BIRDING STRATEGIES
Baby Birds Abound
It's that time of year when baby birds seem to hatch overnight. With them come the anxious calls to your local Wild Bird Center stores. People are concerned mostly with three things: abandoned, fallen or hungry babys.
Even if you haven't seen the parents near the nest for a while, the nestlings have not necessarily been orphaned. Adults often leave for hours to forage for food. It's easy to miss their return unless you have the nest within your sight throughout the day. If the baby bird on the ground has feathers, it already is a fledgling and is supposed to be out of the nest learning survival skills. The parents likely are hovering in a nearby bush, keeping a watchful eye on their offspring as it hops around. This would be a good time to keep your cat indoors.
If the baby bird on the ground is covered with down, it's a nestling and belongs back in its nest. If you can't find the nest, it's ok to substitute a container filled with dried leaves. Put the nestling down in the middle and hang it close to where you found the bird. If the parents don't return after several hours, take the baby to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Don't try to feed a baby bird. Even though you are positive it will die of starvation before your eyes, you can do more harm than good by attempting to feed the wrong thing. A healthy fledgling is able to forage on its own. Quickly deliver sick or orphaned birds to a licensed rehabilitator, trained in the care and feeding of wildlife.
Backyard Hawking
A secondary corollary to backyard birding may be more than you had in mind. Whether you became a backyard birder because a friend gave you an art deco bird feeder, you read an article like this one, or you couldn't resist that cute little birdhouse, chances are you're hooked.
People enjoy feeding birds in their backyards for many reasons. There's something powerful about enticing a wild thing to come to you; it's primordial. You often get to know the birds as individuals, watching as some teach their young about your yard, bringing the fledglings to dine as soon as they can fly.
Whatever your reasons for backyard birding, and they are as varied as birders themselves, you've probably seen this advice: "Provide what the birds need, and they will come." Give them food, shelter, a source of water, maybe some nesting materials, and they'll flock to your yard.
What you're not often told, however, is that, when you provide the necessities to sustain backyard birds, you inadvertently cater to the needs of another category of wildlife: predators. Combine your backyard birding activities with a pond habitat, stocked with fish, as we have done, and you could be shocked.
We had a ground feeder that was visited every day by eight cooing mourning doves with their velvety brownish-gray backs, and their patent-leather spots. One morning, we found one of them dead on the lawn. There was nothing to tell us why it died; maybe a neighbor's cat was the culprit. Fifteen minutes after my husband buried the bird, our pet cockatiel, whose cage sits just inside a large picture window, was screeching and flailing like a banshee. Thinking the cat had returned, I went outside to chase it off.
Imagine my surprise to find a sharp-shinned hawk standing on the exact spot where we had found the dove. He appeared to be unbelievably indignant, as though we were not playing fair. Now keep in mind, we do not live on some farm out in the country. This is suburbia, U.S.A.
Since that time, we've been visited by other hawks, (a Cooper's, two sharp-shinned juveniles and an American kestrel), as well as a neighbor's cat that sits under one of the feeders, looking up at the birds. My favorite hunters, though, are the green heron and the great white egret. They've become quite attracted to the glimmering of the bright orange comets, and the mottled orange-gold-white-and-black shubunkins that dart to and fro in our pond.
It's disconcerting to think of your goldfinches as hawk-tartar, and your pond fish as heron-sushi, but once you conquer the queasies, it's, dare I say it? Kind of exciting.
Be Bug Wise
The greater the plant diversity, the more bird species that will be attracted. Another benefit is that a mix of plants reduces the chances of noxious pests, nematodes and insects.
However, perfect plants prized by gardeners often come at a cost to birds in the form of poisons meant for bugs. When there are garden pests, the temptation is to use pesticides. That's bad for the birds. One problem is that the pesticides don't distinguish between "pests" and pollinators such as bees, wasps and butterflies. All plants that yield berries are insect-pollinated. There won't be any berries if pollinators don't visit the blossoms that provide their necessary food.
According to the American Bird Conservancy, birds can be exposed in three different ways to harmful pesticides: from the seeds or insects they eat; inhaled applications of sprays or dusts; skin absorption from standing on treated soil, vegetation or water.
Pesticides, of course, play an important role when properly used. It is essential to follow the ample directions on all containers. But you want to allow your birds to help you maintain a glorious garden. They feast on pests, more than 300 in a day, or looking at it another way, demolishing five of every six caterpillars.
The Bird Connection
There is a misunderstanding about the connection between birds and the spread of exotic plants.
It often is assumed that seed eating birds help spread these plants' seeds everywhere, causing woodlands to be smothered in Japanese honeysuckle and the Everglades to be covered with Brazilian pepper.
But birds that eat seeds, such as all the visitors to your feeders, have crops in which they grind up seeds with the aid of grit that they swallow. These seeds are their nutrition and are digested, never excreted.
