
What you put in your feeders is important. Particular bird species prefer specific types of food. Grains (seeds) and suet (seeds and fruits imbedded in fat) are popular with a wide variety of bird species. Seeds include sunflower seeds, corn, and millet. Black sunflower seeds and millet, in particular, are very popular among many common types of birds, such as cardinals, finches, blue jays and goldfinches. Blue jays, sparrows and starlings enjoy corn. Suet is a nutritious, high-energy “cake” that attracts woodpeckers and other birds. Installing a few bird feeders, each stocked with different types of food, is the best way to attract the greatest variety of bird types.
Note that feeding birds won’t prevent those who migrate from leaving your area. This is instinctual and has nothing to do with whether or not there is food available. For those birds that do stay throughout the winter, remember that once you start feeding them, you must continue to do so or they will leave to find food elsewhere. Often, they will not come back.
Helpful Tip
Remember to regularly clean out and sterilize feeders to prevent mold, mildew and potential disease-causing parasites from making birds sick. Discard of spoiled seeds and refill when cleaning the feeder out.
Tray bird feeders attract a wide variety of seed-eating species, such as starlings and sparrows, but their open nature also makes them enticing to squirrels. They can be mounted on posts, railings and sills. The best models have a screened bottom for drainage. Since they often have no covering, water from snow or rain, as well as bird droppings, can get mixed in with the seed to create unsanitary, disease-causing conditions. A screened bottom helps cut down on this and also makes the feeder easier to clean. Tray feeders should be cleaned more often than other styles; ideally, every 3 days or so. Some models do provide a roof. Consider getting one of these models to add a little protection from the elements.
House or “hopper” bird feeders are good choices because they shelter the food inside and protect it from weather and the birds’ own droppings. This type of feeder is good for cardinals, finches, sparrows, titmice as well as other bird species. Their hoppers can hold enough seed for several days at a time, making them low-maintenance. Because the food is enclosed, moisture can get in, making it a breeding ground for bacteria. They can also be harder to clean than tray feeders. House feeders can be mounted on poles, or suspended from objects. Remember to use a squirrel baffle to keep the critters from getting to the seed inside.
Tube feeders are another common type of bird feeder. Metal styles can be mostly squirrel-resistant and they keep seeds clean. Tube feeders hang vertically and usually have perches and/or a base, on which birds can rest and eat. They are good for smaller birds like sparrows, chickadees and finches.
Suet feeders are usually a wire mesh basket that encloses the food. They can be mounted on poles, attached to trees or can be suspended from other objects, including a bird feeder pole. Chickadees, starlings and woodpeckers are just some of the birds that love suet.
If you want to build your own bird feeder, see the project “Build a Bird Feeder”.
That’s it! If you feed them, birds will come…and stay for the winter. Enjoy!