Backyard Bird Feeding Guide
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What is The Seattle Audubon Society? The Seattle Audubon Society protects birds Bird Feeder Cleaning and the natural environment by involving volunteers and the community in educa- It is important to clean your feeders at tion, advocacy, preservation, science and least twice a year to prevent molds and enjoyment. Founded in 1916, we have never Backyard bacteria from harming the birds. wavered in our commitment to ensure the Use four tablespoons bleach to one well-being of birds and the natural environ- Bird Feeding quart water (equivalent to one cup ment. A Guide from bleach to one gallon water), but only mix The Nature Shop — Your up what you’ll use at one time. It is most Complete Wild Bird Source The Seattle effective to soak the feeders for about one hour. Hundreds of nature-related gifts, books and Audubon It is also advisable to rake the area wild bird supplies can be found here along Nature Shop beneath your feeders to protect ground- with specially formulated seed for Pacific feeding birds. These rakings may be depos- Northwest birds. All proceeds benefit the ited in your yard-waste containers. programs of Seattle Audubon. The Seattle Audubon Center Hummingbird and Nature Shop 8050 35th Avenue NE Nectar Recipe Seattle, Washington 98115 With a few simple changes, you can increase the number and Combine one part sugar and four parts Call: 206-523-4483 variety of birds visiting your yard water in saucepan and bring to a boil. Visit us on the Web: www.seattleaudubon.org and help compensate for the loss Remove from heat and let cool before fill- of precious habitat in Seattle and ing the feeder. Store excess in refrigerator. Monday - Saturday, 10:00AM - 4:00PM King County. Depending upon the season, change the nectar frequently to discourage the growth of bacteria. Have a question about birds? Call our Birdline, 206-523-4483. Seattle Audubon Society is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. All gifts are tax-deductible. The NatureShop N2800.1 black-oil hulled seed w/ Common Backyard Birds sunflower sunflower millet thistle suet Rock Dove (ground feeder) common / year round - X X - - Rufous Hummingbird less common / seasonal - - - - - Anna’s Hummingbird less common / year round - - - - - Downy Woodpecker uncommon / year round - - - - X Seattle’s Northern Flicker common / year round - - - - X Steller’s Jay common / year round X X - - - Backyard Birds American Crow common / year round X X - - - Violet-green Swallow common / seasonal - - - - - By putting up feeders, planting varieties of Barn Swallow common / seasonal - - - - - native plants and providing a water source, Black-capped Chickadee common / year round X X X - X you can increase the number and variety of Chestnut-backed Chickadee common / year round X X X - X avian visitors to your backyard. Bushtit common / seasonal - - - - X Plants to attract wildlife to your back- Red-breasted Nuthatch uncommon / year round X - - - X yard are listed in the Seattle Audubon Bewick’s Wren uncommon / seasonal - - - - - Society’s Gardening for Life brochure and Winter Wren uncommon / year round - - - - - on our web site at www.seattleaudubon.org, American Robin common / year round - - - - - and in Russell Link’s Landscaping for Varied Thrush uncommon / seasonal - - X - - Wildlife. European Starling common / year round X X - - X In addition to these common backyard Yellow-rumped Warbler uncommon / seasonal X X - - - birds, you may see “accidentals,” birds that Wilson’s Warbler uncommon / seasonal X X - - - arrive by bad weather or other factors. Western Tanager uncommon / seasonal X X - - - Avian predators, such as Sharp-shinned Spotted Towhee uncommon / seasonal X X X - - Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles Song Sparrow uncommon / year round X X X - - also visit backyards. White-crowned Sparrow uncommon / year round - - X - - It is always helpful to keep a good field Dark-eyed Junco (ground feeder) common / seasonal X X X - guide handy to help identify that new bird Evening Grosbeak uncommon / seasonal X X - - - for your backyard list. We recommend the House Finch common / year round X X - - - National Geographic Field Guide to North Pine Siskin common / seasonal X X - X X American Birds, 3rd Ed., Petersons Field American Goldfinch uncommon / seasonal X X X X - Guide to Western Birds and Stokes Field House Sparrow common / year round - - X - - Guide to Birds, West. All of these books, and more, are available at The Seattle Audubon Nature Shop..