4:10 PM Wed, Dec 26, 2007 | Permalink
Kayla Gagnet
E-mail
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 | Tony Esposito
WCNC Production |
One of my favorite pasttimes is feeding birds in my backyard and I would like to share some of the things I have learned so you and your family can do it too.
Over 65 million people in America provide food for birds. These folks enjoy watching the birds and their antics as they jockey for position at the feeder. How and what you feed the birds will determine how many visitors you have in your yard.
Speaking about yards, you don’t have to have a large yard or area to provide food for the birds. Many people in apartments and condos provide food with just one feeder. Of course the greater the variety of food and feeders you provide, the greater the variety of birds you will get. It’s like going to a restaurant that serves just one type of food. It’s good for some people but if you offer a variety of items on the menu it will attract a larger number of people.
I am going to give you several ideas so you can start small and build from there.
Let’s start with the types of feeders. The classic type of feeder is the hopper style. These are easy to fill and the most versatile. This feeder will provide food for birds of all sizes. There is an ample area for larger birds as well at the smaller species to perch and feed.
The type of feed for this feeder can be a mix of a sunflower or safflower type of seed.
There are platform feeders that are just what their name implies. It is a platform that has low sides that keep the seed on the platform. It can be hung from a pole or placed on the ground. The platform bottom can be either a solid material or a screen. Holes in the platform or use of the screen will allow water to drain and help prevent the seed from spoiling. This type of feeder can be used with the widest variety of food type.
Next up is the cylinder type of feeder. It can be a cylinder of any length that has feeding ports and perches on which the birds can sit and eat. Small to medium size birds can feed with this type of feeder. The size of the feeding ports can determine what type of seed can be used in this feeder. Again, mix type -- sunflower and safflower as well as thistle or nyjer type of seed. This latter seed is a favorite for the yellow finch family of birds.
Next, here are some specialty feeders. Here is a Suet feeder. Most Suet is made from beef kidney fat and available from the meat counter at the supermarket. Processed Suet cakes are also available at stores that sell bird seeds.
Next up is a feeder that can hold large type of food such as corn or peanuts. It is made of wire mesh.
Another type of feeder is for nyjer or thistle. There are two types. One is a cylinder like the one I mentioned earlier but it has very small slits in the side. This is so the thistle seed will not fall out. Thistle is a very small black seed that yellow finches just go crazy for. Another form of the thistles feeder is the sock type. It is a fine mesh cloth that holds the seed until the bird pecks through and gets the seed.
One of the weird things about yellow finches is they eat their food upside down. In other words, they perch and then bend down until they are up side down and eat their food. Here is a sock type feeder.
Providing Nectar for the hummingbirds in your yard will require a nectar feeder. These feeders come in many shapes and sizes. Here is one with feeding ports shaped like flowers. The color red is what attracts the Hummer to the feeder and to many real flowers.
Well, we have seen the different types of feeders so now let’s take a look at the types of foods and what types of birds we will attract when we put our seed out.
Wild Bird mix is the common food and it is available at a wide range of stores. The price is the determining factor in how good the quality of the seed is. Many of the cheaper mixes have a lot of filler that not many birds will eat. Birds will scratch through the seed to find the seed they like and kick out the unwanted seed. That is why there is a bunch of seed on the ground, which causes quite a mess and will attract unwanted pests.
Buy a good quality seed from a store that deals in bird supplies. Wild Birds Unlimited and Wild Bird Center here in Charlotte and Chirp’n Chatter in Fort Mill have all the quality feed and supplies in stock. Please remember that the seed may cost more but there is no waste so the price works out to be even.
Sunflower seed is the seed that provides the most bang for the buck. Many species of birds will eat it up and it provides the necessary nutrients that birds require. Some of the birds that sunflower seeds will attract are chickadees, nuthatches, finches, cardinals, sparrows and titmice. Of course, many other birds will stop by to try the seed.
If you are concerned about squirrels getting all your seed, try safflower. It is a small white seed that is sour tasting to squirrels. I have tried it and it does eliminate most squirrels but as with many things, there are always exceptions.
Suet is good for attracting insect-eating birds. Some of the processed suet I have bought even has insect parts mixed in. Other varieties of processed suet have nuts, berries and a combination of the two. Woodpeckers and nuthatches find suet very appealing. I have also had bluebirds on my suet feeder.
Peanuts and corn are high on the list of favorites for birds. I have a wire mesh feeder that I fill with shelled peanuts. Woodpeckers and Carolina chickadees visit this feeder. As I write this, there is a female cardinal on the feeder. Peanuts are available at the stores I mentioned above. I guess you can use regular peanuts from the grocery store but make sure they are unsalted.
Nyjer or thistle seed attracts the very beautiful yellow finches. Everyone is impressed with the color these birds have. They are fun to watch and they add color to your yard as they feed.
Nectar that we make is sugar water that is used attract the hummingbird and orioles. You can make nectar by boiling one part sugar to four parts water. Let it cool before putting in your feeder. I make a large batch and store the extra in a container in the refrigerator. That way when it is time to refill the feeder, you just use your stored up nectar. You do not need to add red dye. I strongly advise against it. The red on the feeder is all that is needed to attract the birds.
One thing to remember that is very important: Change your nectar every 4-5 days to prevent fermentation and clean you feeder thoroughly.
One thing that some people overlook when starting to feed birds is to provide a water source. It can be as simple as a garbage can lid turned over in the yard or a small pond that you create. Anything that holds water and has low sides can be use for a water source. I have a tray on top of a planter that I fill with water everyday.
Be sure to clean your feeders and water source regularly. I do mine every two weeks. This will prevent mold from forming on the feeder and will prevent birds from becoming ill. It’s not hard to do. Just wash with soap and water and then soak with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Rinse thoroughly and let dry.
In addition to cleaning the feeders and water source be sure to keep the ground around the feeder clean. Every two weeks or so, rake the area under the feeder. This will prevent mold and disease from forming on the waste that falls to the ground.
I hope you have enjoyed the blog today. Maybe it has helped you decide to feed our feathered friends. This could be the start of wanting to create a wildlife habitat in your yard. With all the development going on in the area, our wildlife friends need our help to survive. In return for your efforts, they will provide hours of entertainment for you and your family.
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We have been feeding birds for years and enjoy them tremendously. About two years ago I ordered a heated bird bath that attaches to our deck railing. It keeps the water from freezing and it is funny to see the birds out there in the winter having a ball. We especially enjoy seeing several Bluebirds or Cardinals bathing at the same time.