Our Bird Home

In previous weeks, we’ve discussed the benefits of offering birds a variety of food. We’ve also talked about how different foods appeal to different species of birds. Now it’s time to focus on an underrated part of the feeding process: the placement of the feeder. It’s obviously in your best interest to keep the feeder positioned away from overhanging branches; squirrels are only too eager to steal all the seeds they can stuff in their cheeks.

Beyond that, you can make life more convenient for your neighborhood birds by placing the feeders within close proximity of their other daily needs. Just like people, birds appreciate the virtues of a short commute. They don’t want to fly out of their way to get from wood bird feeders to a birdhouse, and the same is true of a birdbath. Why not put all three of these essentials together in the yard to create a thrumming hub of bird activity?

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches might be one of my dietary staples, but I wouldn’t want to live on PB&J alone. Every once in a while it’s refreshing to fix a BLT or an egg salad sandwich for lunch. Humans aren’t the only creatures that appreciate some variety in their diet. Bird seed is a culinary mainstay for our feathered friends, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t mix things up. Try filling your decorative bird feeders with seed and hanging a suet feeder nearby.

Suet is really just a fancy word for rendered animal fat, and for whatever reason it drives woodpeckers, chickadees, jays and many other birds crazy. You can dress up a block of suet by adding delectable morsels to send birds into a feeding frenzy. Try adding some peanut butter, some chopped apples and raisins. Then sit back and watch as the birds come flocking to your backyard.

Do you want to attract more birds to your back yard? Having decorative birdhouses and bird feeders is a great way to introduce your people to nature and something the whole family can share. Having a bird friendly yard has never been more important. Nearly 80 percent of wild habitat in the United States is in private hands and an average of 2.1 million acres each year are converted to residential use.

One way to attract birds is to set your own bird feeder station. Make sure it’s close to your rustic birdhouse so that the birds can come and go to each with ease. Another way is to set up a source of clean water for drinking and bathing in a bird bath. It is fun to watch the birds flapping their wings “bathing” in the water. A third way is to providing nesting materials.

In the next few articles we will pass on to you some ideas we have found about such things as foods that appeal to birds you want to attract. Also hints about food items such as eggshells, fruits and other attractions. We will also take a look at how to provide nesting materials.

Nothing ruins a bird’s day faster than a squirrel stuffing his or her face at their favorite birdfeeder. Squirrels are notorious for climbing up on top of birdfeeders, and feasting upon the seeds for hours and hours on end. To prevent squirrels from getting on top of the birdfeeder and stuffing their faces, there are a number of solutions to consider.

In some cases, a squirrel baffle might be an appropriate addition to the bird feeder. However, in some cases, a particularly large squirrel might be able to get around a baffle through careful maneuvering. Now and then a hanging bird feeder can also be a good idea, because depending on where it is hung, it might prevent squirrels from being able to touch it. The final solution is to provide an easier source of food for the squirrels, like a squirrel feeder that distributes nuts or corn. Provided this alternate feeder doesn’t run out of food, the squirrels will tend to use it instead of taking the time and effort to get to the bird feeder.

It should come as no surprise that most birdwatchers harbor a natural dislike for squirrels. These wily critters perform impressive feats of acrobatics and contortionism just to latch onto a bird feeder and sap it of sustenance. Squirrels show utter disregard for their bodies when they sprawl headlong from trees to bird feeders; their only purpose in life seems to be stealing food from birds’ mouths.

In reality, squirrels are just as food-driven as most other wild animals. It’s simple instinct that pushes them to plunder sunflower seeds. If you experience regular feeder interference from those bright-eyed, bushy-tailed pests, try moving the food source to a higher location far away from overhanging branches. Otherwise, scan the market for domed bird feeders, which are more effective at deterring squirrels.

When it comes to feeding the birds in our backyard, it’s best to remember that every breed and species of bird is slightly different. While your yard might be filled with a cornucopia of different birds, the type of food you put out should be a mix of generalized food and foods that are enjoyed by specific types of birds. Do a bit of research and find out what foods are preferred by your favorite bird, and then place that mixture in your yard for the greatest results.

With this information in mind, many birdwatchers choose to display several different birdfeeders. They select a birdfeeder specifically designed to attract one kind of bird, and then they fill the feeder with seeds and nuts that are the favored treat of that bird. This makes bird watching all the easier, because you know where to expect certain birds. Also, make sure to put out a communal dish of food on a picnic table or bench. This way, you’ll also be able to view a collection of birds together.