Berry-eating birds are after the fruits, which often have a laxative effect. Seeds in berries are passed through the gut and dispersed.
Neighborly Works
Create edge habitats, done easily even on quarter-acre lots if neighbors work together. Instead of a fence, plant shrubs for boundaries and to provide both food and shelter for a wide variety of birds. Thrashers, robins, mourning doves, sparrows, blue jays and warblers will nest in bird-friendly backyards that include both deciduous and evergreen trees and bushes. Alternate nest sites – nest boxes -- are important for cavity nesting birds, such as wrens, because natural nesting areas are disappearing along with the old-growth forests.
Better to Leave That Baby Alone
It happens every spring. Sometime during the nesting season you quite likely will encounter a baby bird that you assume has fallen from its nest.
Do not immediately try to rescue a young bird that you find on the ground. If it appears to be in danger of being preyed upon, caught in a lawnmower or trampled, you can move it to a safer place nearby. It is likely that the parents are close at hand, keeping a watchful eye on their still-unstable offspring as it prepares to become a fledgling. If you become convinced that the bird truly is an orphan, or if it appears to be injured, the only legal intervention is to contact a licensed rehabilitator. To find one in your area, call the local animal control warden, the humane society or a state wildlife agency. People mean well but actually can do more harm by trying to feed or water a baby bird. These wild creatures require specialized care by trained professionals. Baby birds that you are most likely to find probably belong to a highly adaptable species. It is tempting to provide instant assistance, but the birds probably don't need it. You can watch from a distance to make sure the parents return, but remember it could take several hours.
Bird Friendly Backyards: Getting Ready For Winter
The brilliance of autumn has faded, and in many parts of North America the world appears drab, even bleak. Storm clouds gather in blue skies and frost patterns appear on windowpanes heralding the arrival of winter.
This is the season when millions more people join in the wonderful activity of providing food for wild birds. As natural food supplies diminish, wild birds may respond in ever-greater numbers, especially when snow and ice blanket the landscape.
It is true that all you really need to do in order to attract birds to your yard is throw some seed on the ground (although this generally is not a good idea), stand back and wait for the first feathered opportunists to arrive for dinner.
However, as with any worthwhile pursuit, the more you know about feeding the birds, the more you will enjoy it.
There are only three basic requirements to create a bird-friendly backyard: water, shelter and fresh, clean seed offered in appropriate feeders. Keep your feeders well stocked so the birds don't have to resort to scavenging for seeds that have fallen on the ground, a risky business when predators may be lurking.
Also, full feeders entice more birds to visit, and studies have shown that birds are safer in flocks than when alone. When one member of the flock spots danger, it gives an alarm call so all can fly to safety.
Birds generally do better in raised feeding areas out of reach of cats and not too close to cover, such as buildings, fences or parked cars that could conceal a cat's approach. If you hang your feeders from tree limbs, place them near the trunk where they will be harder for hawks to approach. An attacking hawk first reaches the outer branches, particularly of a sparsely leafed tree.
Ideally your feeders will be within 20 feet of shrubs where the birds can fly for protection from danger. What they want is something to perch on that is not so dense that predators could hide in it -- old Christmas trees are perfect. You can create a brush pile using an arrangement of branches to simulate cover.
In order to enjoy the ever-changing pattern of form and color that birds bring into our yards, position your feeding station so you easily can view it from inside. Whether it's a window in the kitchen or near your desk, you can participate in "arm-chair" birding every time you glance up from stirring the soup, working or paying the bills.
Birds that approach or leave feeders and baths placed a few feet from your windows will be flying at low speeds and are less likely to suffer severe window strikes. If you have to stop feeding for a while in the winter, "your" birds won't starve; they visit many feeding sites during the day to forage for food. Once you resume your feeding program, your feathered friends will return.
Birds Adapt As Season Turns
As the seasons change, so do the feathers, songs and behavior of many of our favorite backyard birds.
In the spring, bird plumage, particularly males, are at their brightest. The brilliant yellow of many warblers and finches, the bright blues of jays and indigo buntings and flaming reds of cardinals and tanagers can't help but catch our eyes and those of the females of the flocks. Although several species retain their distinctive colors year 'round, even those birds appear much brighter in the spring than in the fall.
Bird songs also are different at different times of the year. They too are meant either to attract a mate or stake out a territory. In the spring birds are very vocal, and each species has a distinct song or call. Animosity will occur between birds of the same species as males challenge each other throughout the breeding season.
Once spring turns to summer, mates are chosen, nests built, eggs laid and hatched, and nestlings demand food. Other than territorial warnings, the birds are quieter, using all of their energy tending the nests and searching for food for their young.
Although young fledglings may look just like the adults, juveniles are easy to identify because they still beg for food. You often see one perched next to its parents on a branch or on the lawn, standing with mouth agape and wings shivering in a begging attitude.
