Meet Anno Govers, the brains behind our Cork Feeders
Retired teacher and bird enthusiast Anno Govers has always had a talent for inventions. In 2017, Anno combined his two main passions and developed our innovative Cork Peanut Butter Feeder, designed especially for small garden birds.
Before turning his attention to creating pioneering bird feeders, Anno was an English teacher. After retiring 13 years ago, he decided to focus on his inventions and find ways to help wildlife at home. So, where did this passion for nature come from?
“Our home had a large garden in which my father invited songbirds to build their nests,” said Anno. “He did this by creating the right environment. He’d say to me: ‘look at this’, showing me a board of a few square centimetres, nailed under the eaves of our garage roof. ‘A weaver bird will come soon and build its nest here’. Sure enough, it did.” Anno and his father also regularly walked in the woods and sand dunes close to their family home, further inspiring his love of nature.
Over time, Anno also discovered a knack for inventions, and started using these skills to create practical solutions at home. When he couldn’t find a specific drill part at the DIY shop, he simply fashioned one himself using a long tent peg.
“I have always enjoyed inventing things,” said Anno. “But my creative skills especially came in handy when one day, after I had retired from work, I was asked to invent something to help garden birds. Many people had peanut butter feeders in their garden, but Jackdaws and other large birds were raiding the pots. So, I got to work designing a peanut butter feeder for small birds.
“To find a new way of keeping large birds away from a feeder, I first needed to consider what distinguishes the two different birds. That is, among other things: weight and size.”
Deter large birds and squirrels thanks to the unique weighted system
The unique weighted system of the Cork Peanut Butter Feeder ensures only small birds can reach the food. If a large bird or squirrel sits on the perch, it tilts away from the feeder so they can’t access the peanut butter. Our first pole-mounted Cork Peanut Butter Feeder is very popular and as a result, Anno has now developed a hanging version and a wallmounted version, so customers with all types of gardens can enjoy the Cork feeder.
“What distinguishes the Cork feeder from other feeders is the fun of seeing a small bird taking its spot on the perch, stubbornly remaining seated although the perch slowly moves away from the feeder, and then returning to the feeder by replacing its centre of gravity.
“The need for a feeder that is accessible for small birds has always been at the back of my mind. When I happen to see something that could be used for it, it helps me to create the concept – a torsion spring; the suspension of a ship’s compass, or an existing feeder that does not work properly, can all form the foundation of a new product.”
For Anno, developing the Cork feeders was a way of helping to support small bird species, while allowing people to enjoy watching the birds happily feeding in their gardens. “If a decline in the population of certain bird species is due to preventable circumstances, we should act. Feeding birds can be helpful! Also, feeding the birds is an entertaining activity. Next, my task is to invent bird feeders for seeds, peanut butter, and fat blocks.” It has been a joy to work with Anno to bring his concepts to life and watch small birds flock to our Cork feeders! We hope your feathered friends enjoy feasting on our nutritious peanut butters in peace.
