BIRD FEEDING
Some of the most rewarding backyard feeding is during the spring migration, nesting and breeding months. You do not need to stop feeding birds when the warm spring weather arrives. Birds do not rely entirely on one food source. Bird's natural curiosity and mobility ensure their success by having multiple food sources. They will not ignore the wild foods just because you have a feeder in your yard.
If you do not feed year around, early fall is a great time to start feeding the birds. Birds are scouting in advance for winter-feeding areas. If you wait until the harsh winter weather arrives, birds cannot always afford the luxury of exploring in the harsh weather and will often go where they found food in the fall. So start offering provisions early.
1 - HEALTH & SAFETY AT THE BIRD FEEDERS
Backyard bird feeding can be a very enriching and educational experience but we must ensure that wild birds benefit and that their health and safety are a priority. Dirty feeders and surrounding ground areas where seed falls can be breeding grounds for avian diseases. Here are some things you can do to help keep wild birds healthy at your feeders.
A. Keep feeders clean.
It is recommended that you clean and disinfect your feeders one time per week. To clean, remove all seed and separate all removable parts. To properly disinfect first remove all dirt then soak in a 5-10% solution of chlorine bleach in warm water. Leave the solution on the feeder for 10-15 minutes before rinsing. Rinse several times to remove all disinfectant residue. Birdbaths and hummingbird feeders should be cleaned in the same manner.
B. Remove seed waste.
Rake up all spilled seeds, hulls and feces from the ground at least once per week. Seed that is left on the ground can cause health problems because it is exposed to contaminants such as mold, animal feces, fertilizers, and bacteria. A tray placed under your feeder will catch spilled seed and make cleaning easier. Some birdseed blends contains “fillers” and less desirable seeds such as flax, oats, rice, wheat and canary seed that birds will often throw to the ground to get to the more desirable seed. To minimize waste and ground cleaning choose seed blends that do not have these “fillers”.
C. Prevent over crowding at the feeders.
Provide more than one feeder and allow space between them. Crowding at feeders increases the chance of spreading disease and it can also cause the birds to be under stress.
D. Use safe and easily cleaned feeders.
Make sure the feeders have no sharp edges. Platform feeders that allow the birds to stand in the seed can result in birds ingesting contaminated feces from other birds. Feeders that are easy to clean make less work for you. Select feeders that are made of materials that are easy to disinfect such as plastic and glass. Wood and unglazed pottery feeders can be hard to remove feces and can also grow algae and fungi. Feeders should protect the seed from moisture and should have drainage holes. Feeders that empty quicker are better because there is less chance of the seed spoiling.
E. Use good quality birdseed.
Do not use seed that is wet, moldy or has rodent feces in it. Store seed in a dry place and in a container that is rodent proof.
F. Plant natural, native foods such as berry-producing trees, shrubs and vines.
This will give the wild birds preferred natural foods as well as cover. This will also attract the birds for your enjoyment but lessen the amount of feeders you have to clean and keep filled.
G. Placement of feeders also plays an important roll in good bird health.
Birds are more likely to eat at feeders that are located among vegetation that offers ample cover for safe perching and provides quick escape from predators. Minimize window collisions by altering the glass appearance. Some ways to alter the appearance of glass include placing silhouettes in the window and leaving in your screens all year. There are differencing of opinions as to how far a feeder should be from windows so regardless of how close to windows you place your feeders, the above tips can help reduce window collisions.
H. Take action if you notice sick birds.
Discard all seed, clean and disinfect all feeders and remove all seed from the ground under the feeders. Wait a few days before resuming your feeding.
I. Unwanted critter prevention.
Although petroleum jelly on your feeder poles may temporarily keep squirrels, predators or other unwanted critters off, it can create problems for the birds if it gets on their feathers. Jelly or other gooey substances that get on bird's feathers can result in loss of flight, insulation and is very hard to remove. It is better to use mounted guards or baffles to prevent squirrels or predators from reaching the feeders. Ant guards filled with water also minimizes ants from reaching the feeder
Our passion for birds and bird feeding is very enriching. The above tips can help us enjoy these living wonders of nature in their natural world and at the same time minimize human impact by providing a safe feeding environment.
2 - FALL & WINTER FEEDING
Fall is a great season to start feeding the birds if you do not feed year around. Even though natural foods are still available, birds are scouting in advance for winter-feeding areas. Fall is also a good time to attract migrating birds that will use your feeder as a stop off before continuing their journey. If you wait until the harsh winter weather arrives, birds cannot always afford the luxury of exploring in the harsh weather and will often go where they found food in the fall. So start offering provisions early.
Winter weather is hard on birds. Their calorie requirements increase, food becomes hard to find, snow covers up the seeds and ice storms seal away the tree buds and wild fruits. Tiny birds must eat a third to three quarters of its weight each day. Your feeders and yard can be included in their fall inventories and when that first winter storm hits, they will show up, hungry and chirping.
