BirdNotes 1 Winter Bird Feeding

If you feed birds, you’re in good company. Birding is one of North America’s favorite pastimes. A 2011 report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that more than 50 million Americans provide food for wild birds. Chickadees Titmice Cardinals Sparrows Wood- Orioles Pigeons Nuthatches Finches Grosbeaks Blackbirds Jays peckers Tanagers Doves Sunflower ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Safflower ◆ ◆ ◆

Corn ◆ ◆ ◆

Millet ◆ ◆ ◆

Milo ◆ ◆

Nyjer ◆

Suet ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

◆ Preferred ◆ Readily Eaten

Wintertime—and the by counting birds at their feeders food types. You may find the task of Living’s Not Easy during this winterlong survey. Great selecting the best foods daunting. To Backyard Bird Count participants attract a diversity of birds, provide a n much of North America, winter provide valuable data with a much variety of food types. But that doesn’t is a difficult time for birds. Days I shorter time commitment—as little as mean you need to purchase one of ev- are often windy and cold; nights are 15 minutes during the four-day count erything on the shelf. long and even colder. Lush vegeta- in February! tion has withered or been consumed, Which Seed Types and most insects have died or become Types of Bird Food Should I Provide? dormant. Finding food can be espe- uring spring and summer, most lack-oil sunflower seeds attract cially challenging for birds after a songbirds eat insects and spi- the greatest number of species. heavy snowfall. D B ders, which are highly nutritious, These seeds have a high meat-to- Setting up a backyard feeder makes abundant, and for the most part, eas- shell ratio, they are nutritious and their lives easier and ours more enjoy- ily captured. During fall and winter, high in fat, and their small size and able. To observe birds at a feeder, you nonmigratory songbirds shift their di- thin shells make them easy for small don’t need to brave the elements— ets to fruits and seeds to survive. This birds to handle and crack. (Striped you can watch from the comfort of is the time of year when bird-feeding sunflower seeds are larger and have your own home. Participants in the enthusiasts roll out the welcome mat a thicker seed coat.) Several studies, Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project and set the table. The question is, including our own Seed Preference FeederWatch help scientists track what to serve? Most supermarkets Test, show that this high-energy food changes in the abundance and dis- and bird-feeding stores are stocked is the favorite of most birds that visit tribution of winter bird populations, with bags, buckets, and cakes of many feeders. In fact, it is often wasteful

Sunflower Safflower Corn Millet

2 white proso millet over red. “Nyjer,” Leftovers: For the Birds? or thistle seed, is a delicacy for small ou don’t have to limit your of- finches such as goldfinches, siskins, ferings to commercial birdseed. and redpolls. Nyjer seeds are small Y Some people save the seeds from and expensive. Offer them in spe- squash and melons. This is a great cial nyjer feeders, with small mesh way to put the seeds from Halloween or tiny ports that prevent the seeds pumpkins to good use. Some birds rel- from spilling out. Some birds, most ish these seeds even more than black- notably cardinals, appreciate saf- oil sunflower. Spread them out on flower, which has limited appeal for trays to air dry before placing them in starlings and House Sparrows (non- your feeders or on the ground. If the native species), and squirrels. Many seeds are sufficiently dry and free of backyard birds (and squirrels) enjoy mold, you can save them to use when peanuts. winter comes. Smaller birds may Tufted Titmouse Although sunflower seeds are the have a tough time breaking open veg- overall favorite of tree-feeding spe- etable seeds, but if you run the seeds to use a standard mix of sunflower, cies, most ground-feeding bird spe- through a food processor first, little milo, millet, oats, wheat, flax, and cies prefer white millet or red milo to birds will be able to eat them with buckwheat seeds, since birds may eat black-oil sunflower seed. Experiment ease. to see what your birds like best! the prized sunflower seeds and leave Some people throw out scraps of stale the rest. Uneaten seeds may foster Make it Yourself bread, cake, or doughnuts for their growth of mold and bacteria. feathered visitors. Be sure the food is s an alternative to commercial not moldy or it may harm the birds. The table shown in this issue of Bird- mixtures, which may have a high A Another caveat: table scraps may at- Notes is based on studies conducted percentage of “filler seeds,” you can tract less-welcome visitors such as by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology create a low-cost mixture yourself. European Starlings, House Sparrows, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- Pour one 25-pound bag of black-oil rats, or raccoons. Attracting nuisance vice. Birds’ feeding habits vary based sunflower seed, one 10-pound bag of species can be a real problem in ur- on weather patterns, geographic re- white proso millet, and one 10-pound ban and suburban areas, so be consid- gion, season, and individual taste, bag of cracked corn into a clean trash erate of your neighbors before feed- so you may find exceptions to these barrel. Mix it with a broomstick, and ing leftovers. guidelines. replace the lid tightly. Always store In the table, “corn” refers to dried, birdseed in tight, waterproof contain- High-Energy Foods whole-kernel corn, favored by jays, ers. Metal containers prevent rodents ou can attract insect-eating birds pigeons, doves, quail, and pheasants. from gnawing their way into your such as chickadees, woodpeck- Cracked corn, however, is easier to food supply. Y ers, and nuthatches to your yard by eat for blackbirds, finches, and spar- offering peanut butter or suet (beef rows. “Millet” comes in red and fat). Birds in cold climates especially white varieties; most birds prefer

