"In early May I put out sugar water, orange pieces and grape jelly for orioles, and keep them out as long as orioles, catbirds and/or thrashers are visiting. In March, as migratory sparrows arrive, I'll scatter white millet on the ground, never more than they'll eat in a day, to avoid rodents and spoilage. "In winter, I offer seed (mostly sunflower and nyger), suet and peanut butter. Here are highlights from her feeding regime: Laura Erickson, well-known author and birder, feeds birds in Duluth in every season. "This allows birds to drink without having to melt snow in their mouths," which uses up calories they need for basic survival. "And maybe the best tip for winter birds, beyond the food, is to provide open water, either via a heated birdbath or a heating element in an existing birdbath," Trapp says. Other options are peanut pieces and freeze-dried mealworms. Once familiar with this setup, next steps might be offering nyger seed for finches, and/or suet and/or peanuts in the shell - these last two appeal to many winter birds. What kind of feeders? He recommends starting with either a hanging feeder tray, a hanging hopper feeder or a hanging tube, after considering the pros and cons of each. "The way we look at it, having more kinds of seed is analogous to having a summer barbecue party - the more foods you offer your guests, the happier they are," he notes. Another choice could be a good seed blend or a blend of seeds and fruits. Paul, Tom Trapp starts new customers out by recommending black oil sunflower seeds, noting that this is the most popular with the most species of birds. "It's really very easy to feed birds and it's a pleasure, like giving yourself a gift every day."Īt Wild Birds Unlimited, the wild bird store on Ford Parkway in St. "You can beat the squirrels by placing feeders on poles at least 10 feet from any structures or trees they could jump from, then by adding a squirrel baffle to feeders hanging from branches or on a feeder pole. A source for water is also important to attracting birds. These might include a hopper feeder, a suet feeder and either peanuts for blue jays or nyger for finches. She suggests that customers gradually work up to having three or more feeders in close proximity, because this attracts more birds. "All birds - except maybe blue jays - enjoy golden safflower, and squirrels don't seem to like it, a good thing." And then they'll want a seed that appeals to a wide variety of birds, so we usually recommend golden safflower. "I tell them to first get something that will feed many different kinds of birds, either a tray or a hopper feeder, since these have room for more than a few birds at a time. Paul that Pam Kaufenberg and her sister have run for 35 years come in with questions about getting started in feeding backyard birds. Many customers of the Cardinal Corner stores in Newport and West St. The 'junk foods' like red millet and cracked corn found in cheap mixes will bring in house sparrows and other birds that will chase away the songbirds you want to attract," Henderson added. "There's a lot of variation in bird seed, and it's best to offer quality food in our feeders. Instead, they continue to find most of their calories out in the natural world. Truth to tell, we feed birds more for our own enjoyment, to bring birds in close, because birds are seldom reliant on feeders. And if you're interested in photography, keep your camera handy - you never know what might show up." "Even if you can't get outside for a hike, you can watch birds coming and going at your feeders. It's something families can share and enjoy year-round. "It allows us to observe bird behaviors and their activities up close. "Feeding the birds is a very comforting and rewarding experience," he says. This retired biologist who loves watching and photographing birds makes sure his bird feeders are visible from inside windows. We feed birds because it brings us pleasure and helps create a bond with some of nature's most fascinating creatures.Ĭarrol and Ethelle Henderson have been feeding birds at their Blaine home for 45 years.
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