By late summer to early autumn, birds molt and the new feathers come in more subdued in color. Most notable is the male goldfinch. He sheds his bright yellow breeding feathers which then are replaced by a duller olive green, making him resemble the female.
As summer wanes, adults and young of some species alter their routine and join with other families in small flocks. For example, tufted titmice and Carolina chickadees belong to the same family but often form a mixed flock that also can include goldfinches, nuthatches and downy woodpeckers. Traveling together and watching each other, individuals notice when another member of the flock finds food. Its feeding behavior leads the rest to claim their fair share. Another group benefit is that many birds can spot danger quicker than one bird can.
By inviting the birds into your backyard, you get the opportunity to catch glimpses of their lifestyles as the seasons come and go. You hardly need a calendar to know September has rolled around again, simply because you see the changes in your feathered friends.
Bringing the Birds Up Close Starts Your Day Off Right
For many people, waking up to the birds is a rewarding start to their day. Observing activity around their feeding stations while they have their first cup of coffee eases their way into the hectic schedule of daily responsibilities. No matter what the backyard size, the landscape can be enhanced to invite your feathered friends closer to entertain, educate and amaze you. First, put out a source of water. Light reflecting off the surface often is the first thing that attracts birds. The sound of dripping water is better yet. Next, put up several types of feeders. Cardinals, towhees, jays and many sparrows prefer to feed from a place where they can stand. Use a tray feeder or hopper-style feeder with a squirrel baffle. Smaller birds will come to tube feeders with perches. Serve black NyjerÔ seed from a tube with tiny portals to attract the delightful goldfinches. Downy and hairy woodpeckers, as well as chickadees and nuthatches, love suet. Purchased prepared cakes that can be used year 'round. Keep feeders, and the ground beneath, clean for the health of your birds. This also will help to discourage nocturnal visitors, including raccoons and opossums. Position your feeders several feet apart to allow enough space for birds to maneuver. Choose areas of the yard that provide optimum viewing for you, but with trees or shrubs nearby for protection and shelter. Put out a few nest boxes (bird houses) to attract wrens, chickadees, nuthatches and titmice. They are cavity nesters, but tree holes can be scarce in urban areas.
Don't Stop Feeding Now!
Feeding birds during late spring and early summer breeding seasons can produce some of the most exciting wildlife experiences of the year. On a warm afternoon, from a favorite deck chair, you can take pleasure watching your birds' amazing behavior. Their communication system is apparent in their calls and visual displays as they defend territories, court a mate, build nests and raise their young. After the young have fledged, adults bring them along to demonstrate how to find seeds at backyard feeding stations.
One of the most entrenched myths about bird feeding is that in the summer it's harmful and should be stopped. The standard argument: the birds will become dependent on feeders and forget how to find food themselves if you feed in the summer. And if you stop, the birds will starve. And there is enough natural food in the summer, anyway.
Well, the myth is wrong on all counts. Your birds do not become dependent on your feeders. They will forage for natural foods regardless of the treats you provide. Because they're mobile and able to find other food sources, they aren't at risk for starvation. And late spring and summer is the time when natural food supplies are depleted and the new crops not yet ready. It also is the time when your birds are the busiest preparing for and raising families.
Feeding During Summer: Good for Everybody
Critics of the practice of summer bird feeding say it's "bad" for the birds. They contend that it makes the birds rely on artificial food sources and that dependence on handouts disrupts natural feeding habits and migration patterns but this just isn't so. The birds that visit your feeder do not depend on it for survival. Birds spend a lot of time foraging, sometimes over a large territory, and can get food from dozens of sources. Just by watching, you know that the variety and frequency of birds at your feeding station can drop off this time of year because of the ready supply of insects and berries. But with some planning, you can attract them with a variety of options, from seeds to fruit to "gourmet" items such as mealworms. The birds will visit when they need to supplement their natural diet, especially while they are providing extra food for their nestlings. One of the special joys of summer feeding comes when the birds have completed their first brood and bring their fledglings to your feeder. You'll recognize them. They're the goofy looking ones with baby down feathers sticking out every which way, noisily demanding of their parents, "Feed me, feed me." Summer feeding does not harm the birds, nor does it interfere with what they "should be" doing. It simply is an alternative that some birds will take advantage of and others will ignore.
Feeding Should Continue For The Whole Year
Year 'round food supplies available at your bird feeding station once were a matter of controversy. In recent years, however, the argument has lost some of its force and each side of the argument has begun to see eye-to-eye.
Some reasons, and rebuttals:
- Artificial feeding creates crowds of birds inviting attacks by natural predators.
However, the more birds, the more eyes can watch for trouble.
- Any disease, such as conjunctivitis, can be spread at the feeder.
True. Therefore, as good stewards, we must keep the feeders and ground beneath them clean.
