putting it up. I saw a commenter elsewhere state that nesting house sparrows are immune to these, so that could explain why they are not deterred, but I'm hoping the author of this post can provide some additional ideas or info!
ReplyDeleteContact me at: admin@magichalo.org and we will discuss some strategies. First make sure it is House Sparrows and not similar birds, e.g. House Finches which people commonly mistake.
DeleteI want to feed wild sparrows and finches but they are being chased away by thrushes and starlings. Want to protect the small birds.
ReplyDeleteYour Halo has worked well as a deterrent for months, primarily on a cylinder feeder with a starling proof cage. (I am limited on Feeder options due to "Bully Birds".) Over the past two or three weeks the House Sparrows (not House Finches) have been using it with impunity and crowding out other birds. Could this be a result of the nesting season? Suggestions?
ReplyDeleteThis is the heart of juvenile season. We had the same problem here but we control it until Fall with trapping. If you're not going to trap, simply take down your feeder setup until mid-Sept. The longer you leave it out, the more they'll adapt, possibly into adulthood. "Juvies" almost always look like adult females. The halo works best on adult HOSP that have never encountered wires and hoops before. Let me know how it goes. Cheers.
DeleteWorks like magic for me. I ordered this last year February 8 but we are winding down with our feeder so I didn’t install it. This year our feeders are just getting attacked by tons of sparrows so I decided to install it. For one day I only saw occasional sparrows landing but most of them just flutter around it and fly away. I don’t know why but it works.
ReplyDeleteThis is great to hear. I just wrote a post on this topic: https://www.magichalo.org/2023/01/why-are-house-sparrows-averse-to-halos.html
DeleteCan this magic halo also be used above birdhouses to deter house sparrows from nesting?
ReplyDeleteMaybe maybe not. Some say they mount it on the box after the BBs have nested and it works from that point on, but you have to find a way to mount it on the roof which it isn't designed for. It's designed for use with hanging feeders only. https://www.magichalo.org/2018/04/experimenting-with-bluebird-nest-box.html
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