Donna (Edmonds, WA): Do bird baths attract rats and/or rodents?

Dr. Horn: Feeding or providing water to birds has the potential to attract unexpected visitors to feeding stations or bird baths. One way to minimize the use of feeding stations or baths by unexpected visitors is to offer food or water in a matter that minimizes their accessibility. In the case of water, offering water in an elevated bird bath or hanging bird bath may lower the probability of the bath being used by rats or other rodents. Water is important resource to birds, and baths may attract species to one's yard that do not visit feeders.

Jeannie (Kihei, HI): What's a safe way to prevent the stray cats from killing the birds at our backyard bird bath and feeders? Live catch traps don't work, more does feeding them cat food, which brings more hungry strays.

Dr. Horn:One suggestion that I have is to move your feeders away from vegetation that cats may hide in. This will give birds more time to escape a cat attack. Hanging your feeders or mounting feeders from a pole (as opposed to offering seed on the ground) may reduce a cat's ability to reach feeding birds. Finally, putting out feeders with trays that catch falling seed preventing it from reaching the ground may reduce the number of birds feeding on the ground, and subsequently the number of bird kills.

Karen (portsmouth, OH): I am a member of the National Wildlife Backyard Project. I thought I knew my birds until a 'stranger' came today and took a leisurely bath in the bird bath. It was the size of a cardinal, but all gray (kinda dark gray). It had a small tuft like crown that was darker, nearly black. When it got out of the 'tub' I noticed that it was banded. As I got the camera and binocs, it then flew off.........not to be seen again. Any idea? And, why was it banded?

Dr. Horn: The bird you describe sounds similar to the Tufted Titmouse. However, Tufted Titmice are smaller than Northern Cardinals. I recommend visiting a website such as percevia.com to assist you in your bird identification.

Linda (Denton, TX): Do you have any suggestions on how to deter racoons from invading my bird feeders, bird baths, garden, etc. I would prefer to use something organic but am desperate for something to deter these critters!

Dr. Horn:Deterring raccoons can be a challenge, but there are some ways to discourage them from using your feeders and baths. In particular, if you have a pole mounted feeder, I would recommend placing a raccoon baffle on the pole. A raccoon baffle is a long, cylindrical metal tube that prevents raccoons from climbing up. In order to discourage raccoons from a bird bath, you might consider a bird bath that has limited accessibility for a larger animal. For example, a small hanging birdbath may not be stable enough for a larger animal like a raccoon.

A J (Waikoloc, HI): Java Sparrows have been nesting in the vents under my eaves. There are 42 holes I am covering with wire. I would like to build them a bird house(s) as a replacement. Could you recommend a type of birdhouse they might use instead?

Dr. Horn: It sounds as though you have quite the colony of Java Sparrows at your home. Offering them housing may be a way to reduce the number that are nesting under your eaves. There are many breeders of Java Sparrows, and I would recommend contacting them for information about box dimensions specific to the sparrows.

Felecia (Dyersburg, TN): I have a inside white dove as a pet. I found her in my back yard and have had her for 4 years. I know she's a female due to her laying a egg twice. My question is what is the proper nutritional diet to feed this bird. I have been feeding her finch food and water with vitamin drops for 4 yrs but I\'m not sure this is what she needs to be healthy, although she looks healthy.

Dr. Horn: The fact that you have had the bird for four years is a sign that you have been providing the bird with the care that it needs. Many birds have life spans of 3-5 years. I recommend talking to a veterinarian or a reputable pet store about your care regimen and whether changes need to be made. Enjoy your pet bird, and the backyard birds as well!

Susan (Bowling Green, KY): Thank you so much for making this available and your assistance in educating the general public...humanity becomes better because of people like you, you are a gem!
Our youth group at church is interested in making the homemade birdseed recipes into molded designs as a money making project for their account. How should these items be stored until we can have the sale and is there a need to include information regarding these items and bird safety.