- Hummingbird feeders left out too late in the fall might delay the birds' migration.
Not so. Their internal clock sends them on their way at the optimum time.
There is no reason not to feed your backyard birds all year long. You may have a drop in the level of activity at feeders during breeding, nesting and fledgling time. Birds then need a diet higher in protein, which they get from insects more than birdseed.
Birds are economical eaters. They choose the best food available within the limits of their bill size and other physical characteristics, including acrobatic abilities. Feeders are popular because they provide a ready source of sustenance without the effort of a search.
No matter the season, the same rules should be observed:
- Keep the feeders clean.
- Try to locate them in a place that is shady at least part of the day and out of the wind.
- Use appropriate feeders and baffles to obstruct backyard predators.
People who feed birds are nearly unanimous that black oil sunflower is preferred by more seed eating birds than any other. For something a little more exotic, try mealworms or grape jelly. Each can be offered in a shallow dish at your feeding station. The jelly is best used early in the season before it attracts wasps and bees.
A special note on hummingbird food. It is not necessary to add red food coloring to the 4-to-1 water-sugar mixture. Its sweet aroma plus the red on the feeders is enough to attract the hummers. Be sure to thoroughly scrub out the feeders every three days, or sooner, if the nectar becomes cloudy.
Whatever reservations you may have about feeding your birds year 'round, when you follow the rules for safe, consistent feeding you offer your feathered friends an option for easier living.
Feeding Station Pluses
Window feeders, seed sox, poles and baffles. Once birds have accepted your backyard habitat, add a window feeder in order to enjoy close-up views of your favorite species. Clear acrylic styles in various sizes stick with suction cups to panes of glass and have lift-out trays for easy filling and cleaning. A traditional window shelf feeder is simple to make from a 7Ú8-inch thick board. Brace it tightly, level with the windowsill and add an 11/2-inch strip of wood to the three outer sides to keep the seed from blowing away. Put a 10- to 12-inch-high upright at either end for suet cake holders. Even the normally shy cardinal may come to a window feeder filled with sunflower or safflower seed. "High-tech" window feeders separate you from the birds by scarcely the thickness of a windowpane. It's all done with mirrors, built-in for one-way viewing so you are able to get close without disturbing the birds. These feeders, usually made either of cedar or acrylic, have weatherproof seed chambers and mount to single pane windows with suction cups or Velcro™. Pine siskins, chickadees and goldfinches are quick to discover and enjoy a seed sock, designed exclusively for the tiny black Nyjer™ seed. It is simply a narrow mesh cloth sleeve about a foot long that can be hung just about anywhere. The birds land on it to pick out the seeds through the small openings in the mesh.
Not enough trees with low limbs in your yard from which to hang feeders? Is the area limited in which to place both feeders and birdbaths? The answer to your dilemma may be poles, hangers, hooks and mounts.
Manufacturers have come up with a dazzling array of accessories to help you create an ideal feeding station despite any limitations of your outdoor area. Attractive iron poles clamp to any railing so you can hang a suet basket, a tubular feeder or wooden feeder from your deck or porch. Screw clamps adjust the mounting bracket for a perfect fit. Poles can be configured to hold one or more feeders, or even a birdbath, and they can be extended as much as four feet to the side to take advantage of even the most limited space. Options for the middle of the yard include an adjustable pole that can be pushed directly into the ground, fitted into a post socket or moved around on a steel stand. It is possible to add multiple crooks to poles as well as brackets to hold suet baskets, mealworm trays and even hummingbird feeders. Attach feeders to trees with a wrap-around bracket and "S" hook, or mount a decorative bracket to the side of the house and hang a feeder from it. Iron "S" hooks come large enough to pop directly over a tree limb and in lengths from one-to-four feet. There is a lifter-pole system available to permit an easy reach above your head without using a ladder.
A favorite subject whenever bird feeding is discussed is how to discourage unwelcome feeder guests. Using a baffle when you mount or hang a feeder stops things that climb (raccoons, squirrels and even snakes) before they reach their goal. Properly positioned, baffles exclude the unwanted without interfering with the function of the feeding station. Dome-shaped baffles are meant to go over the top of hanging feeders, to protect the contents from four-footed acrobats that are able to maneuver oblique angles.
Whatever you choose to do to make your yard more bird-friendly, match the elements to the needs of your feathered visitors. Make sure the products you buy are bird safe as well as easy for you to use and keep clean. Ask the staff of your local Wild Bird Center for more details.
Fill Your Feeders for The Return of Spring
Any year may prove to be difficult for the wild birds in your backyard.
This is why it is critical to maintain feeding stations. The months of April, May and June are some of the most important in which to feed the birds. During that period most birds begin now their cycle of courtship, nest building, egg laying and eventually finding food for their young. And this is the time when there is little for them to find in the wild. Insects still may be hibernating, seeds and berries hardly have sprouted and the abundance of natural foods from the last growing season is depleted.