Do not worry if you cannot maintain a rigid feeding schedule or guarantee a continuous food supply. Birds are used to having food sources disappear and do not rely entirely on one food source. Their natural curiosity and mobility ensure their success by having multiple food sources. During winter periods of extended ice and snow cover or a harsh storm, your feeder may be a temporary lifesaving-feeding source and a valuable contribution to their survival but is not a source of lasting dependency. No research indicates that during normal weather, birds will starve if feeding is stopped for a time.
3 - BIRD FOODS
Natural foods and cover
Nothing provides an easier or more dependable food supply and shelter than native trees, shrubs, vines and flowers. Evergreens is only one example that provides year-round cover from the weather in addition to feed seeds. Habitat loss is a major cause of population declines in many bird species, planting native vegetation is a great way you can help. Start landscaping your yard by choosing what birds you would like to attract by learning what plants they prefer. A variety of plants attracts the greatest diversity of bird species. Choosing plants that bloom at different times will provide food throughout the year. Nest boxes can also provide winter shelter but should be cleaned out each fall. Making a brush pile out of cut branches can also provide cover for the birds in the winter.
Other bird foods
Try popped popcorn, raisins, pieces of fruit (orioles like oranges), fruit seeds, grapes, grape jelly (another oriole favorite), cooked potatoes, leftover oatmeal or mealworms. Do not feed birds any foods that contain chocolate. Theobromine is an ingredient of chocolate and is toxic to birds.
SUET can be handmade or purchased and include seeds, berries, and other ingredients. Use caution when offering suet in hot weather; it may become rancid if it has not been specially processed. Avoid some peanut butter mixes and bacon fat in that these might stick to the feathers. Natural peanut butter and corn meal (mixed in equal portions) is less greasy and is less likely to stick to feathers and beaks.
NECTAR is great for attracting hummingbirds and Orioles. To make nectar, add one part sugar to four parts boiling water (boil the water before measuring, because some water will be lost in the process.) Allow the mixture to cool before using. You can store extra sugar water in your refrigerator for up to one week, but left longer it may become moldy. Adding red food coloring to nectar is possibly harmful to birds. Red feeding holes or a red base on the feeder will attract the birds. To prevent mold and deadly fermentation do not leave the sugar water in the feeder longer than five days before changing. Never use honey because it grows a fungus that is harmful to hummingbirds. If bees or wasps become a problem, try commercially made bee guards. Putting oil around the feeding holes is not recommended in that it might contaminate the nectar. Commercial “nectar” products are also great to use, have safe red coloring and are easy to prepare.
GRIT is used by birds to aid in the grinding of food. During prolonged periods of ice or snow cover, you can provide grit (coarse sand, oyster shells or ground eggshells) in a separate pan from your seed feeders. If you provide eggshells you must kill Salmonella bacteria by warming them for 20 minutes at 250 degrees. When the eggshells cool, crush them into pieces about the size of sunflower seeds.
Seed choices
The variety and prices of birdseeds and mixtures on the market can be overwhelming. In most locations the black-oil sunflower seed is a good first choice because it has a high meat-to-shell ratio, is high in fat and it is small with a thin shell for easy carrying and cracking. Striped sunflower seeds are larger and have thicker seed coats. It is recommended to start with sunflower seeds, then experiment with other seeds or mixtures to see what the birds in your area prefer
4 - WATERING
Birds need water year around, for bathing and drinking. You can purchase a birdbath or use shallow pans. Sand in the bottom of the bath provides birds' better footing. Change the water every couple of days to keep it fresh and minimize bacteria and insects. Providing branches or stones in the water allows birds to stand on them and drink without getting wet and will allow bugs a surface to climb onto and escape. In freezing climates, a birdbath-heating element will keep ice from forming. Never add anti-freeze, which is poisonous to all animals including birds.
5 - SEED PREFERENCES
Below is a table showing general seed preference of various bird groups. This table is only a generalization and bird species have different preferences in various regions.
