You were right to stick to sunflower seeds. It's usually the millet in mixed seeds that attracts the doves.

Use tube feeders which are for small birds (no place for the doves to land) and try attaching a tray to catch any seeds that fall so that the doves can't pick up seeds from the ground.

Best luck-

These birds are here to stay? Good Luck!

Greenjewels - I can relate to your plight. I too, have been feeding birds for years, and never saw a pigeon until this year. Today I counted 27. They empty the feeder (a large one ) in 2 days. I didn't want to get rid of my current feeder, as it's a truly a work of art, with a home-made copper dome and copper baffle, but I finally had to give in and purchase some pigeon-proof feeders. I purchased the squirrel buster classic, and the squirrel buster plus. I was loathe to do it, but I figure it's worse to be feeding non-native species. The population of pigeons is so out of control this year, I hear a small city about 15 miles away is going to levy a fine of $1,000 for feeding them! I'll let you know if these feeders really are "pigeon-proof."

I tried putting out only sunfower seed, as I know they prefer millet and cracked corn. Didn't help at all.

I'm happy to tell you that the 2 feeders I puchased work like a charm. Now they're relegated to picking off whatever falls to the ground.