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When
a bird’s natural
plant food has waned or
withered away, a few well-placed
feeders can entice it
to stay. There are four
basic types of feeders,
but the type of feeder
and food it’s filled
with will determine which
birds will visit.
- A
tray or platform feeder
placed one to three
feet above the ground
will lure ground-feeding
birds like Juncos, Towhees,
and Morning Doves.
-
Hung from a tree or
mounted on a pole, “house”
style feeders with seed
hoppers and perches
on the side will usually
entice Grosbeaks, Cardinals,
and Jays.
- Long,
cylindrical tube feeders
suspended in air will
bring in an array of
small birds, including
Grosbeaks, Finches,
Titmice, Nuthatches,
Siskins, and Chickadees.
-
A fruit feeder stocked
with fresh fruit will
tempt colorful birds
like Tanagers, Orioles,
Bluebirds, and Waxwings.
Birds
will seldom drop or pick
out unwanted seeds if
you fill your feeder with
only one type of seed
rather than a generic
mix. Black-oil sunflower
seeds are the most widely
preferred, though while
millet is popular among
ground-feeding birds.
A tube feeder containing
thistle seeds will whet
the appetite of Buntings,
Goldfinches, Siskins,
or Redpolls, Jays, Chickadees,
and Juncos love shelled
peanuts or cracked corn
as a treat in a tray feeder.
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Suet
is a high energy formulation
of animal fat and other
ingredients to attract
insect-eating birds.
Suet is a quick source
of heat and energy for
birds and has been used
as a good substitute
for the insects that
birds usually feed upon,
but are not plentiful
in cold weather. Suet
can be offered all year
long but is especially
important in winter.
Providing
suet in a wire basket
or mesh bag is an easy,
low-maintenance bird
feeder. You refill only
once every week or so,
you never need to scrub
the feeder, and you
can leave it in your
yard year round. Presenting
suet in your backyard
will also attract a
greater variety of birds
for your enjoyment.
Some of the backyard
birds that enjoy suet
include:
Woodpeckers,
Chickadees, Bluebirds,
Mockingbirds, Warblers,
Kinglets, Titmice, Nuthatches,
Jays, Robins, Starlings
and Wrens.
Be
sure to suspend your
suet feeder close to
the trunk of the tree
approximately 5 to 6
feet from the ground.
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