L – low attractivness M – moderate attractivness H- high attractivness
Sunflower – black oiled
1-Chickadees and Titmice - H
2-Purple and House Finches, Goldfinch - M-H
3-Cardinal - H
4-Sparrows - M-H
5-Blue Jay - M
6-Woodpeckers - M
7-Common Grackle - H
8-Morning Dove - H
9-Evening Grosbeak - H
10-Nuthatches - H
Sunflower – black striped
1-Chickadees and Titmice - H
2-Purple and House Finches, Goldfinch - M-H
3-Cardinal - H
4-Sparrows - M-H
5-Blue Jay - H
6-Woodpeckers - M
7-Common Grackle - H
8-Morning Dove - M
9-Evening Grosbeak - H
10-Nuthatches - H
Sunflower – hulled
1-Chickadees and Titmice - L-M
2-Purple and House Finches, Goldfinch - M-H
3-Cardinal - M
4-Sparrows - M-H
5-Blue Jay - M
6-Woodpeckers - L
7-Common Grackle - H
8-Morning Dove - M
9-Evening Grosbeak - H
10-Nuthatches - H
Cracked Corn
1-Chickadees and Titmice - L
2-Purple and House Finches, Goldfinch - L
3-Cardinal - L
4-Sparrows - M-H
5-Blue Jay - M
6-Woodpeckers - L
7-Common Grackle - H
8-Morning Dove - M
9-Evening Grosbeak - L
10-Nuthatches - L
Millet – red & white
1-Chickadees and Titmice - L
2-Purple and House Finches, Goldfinch - L
3-Cardinal - L-M
4-Sparrows - M-H
5-Blue Jay - L
6-Woodpeckers - L
7-Common Grackle - L-M
8-Morning Dove - H
9-Evening Grosbeak - L
10-Nuthatches - L
Milo
1-Chickadees and Titmice - L
2-Purple and House Finches, Goldfinch - L
3-Cardinal - L
4-Sparrows - L-M
5-Blue Jay - L
6-Woodpeckers - L
7-Common Grackle - L
8-Morning Dove - M
9-Evening Grosbeak -
10-Nuthatches -
Niger “thistle”
1-Chickadees and Titmice - L
2-Purple and House Finches, Goldfinch - M-H
3-Cardinal - L
4-Sparrows - L
5-Blue Jay - L
6-Woodpeckers - L
7-Common Grackle - M
8-Morning Dove - M
9-Evening Grosbeak - L
10-Nuthatches - L
Suet
1-Chickadees and Titmice - H
2-Purple and House Finches, Goldfinch - L
3-Cardinal - L
4-Sparrows - L
5-Blue Jay - M
6-Woodpeckers - H
7-Common Grackle - M
8-Morning Dove - L
9-Evening Grosbeak - L
10-Nuthatches - H
Canary Seed
1-Chickadees and Titmice - L
2-Purple and House Finches, Goldfinch - L-M
3-Cardinal - L
4-Sparrows - M-H
5-Blue Jay - L
6-Woodpeckers - L
7-Common Grackle - L
8-Morning Dove - L
9-Evening Grosbeak - L
10-Nuthatches - L
Safflower
1-Chickadees and Titmice - L
2-Purple and House Finches, Goldfinch - L
3-Cardinal - M
4-Sparrows - L-M
5-Blue Jay - L
6-Woodpeckers - L
7-Common Grackle - L
8-Morning Dove - M
9-Evening Grosbeak
10-Nuthatches
Oats - hulled
1-Chickadees and Titmice - L
2-Purple and House Finches, Goldfinch - L
3-Cardinal - L
4-Sparrows - L-M
5-Blue Jay - L
6-Woodpeckers - L
7-Common Grackle - M
8-Morning Dove
9-Evening Grosbeak
10-Nuthatches
Rice
1-Chickadees and Titmice - L
2-Purple and House Finches, Goldfinch - L
3-Cardinal - L
4-Sparrows - L-M
5-Blue Jay - L
6-Woodpeckers - L
7-Common Grackle - M
8-Morning Dove - M
9-Evening Grosbeak
10-Nuthatches
Peanut - hearts
1-Chickadees and Titmice - L
2-Purple and House Finches, Goldfinch - L
3-Cardinal - L
4-Sparrows - M-H
5-Blue Jay - M
6-Woodpeckers - L
7-Common Grackle - M
8-Morning Dove - M
9-Evening Grosbeak - L
10-Nuthatches - L
TAKEN FROM: US Fish & Wildlife Special Scientific Report # 233; 1980. and Backyard Wildlife Habitat in Vermont by Steve Parren (VT Dept. Fish & Wildlife); 1993
6 - BIRD FEEDING RESOURCES
There are many good books and web sites on the subject of bird feeding and attracting birds. Below are a few suggestions for more information.
National Bird Feeding Society
Attracting Birds to Your Backyard by Sally Roth
Backyard Wildlife Habitat in Vermont by Steve Parren (VT Dept. Fish & Wildlife)
Birds at Your Feeder by Erica Dunn
Complete Guide to Bird Feeding by John Dennis
National Audubon Society North American Birdfeeder Handbook by Robert Burton
The Backyard Bird Feeders Bible by Sally Roth
These back yard birding tips are brought to you by VINS Bird Rehabilitation and Wildlife Services Department.
If you have any questions about bird feeding contact VINS Rehabilitation & Wildlife Services Department at 802-359-5001 ext. 212.
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