Fill your feeders with your birds' favorite foods: sunflower for cardinals, chickadees, titmice and grosbeaks; Nyjer™ seed for the goldfinches, pine siskins and redpolls; suet for all of your hungry woodpeckers.
Avoid overcrowding by putting up feeding stations at different heights to resemble your birds' natural feeding environment. Serve sparrows, juncos and mourning doves from a tray elevated just above the ground.
Woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches, chickadees, finches and redpolls that eat clinging to tree branches in the wild prefer feeders four to six feet off the ground. Jays, cardinals and grosbeaks seem to be comfortable at either level, preferring large surfaces that accommodate their body size and wingspan.
Early spring is a good time to put out orange halves for returning orioles, raisins for mockingbirds and meal worms for many species but bluebirds in particular.
From East to West Birds Are Similar
From coast-to-coast, birders enjoy the picture as they view the outdoor scene from their windows: songbirds flitting to and from the feeders, pausing for a quick dip in the birdbath before moving on to grace another yard with their cheerful song and bright colors. But though the scene is similar, the cast of characters may be different. In northern Illinois we watch cardinals, but people in Phoenix see a different crested bird, the pyrrhuloxia. Out in San Diego county, the house finch and lesser goldfinches take the place of purple finches and American goldfinches found on Long Island. The canyon wren is conspicuous in the southwest, while in recent years the Carolina wren has been expanding its southern range to the northeast. Variations in western habitats -- elevations both higher and lower than sea level, climates from arid to misty -- make for a wide variety of birds within diverse bird populations. There are no hard and fast absolutes for bird feeding anywhere. Try new styles of feeders and experiment with new foods. Your feeder visitors could surprise you, wherever you live.
Get to Know Your Birds
Take a good look when you see a newcomer at the feeder. Compare its size to a familiar bird. For example, is it bigger than a finch, smaller than a blue jay? Is its shape plump like a robin or sleek like a nuthatch? Does it have a conical beak like a grosbeak or a short beak like the chickadee?
Beyond the obvious characteristics, other field marks to look for include the shape of the tail, color aournd the eyes and markings on the wings. Once the bird takes off, check your field guide to name your visitor. Next time it appears, it will be a familiar feathered friend.
How to Discourage Rodents at Feeding Stations
It is very unusual for rodents or rats to frequent a feeding station but their presence is a signal that your feeding strategy needs to change. This is almost always a problem associated with densely populated suburban areas and not rural settings where rodent predators are also present.
The key to your new strategy is to use birdfeeders designed to minimize seed spillage to the ground and to fill those feeders with the proper seed. Birds that feed above ground (perching birds) greatly prefer oil sunflower (in the shell or hulled) over seeds such as millet which is preferred by ground feeding birds. In this situation, do not use a standard seed mix that includes seeds for ground feeding and perching birds too. Mixes present a confusing situation for birds at hanging or pole-mounted feeders and they simply "bill sweep" unwanted seeds to the ground - and that excess seed may attract rodents.
Also avoid overfeeding your birds. Put out seed at the same time in the same amounts every day. If the seed is consumed in a few hours, increase the amount of seed until you determine the right amount that can be consumed in a day or so.
These basic steps puts you in full control of your feeding station and you and your birds will be happier for it!
How to Make A Difference
To birds, a plant is simply a food source, shelter or a place to nest. They don't prefer one over another based on the plant's origin. It's up to us to select the right plant species for our yards.
Responsible bird gardening is an antidote to the environmental problem of invasive non-native species. For example, you don't want to plant Japanese honeysuckle or any variety of purple loosestrife. Such exotics may endanger the very birds they attract because birds spread those fruits and seeds into natural areas where they overrun native plants.
However, don't ignore all non-natives. Favorites such as marigolds, zinnias, peonies, lilacs and daffodils are exotics. So are Japanese quince and daylilies. But we don't want to do without them, and these aren't a threat to native plants when cultivated in gardens.
Gardening helps birds' habitat, backyard to backyard; collectively we each can make a difference by providing the right mix of plants, shrubs, trees and water sources. For guidance about what grows well where you live, visit your local garden center and enlist the expertise of the professionals there.
Lights Out, Chicago!
It happened in the city of big shoulders. The citizens of the place Carl Sandburg called the hog butcher for the world were so concerned about bird fatalities caused by bright lights on tall buildings, they're switching them off. And saving thousands of migrating birds.
Through the efforts of the city's nature and wildlife subcommittee, Chicago's skyline is darker now for four months -- April and May, September and October -- to help the birds pass through the city safely.
According to one of the volunteers, the "Lights Out" program underscores people's understanding that it is possible to do something tangible to help these birds. They fly 1,200 miles or more only to be killed by something humans built in their way.