Dr. Horn: I would recommend that after you have made the molded designs that you place the food in the freezer before use. If you would like to handout information to individuals about bird safety, I would recommend printing off copies of the brochure "6 steps to turn your yard into a santuary for birds" (www.backyardbirdcare.org/6ways.pdf). It makes some excellent recommendations for enhancing your bird feeding experience.

Pamela (Scottsdale, AZ): I am moving (just 2.5 miles away) but am concerned about taking the feeder away at this time (early October). I've grown attached to my hummer this past year. I have only seen one other feeder in the area, but there are lots of trees and flowers around. I have heard that if there are hummingbirds around that there are plenty of food sources without the feeders. I was wondering if that was true.

Dr. Horn: Hummingbird feeders are but one source of energy that birds use to meet their energetic requirements. Thus, while removal of your feeder will mean the loss of an energy source, it will be replaced by another that the hummingbird finds to replace it. Of course, the hummingbirds 2.5 miles away will be gaining an energy source next spring when the hummingbirds return from the wintering grounds.

Jean (Tulsa, OK): I have recently mover to OK from England and I am interested in finding out about a bird I see everyday.  ... Read More

Frieda (Chester, SC): Dr. Horn, This past summer we found a baby dove that had fallen from it's nest.  ... Read More

James (Grove City, OH): I am feeding black oiled sunflower seeds. ... Any suggestions to save my seed from being wasted?  ... Read More

Todd (Greensburg,PA): My favorite bird was once the pine siskin but I have not seen one or heard about one since college. Can you remind me how to attract them audibly?  ... Read More

Shirley (Jacksonville, AR): Please tell me what to do to prevent stralings from taking over the Bird feeder.  ... Read More

Patricia (O'Fallon, MO): Do hummingbirds have houses? When and how do they reproduce  ... Read More

Shirley (Chicago, IL): This is the second day that my husband and I have observed a humming bird in our back yard. We are running out today to purchase a bird feeder.  ... Read More

Christa (St. Louis, MO): It is early September in St. Louis, Missouri and my birds just don't seem as active.  ... Read More

Debbie (Oakmont, PA): I love feeding the birds and enjoy many species at my feeders. Lately, however, I have been attracting flocks of pigeons.  ... Read More

Vivian (Escondido, CA): I have a new birdbath made out of copper. Do I need to do something to it before pouring water?  ... Read More

Matthew (Gastonia): I need some research on birds I'm donig a assignment for school.  ... Read More

Margaret (Slaughter, LA): My dog (lab), alerted me to a fallen baby bird 3 days ago.  ... Read More

Adam & Molly (Pittsburgh, PA): My fiance and I want to wake up to the sound of interesting bird sounds that may be unusual in the neighborhood.  ... Read More

Patricia (Fallon, NV): My husband works in a gravel pit and they have some strange birds there. The other guys call them Chuckers.  ... Read More

George (Crown City, OH): What is the best feed for Bluebirds! I know there are Bluebirds in my area but I can't draw them to my feeder. What bird food is disliked by Blackbirds?  ... Read More

Candace (Denver, CO): Should we be concerned of copper baths leaching toxins into the water, thus harming the birds?  ... Read More

Angela (Front Royal, VA): I have flocks and flocks of blackbirds. They are destroying my plants, sunflowers, droppings everywhere, etc. Would you please give any advice on getting rid of these nasty flocks.  ... Read More

Connie (Clinton, MD): I just moved into a new (to me) house 2 weeks ago. Since that time a persistent male cardinal has been trying to fly into a casement window several times a day, every day.  ... Read More

Tricia (Waldport, OR): I live beside a golf course where perhaps 40-50 (sometimes more) crows congregate. It seems I spend a great deal of time "shooing" them out of my small back yard.  ... Read More

JoAnn: I recently moved and brought with me the many feeders I had at my old home which many birds visited. I have hung two feeders and a hummingbird feeder. No birds are coming to my feeders.  ... Read More