Backyard Bird Feeding 101

Backyard Bird Feeding 101 !

By: Dave Titterington
The Wild Bird Habitat Store

 

October! A time of change! Winter will soon be settling in across the Central Great Plains and the signs are everywhere. Shorter daylight hours are changing the leaves from summer greens to autumn’s gold, red, and orange. The sweet aroma of a wood fire drifts from a chimney. And the blackbirds are massing in the tree tops waiting to be escorted south by the first cold front.

Our winter birds, the Red-breasted nuthatch, Dark-eyed Juncos, Harris’s and White-crowned sparrows, and others are beginning to arrive. They are replacing the birds of summer such as orioles, grosbeaks and bluebirds, which are now but warm weather memories. The warblers who have nested to our north are passing through this month, stopping in our yards for a splash in the bird bath and to glean what insects remain before retreating further south ahead of the approaching winter. Yes, autumn is a time of great change.

Autumn is also a time when many folks who didn’t maintain a bird feeder or two during the summer months begin to consider providing some supplemental food sources for our backyard birds during the winter. After all, when the snow blows and the temperatures plummet, our resident winter birds are a short thirty six hours from starvation. They only survive winter’s frigid nights on what foods they can consume during the day. That is why birds do not rely on any one food source that may become depleted. They stake out multiple natural food resources along with the supplemental feeds offered in backyard bird feeders. Getting the bird feeders ready now will assure they will visit them in the winter as they go about their daily food routes.

Feeding birds in our backyards has become more than just a passing hobby. In fact, birding in the United States has become the fastest growing outdoor recreational activity for families and individuals. Birds entertain us. They educate us. They provide a way to relax from a busy day and connect with nature. But what does it take to feed birds and attract them to our yards? It’s very simple. Birds find food by sight. You put the food out and they will come.

In the past many people would just scatter the bird seed on the ground, or possibly have a single bird feeder filled with a generic wild bird mix expecting all birds to enjoy their fill. However backyard bird feeding has become more specialized, targeting the specific feeding habits of birds to meet their needs. Some birds will only feed at elevated levels like the Chickadees, Red-polls and goldfinch. Others, such as Juncos, doves, and native sparrows, feed primarily on the ground. Yet other birds like our woodpeckers and nuthatches prefer to feed around the tree trunk zone. Then there are those such as the Cardinals and Blue Jays who are just plain opportunistic. These birds will feed where ever the seed is provided.

Two of the most common types of bird feeders for attracting a large variety of birds are hopper feeders and platform feeders. With the exception of birds which forage for food on the ground, these two feeders will attract all large birds and small birds.

Other popular bird feeders are seed tube feeders and Nyjer thistle feeders. These styles are more specialized, primarily attracting the smaller birds from Chickadees and nuthatches, to finches, Red-polls, and crossbills. Today’s tube feeders are constructed with polycarbonate tubes, die cast metal seed ports, tops, and bottoms, and carry a lifetime warranty.

A bird feeder that is not often considered but makes an exciting addition to a backyard bird feeding program is the ground feeder. Ground feeders are platforms with legs that sit on the ground and there are many birds that only feed at ground level. They include all our native sparrows, a few of which are the Harris’ sparrow, White-crowned and White-throated sparrow. Also, Dark-eyed Juncos which visit us in the winter are ground foragers as is the Towhees and Mourning Doves. A good mix for ground feeding birds is Safflower seed and white Proso millet.

Note that if you are watching a small brown bird feeding on the ground in your yard and you’re not sure if it is a native sparrow, watch their method of feeding. All native sparrows scratch the ground with their feet to turn up seeds. That’s a good sign you need to retrieve your field guide to identify this bird. The house sparrow on the other hand is actually a Weaver Finch that uses its bill to sweep the ground for food. This bird was introduced into North America from England around 1850 and, as with the European Starling, is a non-federally protected invasive species.

Suet feeders round off the six types of bird feeders for a good backyard bird feeding program. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and Brown Creepers are birds of the tree trunk zone. These birds will feed on seed in most elevated bird feeders, but have a high attraction for the animal protein in suet. But don’t think of suet as purely a winter time food source. Woodpeckers will consume 30% more animal protein (suet) from March through August than all winter long. And Carolina Wrens, which are wintering over more and more in Nebraska, will feed on suet along with Chickadees.

Just as the type of bird feeder you select determines which birds you will attract, the bird seed you fill them with is just as important. Birds that feed at elevated hopper and seed tube bird feeders prefer sunflower seed, safflower seed, and other nut based mixes. If you put a general wild bird mix in these feeders, they will sweep through it picking out the nut meats, scattering everything else to the ground.

Thistle feeders are specialized bird feeders for attracting Goldfinch, House Finch and Indigo Buntings. During the winter months they are also a favorite of Pine Siskin and Purple Finch. The seed used in these feeders is limited to Nyjer thistle or a finch mix. Caution should be taken to assure the thistle seed is fresh. Nyjer thistle is not a true thistle but a coreopsis imported from India and Ethiopia. Once it reaches the United States it is sterilized by the USDA prior to distribution to prevent germination or the introduction of non-native plants. This sterilization process creates a shelf life of 4 to 6 months, after which the finch will ignore it when put in a feeder. If using a finch mix avoid those containing canary grass seed, flax, and other fillers. The best finch mix is half Nyjer thistle and half ground sunflower chips.

General wild bird mixes start with a base of white Proso millet. Sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and peanuts are then added. These mixes are best used on platform and ground feeders where birds can select the seed they want without sweeping through it. Again, caution should be taken when purchasing a general wild bird mix. All bird seed is required by law to be labeled with the ingredients and the order of its content. Many inexpensive general wild bird mixes contain filler seeds such as Milo, wheat, red millet, and may even state “assorted grain products.” These products are not eaten by backyard birds and as much as 40% of a bag of bird seed that contain these filler seeds can end up uneaten and wasted on the ground. A quality general wild bird mix may cost a bit more, but will add up to big savings in the long run.

If squirrels are robbing the seed from the feeder you intended for the birds to enjoy, you may want to consider adding a squirrel baffle or investing in a squirrel proof bird feeder. Another alternative is to use safflower, or Nutra-Saff safflower seed in the bird feeder that squirrels raid most often. Squirrels do not care for its bitter taste. Grackles, the large black birds that seem to overpower the bird feeders at times, do not care much for safflower either. Yet it will attract most all your favorite backyard birds and can be used in any type of bird feeder.

Water for birds, especially during the winter months, is essential for their survival. Although they have numerous food sources, open water in the winter can become difficult to locate. So having an open source of water in the winter will attract more birds than bird seed alone. There is an assortment of bird bath heaters and heated bird baths on the market that are thermostatically controlled and use less energy than a 60 watt light bulb. Fresh water does more for birds than just meet their nutritional intake. Clean feathers provide better insulation during cold nights.

Finally, consider planting some habitat in your yard. All living things on our planet require food, water, and shelter. Hedges and shrubs will not only offer protection from bitter winter winds, but a place for birds to nest and provide a natural food source. Consult with a master gardener at your local nursery or the Nebraska Cooperative Extension Office about planting habitat for wildlife. Follow these tips from the Wild Bird Habitat Store, then sit back and enjoy a backyard filled with your feathered friends.