When you have bully birds, may it be red wing blackbirds, grackles, starlings or other, do you take your feeders down until they go elsewhere? My nemesis are the blackbirds. I have taken down the suet, sunflower seeds, and white millet. They DO and ARE eating safflower seeds. I do have a thistle feeder up that they aren't bothering. I hate to penalize the songbirds but I want the blackbirds to move on too!

I sometimes get grackles and a few starlings, but they don't like most of the feeders I use. I've got 2 Brome feeders, the Legacy and the Nut Feeder, and 1 of my suet feeders is the type encased in a wire cage. The Legacy perches are too small for the big birds, I switched from my window feeders to that to try and get rid of the mourning doves eating everything daily, and it worked. They'll still feed off anything dropped on the ground, and that's fine. They are pretty awkward at trying to eat from the Nut Feeder, and they can't fit in to get to the 1 suet feeder (they can still eat suet from the other one though).

I only seem to get them during migration, so I left my usual mix up (striped sunflowers, sunflower hearts, and safflower, and peanuts in the Nut Feeder), and they didn't eat me out of house and home because of the special feeders.

Maybe changing feeders would help, not sure if they'd adapt though if you get them year round.

Nancy thank you for replying! I presently only have up my nyger feeder and the safflower. The blackbirds are still swooping in. Sometimes they are on the ground under feeders and I don't begrudge them that. They have abandoned the safflower and are after my finches food. They don't worry about the tube they eat from the tray at the bottom of the feeder. Fairly soon I will be filling the platform with meal worms.

In my area surrounded by a wooded areas and canyons we have the stellar blue jays that bully every bird and take over the whole garden. They are predators and will swipe bird eggs and cause such a ruckus . I have given up feeding birds. There are enough natural plantings in my garden to feed birds through the seasons.
When Seed is out for birds it also attracts other animal like squirrels and chipmunks that literally jump like acrobats across large sections to climb on feeders. In turn they get into the attic, under the house in the garage and can cause serious damage when nesting . Not very cute anymore. I miss feeding the birds but the long term damage by other critters is just not worth the hassle. I have large areas with small ponds for birds to stop for a drink and bathe which attracts many birds passing thru every day.

Kabby
I suggest you check out Duncrafts web site. They carry some thing called a "squirrel buster" feeder. It has a forest green top and base with 6 feeding ports and a 15" tall by maybe a 3" wide clear tube to hold the seed. I have used one since 2009 and it is fantastic.
It has a round, weight sensitive feeder ring/perch at the base by the feeding ports. It comes 'factory set' for the weight of a Cardinal. Anything heavier then that, then internal sensor slides and closes the feeding ports. It is adjustable too!
Red wings, Starlings, Blue Jays are all too heavy to land and feed. I think it would be perfect for your needs.
I employ 2 right now, one with "finch mix" and the other with black oil sunflower. They are fantastic because the little birds I have, Titmouse, chickadees, both Nuthatches, House finch and Goldfinch have easy access to seed.

I have one feeder filled with the cheapest seed I can find! I let the chubby birds feed there.

Other vendors may have it cheaper or whatever but that's what I use and I think it will solve your problem!!
Good luck!