TIP SHEET: Attracting Birds

 

 

Attracting Birds to Your Yard

 

We’ve all heard the saying, "A little bird told me." Well, little birds are good at telling other little birds when they’ve found a source of food. So, just by supplying food, you’re going to attract birds. But there are still some things you can do to make sure you’re attracting a wide variety of species.

 

The surest way to draw a good mix of birds is to put out a good mix of bird feed. That means not just different sizes and types of seed, but fruit, nuts, suet and peanut butter as well. Nuts and seeds supply the protein birds are missing in winter when they can’t find insects to eat. Dried fruit gives them carbohydrates for energy, and the suet and peanut butter supply the fat wintering species need to handle the chill.

 

Who's Coming to Dinner?

 

Everybody loves the colorful cardinals and the more unusual species. Black-oil sunflower seed is a magnet for them all: fill your feeders with this high-energy feed and you’ll see a steady parade of songbirds in wide variety. You can expect a mad rush at your feeders, meaning some seed will get knocked out, in turn attracting ground-feeders like mourning doves.

 

The finches’ favorites are nyjer or thistle. They go wild for these small, thin, black seeds, which give them a powerhouse of energy. Look for a feeder, usually with a tubular shape, made especially for this seed type.

 

Orioles, bluebirds, robins and thrushes love sugar, so try putting out cut fruit (oranges, apples, grapes), raisins, and even jelly or sugar water if the weather isn’t freezing. Wrens and sparrows are easy to please. They’ll happily accept mixed seed, stale bread (especially cornbread), and other household leftovers such as suet scraps and peanut butter.

 

Cheap seed (milo, millet, etc.) and cracked-corn mixes are mostly filler. They don’t attract anything the other foods won’t, except maybe the mostly undesirable squirrel. Your bird-feeding dollar is better spent on a product that the birds will seek out and get real nutritional benefit from. The ultimate mix you can provide will supply ample and varied nutrients through a good mix of high-quality seed, nuts, and dried fruits.

 

Housing

 

Birds are scouting our backyards for shelter, too, especially in the winter and spring. The species on most birders’ wish-lists (bluebirds and martins, for instance) require specific house styles, whereas a sparrow will take anything—even ousting established bird families to take over their shelter.

 

Martins and certain other species do best in colony-type houses that have multiple compartments. The entrance hole should not be larger than two inches in diameter, since that would allow predators easy access. It’s also better not to have a perch mounted at the entrance; the birds that live in there don’t need it, and it only makes it easy for aggressive larger species to reach in (even just the head, if the body doesn’t fit) and harm the occupants.

 

Install a variety of house types and materials for the best mix of species. Cedar houses weather beautifully and blend in well with natural surroundings. Painted or PVC houses need less maintenance, and some birds are naturally attracted to a white structure, probably because it reflects more light and will be cooler in summer. Ventilation and ease of cleaning are also factors to consider, so look for a well-made house that will be easy to take down, disassemble if necessary, and disinfect.

 

Location, Location, Location

 

Place feeders and houses in various parts of your yard to accommodate different types and personalities of birds. Shy birds will prefer a sheltered area away from activity, while the less skittish will be happy to go right up near—or even right to—your windows to feed and give you a show. Window feeders that attach to glass with suction cups are great for up-close viewing. Some even have two-way panels so that birds are less aware that they’re being watched.

 

To provide the most security and also keep squirrels from pillaging the feed, mount feeders on metal or PVC poles that the rodents can’t climb. This is also the best way to mount the multi-unit bird “condos” that species such as purple martins prefer.

 

Cleanliness is Crucial

 

Before you set up birdhouses and feeders, remember that it’s also your responsibility to keep them clean. While birdhouses need a good annual scrubbing (when the occupants leave in spring or summer) to safeguard against bacteria and parasites, feeders need more attention. Mold can grow quickly inside a feeder, especially in the warm and damp times of year. The birds that don’t get sick from moldy seed will simply stop visiting your yard when they find your offerings unappetizing.

 

To keep things safe and pleasant for the feathered crowd, you’ll want to clean bird feeders thoroughly every two to three weeks. Make a sudsy solution of dish soap and hot water, and scrub thoroughly. If you see mold, add some bleach to the mixture at the rate of a capful per quart. Rinse very thoroughly and allow feeders and houses to dry completely before returning them to their stations.