As many as two million birds may travel across the continent each spring, flying mostly at night from winter habitats as far as South America to summer breeding grounds as far north as the arctic. Ornithologists have known for years that big city skylines are a death trap for migrating birds because lights on top of tall towers disorient them. They circle skyscrapers, sometimes for hours, and many die just from exhaustion. With their decorative lighting turned off, skyscrapers are far less likely to be the cause of collisions.
A Chicago real estate executive said, "It is a sacrifice for building owners who have spent a lot of money to get their lighting beautiful, but their cooperation shows they feel the world is much bigger than they are."
It stands as a great moment: the people and their government coming together to effect a compromise that benefits the birds.
Maintaining Harmony at Your Feeding Station
It is true that all you need to attract the birds to your backyard is some seed tossed on the ground. Your feathered friends quickly will find the food source and come with all their relatives. But a good feeding system, like a work of art, becomes a source of pleasure for all. A balanced and beneficial feeding station is not difficult to create, requiring only some strategically positioned feeders. Incorporate a few basic principles of bird behavior to guide your efforts and you're on your way to a great deal of enjoyment.
An enjoyable bird feeding station depends on one thing: location. Instead of sticking your bird feeders haphazardly somewhere in the middle of the yard, you want them positioned so you have the best view through your favorite windows. Whatever you choose to do to make your yard more bird-friendly, match the elements to the needs of your feathered visitors. Make sure the feeder products you buy are bird safe as well as easy for you to use and keep clean.
Removable screen bottoms on platform-style feeders make it easy to keep seed dry and the feeder clean. The Wild Bird Centers’ exclusive MoBi Ranch™ feeder works in all kinds of weather with a landing platform to accommodate species that feed together. Suet, seed mixes and fruit all can be offered on the extra-wide tray.
While a single feeder, filled with black oil sunflower seed, will attract a nice variety of birds, to increase the number of different visitors to your yard the addition of specialized feeders is required. A MoBi Nyjer™ feeder designed to serve Nyjer™ seed, is easily cleaned and re-filled to attract beautiful Goldfinches, Pine Siskins and Red Polls.
If you don't have enough options for hanging feeders, the solution may be poles, hangers and hooks as a mounting system. A broad array of accessories is available from your local Wild Bird Center store to create an ideal feeding environment despite any limitations of your outdoor area. From your deck or porch railing, clamp an iron pole to hang a suet basket or a tubular or wooden feeder.
Our exclusive Black Forest Collection™ of poles and clamps are easy to use. Screw clamps can be adjusted to the mounting bracket for a perfect fit on your deck. Poles can be configured to hold several feeders, or even a birdbath, and can be extended to the side to take advantage of even the most limited space.
For the middle of the yard, Wild Bird Center stores carry an adjustable pole that can be pushed directly into the ground, fitted into a post socket or moved around on a steel stand. It is possible to add multiple crooks to poles as well as brackets to hold suet baskets, mealworm trays and hummingbird feeders.
Attach feeders to trees with an "S" hook, or mount a decorative bracket to the side of the house and hang a feeder from it. Metal "S" hooks come large enough to pop directly over a tree limb and in lengths from one- to -four feet.
A stovepipe baffle around the pole from which you mount or hang feeders will stop critters that climb, before they reach their goal. Properly positioned, baffles exclude the unwanted without interfering with the functioning of your feeding station. Dome-shaped or flat metal baffles are meant to go over the top of hanging feeders, to protect the contents from four-footed acrobats who are able to maneuver around most other obstacles.
Love those birds, but despair at their sloppy table manners? If debris under the feeders is a problem, lay a piece of mildew-resistant indoor/outdoor carpeting on the ground below. It's easy to vacuum up or shake off the accumulated mess.
Droll Yankees' Big Top feeder now has a tray that can be mounted on the base of the feeder, which gives cardinals a place to land and eat and serves as a collection plate for uneaten seed.
Last but not the least consideration is the ease of keeping all your feeders filled. There also are special seed scoops and feeder funnels available. The funnels come in various sizes to handle everything from mixed seed to peanuts to sunflower seeds for different feeder configurations.
Make Paradise For the Birds
Feeding your birds is a perfect accompaniment to your morning cup of coffee. As you watch their antics, stress fades into the background, reducing the irritations of our over-automated lives.
A few bird feeders are the first step in creating your own backyard habitat. From the birds' point of view, however, your yard will be much improved with the addition of trees and shrubs near the feeders as a place to perch, bang open a seed and generally to view the world. Think like a bird when you plan your landscape to attract them. Imagine how birds view your yard from the air. For example, moving water, as it reflects in the sunlight even from up high, is a great attention-getter. A birdbath enhances any landscape, is good for the birds and serves as a focal point for your garden. Placement is important because birds need to see what's going on around them. But they also need bushes nearby to fly to for drying off and preening, so a pedestal bath in the middle of an open expanse of lawn may not attract many bird bathers.
