Bird Watching: Thistle seed feeders, 1 by ZenSojourner

ZenSojourner wrote:
After reading online reviews, I just bought several different thistle feeders. Hmmm, it only lets me post one picture, but here are links to the rest:

http://www.birdquest.com/images/bqsbf2a.jpg
http://www.birds-out-back.com/images/mar-prods/BF257.jpg
http://www.birds-out-back.com/images/may-prods/BF235.jpg

Originally I had only a thistle sock type feeder. After reading that most of these feeders were LESS wasteful of seed than the sock type feeders, I bought them. The sock for the sock feeder just don't last very long (I had to replace one in less than a week) and they're quite expensive. So I thought these feeders would be a Good Idea, and less wasteful of the (expensive) thistle feed.

Well the snow just melted and it looks like it snowed black snow under all of these feeders EXCEPT the original sock type feeder. And here I thought I was feeding the birds - I'm burying the grass in cast off thistle seed instead!

Is there a way to fix this? Are there feeders that are less wasteful, or catch trays, or something? Even my sunflower seed feeder doesn't make THIS much mess!

BTW, the third URL listed is the most wasteful of the lot, and I haven't put #2 out yet because it looks like it's likely to be even MORE wasteful than anything I've already got hanging. The tube feeders that I was told would be much less wasteful of seed than the sock type feeders are FAR more wasteful.

Help?

Sojourner