Bird Feeding Backyard Habitat for Wildlife

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Bird Feeding Backyard Habitat for Wildlife Feeding birds in the autumn and winter is especially rewarding. Following are some helpful hints for satisfying our hungry feathered friends: The Bird Feeder Whole kernel corn is eaten by blue jays, There are four types of seed feeders. woodpeckers (and squirrels), while many The platform feeder is a shallow ground feeding birds prefer cracked wooden box with a screen bottom corn. Be aware that cracked corn is and may be placed on the ground, vulnerable to rot when wet and that on a tree stump or clamped to a many mammals like to feed on corn. deck railing. The hopper feeder is Potential Feeding Problems like a platform feeder with a roof Unclean feeders or rotting, moldy and sides to hold the seed dry bird seed can cause birds to get sick and inside. The last two seed feeders spread disease to other birds. Be sure are tube shaped; one has large your bird seed is kept dry. Disinfect feeder ports for sunflower seed birdseed feeders with dilute bleach and the other has tiny feeder (10%) and water. ports for thistle niger seed. The tube may be plastic, glass, or If many undesirable birds such as metal; may have a wire cage grackles, starlings, brown-headed surrounding the tube; and may cowbirds, or crows are hogging your have a circular tray attachment. feeders, try feeding only safflower and Both tube and hopper feeders can thistle seed (only in thistle feeder with be hung or bolted to a pole. upside down feeding ports); eliminate sunflower, millet, cracked corn and any If you only want one feeder, either bread items. the sunflower tube with metal feeding ports or a metal hopper feeder Feeding songbirds may attract other would be best. Mourning animals to your yard. Raccoons, dove, junco and some squirrels and mice come to feast on Bird feeders can be homemade or sparrows will also eat thistle from a birdseed while hawks and cats come to purchased. Besides feeder cost, consider ground feeder or hopper. catch a feathered meal. Be prepared to the following: White proso millet is usually found in deal with surprise visitors at your ■ Durability - will it last several years less expensive seed mixes. Millet is eaten backyard feeders. and are replacement parts available. by birds such as juncos, blackbirds, Other Suggestions ■ Capacity - small feeders are emptied sparrows, doves (and buntings in the Remember, fresh water is as important sooner while larger feeders hold more spring and summer). in fall and winter as in other seasons; seed but are heavier. Peanuts in the shell and peanut pieces special heating units can keep bird baths ■ Design - the feeder should keep seed are especially attractive to woodpeckers, ice-free. Berry and nut producing dry, be easy to fill and clean. Lastly, jays, nuthatches, titmice and chickadees. plants are important sources of natural squirrels can chew through wood and Roasted, no salt and no sugar, are the food. Shrubs and trees, especially those plastic but not metal and wire. healthiest peanuts for feeding birds; with thorns, are vital for roosting cover avoid peanut hearts and raw peanuts. and protection from predators and Bird Feeding Tips stormy weather. Brush piles make Black oil sunflower and striped Birds will even eat peanut butter! Spread peanut butter onto large pine excellent places for birds to hide and sunflower seeds attract the greatest roost. Locate your feeders where you diversity of seed-eating birds to your cones, sprinkle bird seed over the cone and then hang it from a tree branch. can see them but also near protective yard. Sunflower chips are more expensive cover. but eliminate messy sunflower shells. Stuff peanut butter-corn meal mixture (or suet) into carved holes of a wooden For more information about bird feeding Safflower is a white seed which dowel or dead branch, then hang. and backyard bird identification: squirrels and blackbirds don’t eat but cardinals, chickadees, red-bellied The same birds that like peanuts also Feeder Birds of Eastern North America woodpeckers, mourning doves and like suet or beef kidney fat. Suet and by Roger Tory Peterson others will eat. peanut butter are high energy foods and Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000. are best used during winter months The more expensive thistle or niger The Bird Feeder Book since both can melt and turn rancid in by Donald and Lillian Stokes seed is used to attract gold finches, warm weather. house finches and purple finches. Little Brown and Company, 1987..

Load more