Plan your landscape so that plants mature in sequence, starting in the spring and continuing each month so there always is something for the birds to eat.
Early blooming serviceberry attracts cedar waxwings, grosbeaks, tanagers, flickers and house finches. Thirty-three species, including robins, bluebirds, woodpeckers and cardinals, eat elderberries. Among the 34 species that eat blueberries are orchard and Baltimore orioles.
Make Your Backyard Hummer-attractive
When you think of hummingbirds, do they bring to mind "The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring," a tune from Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta, “The Mikado”? Nectar-rich flowers, blooming from early spring all the way through autumn, are an attractive lure and provide hummingbirds with an uninterrupted food source. Hanging baskets full of petunias will fill the need if your garden doesn't get started until after Memorial Day. Bright red flowers are eye-catching, but what hummingbirds prefer are tubular-shaped blooms, whether they are red, pink or yellow. When you have enticed hummingbirds to your flower-rich yard, they will discover your feeders as well. Once they become accustomed to using them, you can move them wherever it's most convenient for you and they will follow.
Pesticide Use
Pesticides and related chemicals, properly used, help to control plant-damaging insects and eliminate invasive exotics such as Brazilian pepper. But we should understand the nature of the problem before spraying chemicals willy-nilly to the entire garden. Don't use a gallon when two tablespoons judiciously applied will do the job.
Always read labels carefully and follow instructions to the letter. Containers generally have specific guidelines about the product's use near wildlife habitats.
The pest elimination plan of choice always is to do it without chemicals. For example, removing empty containers where water can collect will reduce mosquito breeding. Something as simple as applying plain soap and water can control some common garden pests.
Considering that birds are able to eat some 300 insects every day, the easiest pest control could be creating a bird-friendly backyard so they'll be there to work every day.
Practical Practices
Are you having problems with matted grass or packed garden soil beneath your feeders as the result of accumulated debris?
Some tips to try:
- Use hulled seeds since everything gets eaten; no waste to clutter the ground
- Put trays under feeders -- fewer spills
- Use baffles -- no squirrels, no spills
- If you use black-oil sunflower, keep the rake handy to pick up the hulls
- Move your feeders around. Small relocations once in a while won't deter your birds.
Southern Winter Feeding
If you live north of the Mason-Dixon line, feeding your feathered winter visitors can be a chilling job. But in the sunbelt, the pleasures of bird feeding are quite different. The same kinds of seeds work in the same way in all styles of bird feeders no matter where people live. However, sunbelt residents often find that water is more important than food. The major difference during the winter is that southerners get to feed neo-tropical migrants, the songbirds that have left cold climes. For example, in October when the last of the ruby-throated hummingbirds have abandoned northern feeders, Floridians are just putting theirs in place. Along the gulf coast, where occasional cold snaps cause birdbaths to freeze, people still are able to feed hummingbirds all year. In the Rio Grande Valley, flowers such as petunias and honeysuckle attract hummingbirds into backyards, where orioles and warblers also are seen. Again, water is important for drinking and bathing and can draw such species as thrashers and robins. A menu of black-oil sunflower seed is as popular in Arizona as in Alaska, attracting titmice, cardinals, white-throated sparrows and white-breasted nuthatches. Milo is eaten by more birds in the Southwest than elsewhere in North America. If you live in California, try peanut butter treats for scrub jays, Nuttal's woodpeckers, and orange-crowned and yellow-rumped warblers. Apple slices on a tray feeder work as well for mockingbirds in the Golden State as they do in Connecticut.
People put up feeders and water devices not just for birds' winter survival but for the pleasure they bring us. Our feathered friends survived for centuries without any human help. Nevertheless, today they reward our helpful efforts by bringing their brilliant colors and cheerful songs into our lives.
The Beauty of Attracting Strangers
Most of us who feed birds enjoy a group of “regulars” that visit our backyard. Depending on where you live, this list likely includes cardinals, several finches and sparrows, a nuthatch or two, chickadees and titmice, doves, a few hummingbirds and a variety of woodpeckers. But what about others?
Chances are that you have more species around than you realize. Almost every neighborhood has diverse habitat nearby such as a stand of trees, a group of shrubs, a patch of old field or combinations thereof. And these islands of green (like your own bird-friendly yard) can be magnets for a number of species.
Nearly any shrubby habitat of reasonable size will harbor song sparrows. Look for the streaked-breast with a black spot in the center. They have a dark crown with a narrow, light central stripe and two broad black stripes on the sides of the white throat. They often sing from the top of a shrub or bush, throwing back their head and pouring out a melodious song, usually three introductory notes followed by a trill.
