Creating a haven for birds in your backyard is a rewarding experience that allows you to observe a variety of species and contribute to their well-being. Understanding their diverse feeding habits and preferences is key to attracting them. This guide will walk you through essential strategies for setting up feeders, offering the right food, and ensuring a safe environment for your feathered visitors.
Understanding Bird Feeding Habits
Different bird species have distinct feeding preferences and behaviors. Ground-feeding birds like sparrows and juncos typically forage at the base of feeders, while those who prefer shrubs, such as finches and cardinals, will seek out lower perches. High-reaching species, including chickadees, titmice, and woodpeckers, are best catered to with elevated feeders. To accommodate this variety and prevent overcrowding, it’s recommended to offer different types of feeders at varying heights. Table-like feeders are suitable for ground feeders, hopper or tube feeders work well for birds in shrubs and treetops, and suet feeders positioned higher up are ideal for woodpeckers and chickadees.
Offering a Variety of Seeds
Attracting the widest range of bird species is best achieved by offering a diverse selection of seeds. To minimize waste and cater to specific preferences, it’s advisable to provide different types of seeds in separate feeders. Black oil sunflower seeds are a popular choice, appealing to a broad spectrum of birds. Consider offering sunflower seeds, nyjer (thistle) seeds, and peanuts in individual feeders. When using seed blends, opt for mixtures that include sunflower seeds, millet, and cracked corn, as these are the most commonly favored types. For instance, birds that primarily eat sunflower seeds will often consume them and discard the millet and corn, which can then be enjoyed by ground-feeding birds like sparrows and juncos. Blends containing peanuts, nuts, and dried fruit are particularly attractive to woodpeckers, nuthatches, and titmice. A smaller selection of birds prefer milo, wheat, and oats, which are often found in more economical blends.
Seasonal Feeding Strategies
Providing Suet in Cool Weather
Suet, essentially beef fat, is an excellent food source for insectivorous birds such as woodpeckers, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice. It should be offered in specialized feeders or securely placed within net onion bags, positioned at least five feet off the ground to deter dogs. It is crucial to avoid putting out suet during warm weather, as it can become rancid and the dripping fat can compromise the waterproofing of birds’ feathers.
Utilizing Peanut Butter as a Summer Alternative
Peanut butter serves as a suitable substitute for suet during the summer months. A simple yet effective mixture can be made by combining one part peanut butter with five parts corn meal. This concoction can then be stuffed into drilled holes in a hanging log or packed into the crevices of a large pinecone. This versatile mixture is attractive to woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, and sometimes warblers throughout the year.
Fruit for Berry-Eating Birds
Specialized fruit-eating birds like robins, waxwings, bluebirds, and mockingbirds rarely consume birdseed. To entice these species, you can soak raisins and currants in water overnight before placing them on a table feeder, or select seed blends that include dried fruit. For orioles and tanagers, consider skewering halved oranges onto a spike near other feeders, or providing nectar feeders.
Nectar for Hummingbirds
A simple sugar solution, made by combining one part white sugar with four parts water, is ideal for attracting hummingbirds. Briefly boiling the mixture helps sterilize it and dissolve the sugar crystals; there is no need to add red food coloring. It is imperative to wash hummingbird feeders every few days with very hot water and maintain scrupulous cleanliness to prevent mold growth.
Ensuring a Safe and Secure Environment
Storing Seed Securely
To protect birdseed from squirrels and mice, store it in sturdy metal garbage cans with tight-fitting lids. Keep these containers in a cool, dry location, away from excessive heat. Damp seeds can develop mold, which can be fatal to birds. Overheating can diminish the nutritional value and flavor of seeds, especially sunflower seeds. For these reasons, it is best practice not to store seed from one winter season to the next.
Deterring Squirrels
Squirrels can be effectively deterred from bird feeders by placing them on a pole in an open area. Pole-mounted feeders should be approximately five feet off the ground and equipped with a cone-shaped baffle (at least 17 inches in diameter) or a similar obstacle placed below the feeder. It’s also important to position these feeders at least 10 feet away from any nearby shrubs, trees, or other elevated structures. Consider offering a separate “squirrel feeder” stocked with blends that are particularly appealing to squirrels and chipmunks. This can help reduce competition for the more expensive foods offered at bird feeders. Placing these squirrel feeders at a distance from the primary bird feeders will further minimize competition. Providing a variety of food options can help manage wildlife interactions.
Minimizing Window Collisions
Window collisions are a significant cause of bird mortality, with an estimated one billion birds dying annually in the United States from striking windows. To mitigate this risk, place feeders within three feet of windows whenever possible. Mobiles and opaque decorations hung on the exterior of windows can also help prevent bird strikes. Alternatively, attaching fruit tree netting outside windows can act as a buffer, deflecting birds away from the glass.
Keeping Cats Indoors
Domestic cats are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of millions of birds each year in the United States, often preying on ground-feeding birds and those disoriented after window collisions. Responsible cat owners keep their pets indoors, which also protects them from dangers such as traffic, diseases, and fights with other animals. Outdoor cats pose a particular threat to birds in the spring when fledglings are vulnerable on the ground. Attaching bells to cat collars is generally ineffective in preventing predation.
Maintaining Cleanliness
Cleaning Feeders and Surrounding Areas
Uneaten seed can become damp and foster the growth of deadly mold. It is essential to empty and clean feeders twice a year, typically in the spring and fall, or more frequently if they are used during humid summer months. Use a long-handled bottle brush to scrub feeders with dish detergent, then rinse thoroughly with a strong stream of water. A soak in a 10 percent non-chlorine bleach solution, followed by a good rinse and sun drying, will ensure proper sanitation. In early spring, it’s also advisable to rake up any spilled grain and sunflower hulls from around the feeders. This consistent maintenance ensures a healthy feeding environment for all your avian visitors.