Milo Nyjer House Finch

3 appreciate these high-energy foods. fresh water. For more information, see BirdNotes: Providing Water for Some people worry that birds will Birds. choke on sticky peanut butter. There’s no evidence that they do, but you can Types of Feeders eliminate any risk by mixing peanut butter with corn meal or oatmeal. he ideal bird feeder is sturdy Tenough to withstand winter The plain beef suet available at most weather, tight enough to keep seeds supermarket meat departments is dry, large enough that you don’t have an excellent high-energy food. Suet to refill it constantly, and easy to as- can quickly become rancid in warm semble and keep clean. In general, weather, but some commercial suet seed feeders fall into three categories: cakes and doughs, available in most tray feeders, hopper feeders, and tube Hopper feeder stores that sell bird-feeding supplies, feeders. Tray feeders are typically can be used year round. Suet cakes placed close to the ground and attract they don’t, aren’t flying at top speed if often contain a mix of birdseeds or ground-feeding birds such as juncos, they do collide. Window feeders are other ingredients. They’re useful to sparrows, and towhees. Tray feed- often the easiest for us to observe and have on hand when your local super- ers also work well when mounted on maintain. market is out of suet. Suet is most eas- deck railings, stumps, or posts. Hop- If possible, place your feeder close ily and safely offered in plastic-coated per feeders are often hung from trees to natural shelters such as trees or wire cages. or attached to decks or poles. These shrubs. Evergreens are ideal, pro- feeders are especially good for larger Fruity Favorites viding maximum cover from win- species such as cardinals, jays, and ter winds and predators. Trees and irds such as robins, thrushes, grosbeaks. Tube feeders are typically shrubs can also provide good jump- bluebirds, and waxwings don’t suspended from trees and posts. They B ing-off places for squirrels that may usually show up at feeders because are excellent for finches, titmice, and be eyeing the seeds, and hiding places seeds are not a major component of chickadees. their diet. But you can sometimes for cats that may be eyeing the birds. tempt them to dine at your feeder by Feeder Placement A distance of about 10 feet seems to be a happy compromise. You can offering fruit. Soften dried raisins and irds visiting feeders are often provide resting and escape cover for currants by soaking them in water killed in collisions with windows. B ground-dwelling birds, such as Song first. Mockingbirds, catbirds, tana- Feeders attached to windows or win- Sparrows, by placing a large, loosely gers, and orioles may also enjoy sliced dow frames, or placed within 3 feet of stacked brush pile near your feeders. apples, oranges, and other fresh fruit, a window, are safest because birds are or frozen berries. You can offer fruit more likely to notice the glass, and if Feeder Maintenance from a plate or shallow bowl set on a platform feeder or on the ground. lean your feeders about once Cevery two weeks, and more of- Water, Water Everywhere ten during warm weather and times nfrozen water can be as hard for of heavy use. Using a sturdy brush Ubirds to find in winter as food. to scrub them with soap and wa- A dependable supply of fresh water ter is usually enough; you may wish will attract many birds to your yard, to rinse in a weak bleach solution if including species that don’t normally there is evidence of disease in your visit feeders. A shallow, easy-to-clean yard. Rinse feeders well and allow birdbath is best—an upside-down them to dry thoroughly before refill- garbage can lid or large frying pan ing them with birdseed. Make sure works well. An immersion-style wa- you also periodically rake up bird- ter heater can keep your birdbath seed hulls beneath your feeders. De- unfrozen in the winter. Clean your Tube composing hulls may harbor bacteria birdbath often and keep it filled with feeder or mold that could spread diseases to your birds.