Another species you might find nearby is the towhee. Recently the rufous-sided towhee was split into two distinct species -- the Eastern and the spotted towhee. Towhees are generally dark on top and white underneath, with rusty side stripes. Both species have much white in the wings and tail, but, as its name implies, the spotted has more spotting on the wing and back.
The Eastern variety loves leaf litter in the brushy undergrowth beneath open or secondary woods. The spotted also likes brushy areas as well as chaparral, manzanita, scrub oak and pinyon pine. A single towhee scratching in the leaves will make enough commotion to have you believe there are several. Towhees sing their well known "Drink your Tea" and have a characteristic call, "Chewink."
Catbirds, brown thrashers and northern mockingbirds, members of the mimic thrush family, are possible backyard visitors in similar habitats of dense low growth such as thickets, shrubs and bushes. Catbirds are mousy gray with black on their heads and tails and rusty patches under the tails. Their melodious singing has no pattern or repeating syllables and is commonly interrupted with a cat-like "mew." Brown thrashers on the other hand sing a variety of notes (often from tall tree tops) and regularly repeat some syllables two or three times. These are birds with rusty heads, backs and tails and heavy streaking underneath.
Orioles -- Baltimore in the east, Bullock's in the west -- are regular backyard visitors in many areas. The Baltimore has a black head while the Bullock's has orange on the face and prominent white patches on the wings. The hanging nests of these species are spotted easily in fall and winter after leaves have dropped. If you find a nest, be on the lookout the next year, as you'll likely have another.
Handsome buntings may also come to your yard. Look for the all blue indigo in the east and the patterned Lazuli in the west. The Lazuli has a blue back and head, rusty breast, white abdomen and white patches on the wings. If you live in the south you might be treated to what is arguably the most beautifully plumed bird on our continent -- the painted bunting. Its gaudy color patterns appear to have been created by the same tie dying skill that we learned as children.
Be alert for these and other occasional unexpected guests. If one of your backyard birds appears a little different, give it a second look. It just might be a birding bonus you won't soon forget.
The Group Scoop
A mixed crowd of birds at your feeders may offer the best early warning system in the event of predators. Different species feed together in their natural environments, chickadees and nuthatches for example. The more your feeding station resembles conditions in the wild, the more attractive it will be to your backyard visitors.
Trim a Bird a Tree
In keeping with the season, trim a tree outside for the birds. It's a great family activity, and it doesn't even require a spruce or pine. Deciduous trees work well and have the advantage of keeping the birds in full view. Hang seed bells, which are commercially prepared treats of mixed seed held together with corn syrup or some other binder. A do-it-yourself alternative is a stiff cardboard cutout shape spread with non-toxic white glue and sprinkled with birdseed. Color can be added with orange "baskets." Cut oranges in half, scoop out the fruit and fill the rinds with seeds and nuts. Thread them with cotton string and hang them like small baskets on the tree. Stuff suet chunks into pinecones. Or dip pinecones in melted suet, and then roll them in birdseed. String a garland of popcorn, apple pieces and cranberries. Or tie yarn around the middle of individual unsalted, unshelled peanuts. After the holidays, when you are finished with your decorated indoor tree, it can go outside to your winter garden.
The birds will appreciate the additional shelter that the tree gives them, whether it's a planted live tree or just one of the cut varieties.
Winter's Demand
"The North wind doth blow, and we shall have snow, And what will poor robin do then, poor thing?" The start of that old nursery rhyme is a perfect reminder to keep abreast of weather conditions and be prepared with plenty of seed and unfrozen water. February is National Bird Feeding month. It's an occasion championed by birdfeeding.org to make people aware of songbirds' needs, especially during the worst parts of winter. Winter bird feeding in cold climates requires a little extra attention to details such as: Additional feeders so more birds can feed at one time Snow-free feeders and ice-free bird baths Energy boosters such as suet and peanut butter snacks Windbreaks to shelter feeders from wind, snow and sleet By putting up two or three more feeders, you not only add capacity, you reduce overcrowding at any one station and the potential for the spread of diseases. If your feeders are ice-encrusted or buried under several inches of snow, the birds cannot use them. Be sure feeders are accessible, and also clear a space beneath them so the ground feeding birds are able to find seed. By using a submersible heater or thermostatically controlled birdbath, you ensure a reliable source of available water that the birds can depend on. Even in winter, all birds need water to drink and to maintain their feathers. Put the birdbath within 10 feet of some bushes so there's a place for the birds to escape predators. Suet comes from beef fat and is a high-energy food. It gives birds such as chickadees, woodpeckers, nuthatches and titmice an additional boost to survive the cold. A windbreak can be as simple as a discarded Christmas tree, firmly angled upwind from your feeding station. The purpose is to offer some protection from the elements that can overwhelm the feeders. Whatever protection you devise will reduce the number of times you need to go out just to sweep clean a feeding area.