Bird Feeding Basics
When it comes to bird feeding, I have always believed in the KISS approach: Keep It Simple, Silly.
Successful feeding has five components:
- Food
- Water
- Cover
- Space
- Cleanliness
Food
You might think the food you feed birds is all the same, but it is not. A plethora of wild bird foods is available. Choosing the right ones will make the difference between getting a few birds and getting several species to visit your backyard.
Overall the most popular seed for birds is black oil sunflower. More bird species will eat this than any other seed. I simply but the black oil sunflower seed in a tube feeder hung from a tree or mounted on a pole.
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Black-capped chickadee on platform feeder |
A good mix will attract ground feeding species of birds that cannot or will not go the tube feeder filled with black oil sunflower seed. A good mix contains such ingredients as sunflower seed, cracked corn, and white millet, with peanuts or safflower added. A good mix should not contain milo, red millet, wheat products, or other fillers. I throw the mix on the ground by broadcasting within a large area near ground cover.
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Red-bellied Woodpecker enjoying suet |
If you want to attract woodpeckers, suet hung in wire baskets is a must. I hang the suet basket on a nail on a tree, but be careful – a raccoon may come by one night and steal the whole kit and caboodle. I avoid this by using hardware that enables me to unhook the basket and bring it in at night.
Avoid feeding bread, cookies or crackers. These foods, for the most part, fill the birds up but provide little nutrition.
Water
Water can be offered in almost any vessel big enough for a bird to take a bath in. Just be sure it’s not more a couple of inches deep so all birds can bathe without fear of drowning. A typical bird bath is usually round with shallow sides.
Cover
It’s important that feeders be near cover in the form of trees, shrubs, and/or grasses so that the birds can escape attacks from hawks or cats. Feeders should be placed no more than a few yards from cover.
Space
If you are going to install more than one feeder, spread them out. When you do this, you help the birds avoid skirmishes over food.
Cleanliness
Feeders should be cleaned often. Bacteria and germs can live in or on unclean feeders. A solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water is recommended. I try to clean the feeders whenever they look dirty, but some authorities will tell you to do it every two weeks. Before you fill the feeder up again, be sure it is thoroughly rinsed and dry.