4 Bird-Feeding Concerns increase visits. In newly developed housing areas, birds may not feel suf- oorly maintained feeders may ficiently protected because trees and contribute to the spread of infec- P shrubs may be small or few in num- tious diseases among birds. The feed- ber. Remember that bird populations ers themselves can sometimes pose fluctuate naturally from year to year. hazards too. Here are some helpful If you notice a scarcity of feeder birds hints for successful bird feeding: this year, you may be surprised by an • Avoid overcrowding at feeders by Tray feeder abundance of birds in another year or placing numerous feeders several two. feet apart. an all-natural diet. If your neighbors To join Project FeederWatch, call have feeders too, you can rest assured • Keep your feeding area and feeders (800) 843–BIRD (United States only) that your birds will not starve. clean. or (607) 254–2473 or sign up online at • Keep food and food-storage con- If You Build it, Will They FeederWatch.org tainers dry and free of mold and Come? Learn more about the Great Backyard insects. t may take a while for birds to dis- Bird Count at Birdcount.org. • Check your feeders for safety. cover a new feeder. If you are not I Other Resources Sharp edges can scratch birds and seeing birds within a few days of set- lead to infections. ting up your feeder, try sprinkling The FeederWatcher’s Guide to Bird People wonder whether bird feeding some seeds on the ground around the Feeding. Margaret Barker and Jack causes birds to change their migra- feeder to make the new feeding site Griggs. New York: HarperCollins, tory behavior. Changing day length more obvious. If seed in the feeder is 2000. is the cue most birds use to begin mi- blowing out or getting wet, there is a Audubon Society Guide to Attract- grating, not the availability of food. good chance that your birds are get- ing Birds. Stephen W. Kress. Itha- Peak migration time is late summer ting the same treatment. Your feeder ca, New York: Cornell University and fall, when many natural foods are may simply be too exposed. Moving it Press, 2006. most abundant, so it is unlikely that to a calmer, more sheltered spot may feeding birds has any effect on mi- Free Merlin Bird ID app from the gratory patterns. On the other hand, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. there is some evidence that a few Ask Merlin to help you identi- nonmigratory species such as cardi- fy the birds at your feeder! Visit Merlin.AllAboutBirds.org nals have expanded their ranges due in part to feeding. Many people worry about what will happen to their backyard visitors if they go on vacation or suddenly can- not fill their feeders. Ideally, a neigh- bor or friend should stop by to restock your feeder. Otherwise, try to taper off gradually before you go. Don’t fret if this isn’t possible. In winter, natural food sources often disappear over- night when they are covered by snow or consumed by other animals. Birds have adapted accordingly—studies show that even birds with full access to feeders consume three-quarters of their diet elsewhere, and that when feeder birds are deprived of supple- mental foods, they quickly revert to Hairy Woodpecker on suet feeder

5 Western Scrub-Jay

The illustrations in this issue were created by Caitlin Turner, a Bartels Science Illustrator. birds.cornell.edu/artinterns

To learn more The Cornell Lab of Ornithology uses the best science and technology to discover more about feeding birds about birds and biodiversity. in winter, visit Contributions from members help support research, education, and citizen-science proj- ects. As a member you’ll receive a subscription to our award-winning magazine, Living FeederWatch.org Bird, and more. Visit birds.cornell.edu/join or call (866) 989-2473 to join. © 2014 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY, 14850 AllAboutBirds.org 607-254-2473 • birds.cornell.edu

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