Feeding Birds
Feeding wild birds can be even more entertaining than watching television. As long as there’s daylight you have the possibility of seeing these normally shy, retiring little creatures close up, in a controlled setting. Individual personalities may be observed among flock members, and a keen observer will soon tag these individuals with descriptive names. We have been feeding the birds at our home for a number of years now, and it has provided me with the opportunity of experimenting with different types of feed. My parents have also fed the birds, on and off, for an even longer period, and as they live in the country it has allowed me to compare and contrast feeding habits.
THE COUNTRY BIRD AND THE CITY BIRD: Certain species of bird are rarely seen at our feeders in town, but are regulars at Mom’s feeding stations. Blue jays, whiskey jacks, juncos, and several species of woodpecker love to hang out at my parents’ bird feeders, while spurning mine.
SEED: The most useful birdseed in terms of attracting the greatest variety of species is the small plain black sunflower seed. Do not buy the large black sunflower seed with the white stripe, as this type of seed is too large for some of the smaller birds. Chickadees, nuthatches, and many members of the finch family favor small black sunflower seed. It is reasonably inexpensive, keeps well, and is reasonably easy to remove if it gets into your flower beds (easy to weed out once it germinates). Deer often enter our yard seeking food, when everything is covered with ice or snow, and they have repeatedly consumed the seed that the birds dropped from the feeders. Another food that is more seasonal in its consumption is marketed as Niger seed and is the seed of a member of the sunflower family. These seeds are very small and while they are greatly favored by the smaller members of the finch family (pine siskins, redpolls), some of the larger finches and their allies (Grosbeaks) will not be able to do anything with them. Suet is something that birds in the countryside seem to appreciate more than our citified birds, and it is favored by chickadees, woodpeckers, and nuthatches when the weather is cold. Peanuts are also a good winter treat, as they won’t go rancid in the cold. This treat has to be presented in a way that appeals to the birds, and the quality of peanuts varies greatly from store to store. I have found that pet store peanuts are often rancid or moldy and not worth the saving compared to human grade, blanched shelled peanuts. Try to get a smaller size of nut, as the larger peanuts may be hard for smaller birds to handle. If you do get large peanuts, then put them in a woodpecker feeder where they are packed together and so they won’t clog the openings of regular feeders. Mixed seed is usually a waste of money as many of the seeds may not be palatable to birds in your area. As a result they may turn their little beaks up at these mixtures, or the birds or the wind might throw these seeds to the ground where the mice might more greatly benefit from it. This is true for mixes bought in bags as well as mixed seed cemented into lumps (cubes, balls, bell-shapes) using gelatin or suet. Seeds and fruits of specific trees and shrubs can be a real treat for some birds. Hordes of waxwings usually visit our yard in late fall and early winter, intent upon consuming every single berry from the hawthorn and mountain ash trees in our yard. At about the same time in the country, my mother’s Manitoba maples are usually visited by small flocks of evening grosbeaks. They love the maple seeds on the female trees.
PRESENTATION is a complex issue as it has several components. Consistency is important. If they know it is there they will come. If they don’t know it is there, then it may spoil before somebirdy finally finds it! It has been said that proximity to trees and shrubs is critical, and this is true. Many species use trees and shrubs as cover, and some just like to carry off each seed and eat it on their own private branch away from the rest of the flock. Height above the ground may influence what types of birds visit a feeder as some species are strictly ground feeders, while others prefer feeding one, two, or even three meters or more off the ground. The number of feeders and the type of feeder used will influence the amount of traffic to a feeder, because some individuals can be quite territorial. I’ve repeatedly read that birds just love to have open water to drink from in winter when the ground is frozen, but my birds usually just thumb their beaks at my heated pet dish full of nice clean water.
SAFETY is somewhat tied to presentation through placement of the feeders. It also relates to predators and other hazards that may lurk in your yard. Those dearly beloved pussycats will be the first ones to succumb to the temptation of catching a fast-moving bird, just for the shear challenge of it! If you or your neighbors have an outdoor kitty, then it may be wiser to avoid feeding the birds, because in the end all you are doing is exterminating them. I have found that open rain barrels present a hazard to young birds and have placed covers on them to keep the birds from drowning. Large windows, especially when they are immaculately clean and reflective, tend to fool birds into flying into them. It is better to have a slightly dirty window than a lot of dead birds heaped up beneath a nice clean window!
There are many aspects of bird feeding that I haven’t covered here, and if you are interested in this subject, then I highly recommend that you seek out some references in your local library. You might also wish to enroll in a bird watching club in your area. Have fun, but please try to respect the health and well being of these tiny visitors. MM