Attracting Wild Birds
Posted by VC Peet on Wed, Jan 04, 2012
Although winter is often described as dreary since most of our fauna have migrated, we do have a surprising number of birds that stay through the winter. When everything else seems to have died or otherwise left, these chirpy little fellows add a bit of life to an otherwise dull winter. Keeping the birds nearby is easy, simply provide them with some good food:
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (Oil Seeds) - this variety is black and will attract almost any winter bird, including finches, chickadees, blue jays, cardinals and nuthatches. They tend to have higher oil content, thinner shells and larger seeds than the grey and white variety.
Suet - an excellent source of fat, suet can be bought at many retail stores and even come pre-mixed with peanut butter and seeds. Chickadees, woodpeckers and jays particularly enjoy suet.
Nyjer - a bit more pricey than other seeds (because it’s imported), nyjer is a favorite for finches. The seeds are very small, so you will need a thistle feeder or thistle sock. There is a slight problem with nyjer though - they can germinate and may get very soggy and nasty if they get wet.
Mixed Seed Bags - bags of bird seed are available just about anywhere, but make sure before you buy you get the best variety. Check the bag for fillers such as red milo, dyed seeds and red millet, which most birds will just toss out anyway (the bag may be cheaper, but a lot of it will get wasted!). If you prefer, you can also mix up your own seed.
More ideas on what to feed the birds include safflower, corn, millet and fresh fruit such as apple and orange slices. If you’re feeling particularly generous, you can even bake your birds some treats, such as homemade suet or bird donuts. Left over kitchen scraps are also suitable in small doses (so long as it’s not moldy or rotten), for more information click here
You might also want to keep fresh water available (either in a bird bath or flat bowl), but just remember to clean any feeders or bowls out regularly and keep them high enough so that other animals (like cats) can’t get to the birds. Keeping feeders near bushes and trees is also a good idea, since the birds will have shelter from hawks and falcons.