Attract More Birds

Bird diets can range from seeds and fruit to insects or nectar. But regardless of these preferences, your feeder will attract more birds if the food is in place before the first cold spell. In fact, when severe weather strikes for several days in a row, supplemental food can increase survival rates, mostly because natural food sources are covered in snow and ice or just not available.

Extreme weather conditions create a need for protection against the wind as well. An ideal location for feeders is an open area sheltered from strong winds and within 10 feet of cover. Not only does this provide protection from the weather but a place for quick escape from predators as well.

It is a good idea to keep feeders a safe distance from windows to help decrease the occurrence of window collisions. Alternatively, placing feeders fairly close to windows can prevent injuries because the birds can see the window or, if they should strike the window when taking off from the feeder, they won’t be flying very fast. Birds often see windows as an open flight path when fleeing from feeders.

A good feeder should protect the seed from rain and snow, dispense feed gradually to reduce spillage and be easy to clean and fill. Remember to keep bird feeders clean and disinfect them on a regular basis. Disease is more likely to spread in areas where a large number of birds congregate. Remove wet food and keep spilled seed and hulls raked to prevent the growth of mold.

The most widely preferred seed is small, black oil-type sunflower seeds because they are high in energy and have thin, easy to crack shells. However, white proso millet, finely cracked corn, safflower and unsalted nutmeats also are good options to try.

Regardless of the specific seeds used, all feed needs to be fresh. Oftentimes commercially packaged mixtures are convenient but contain high amounts of filler seed that go to waste. It often is a better option to buy quality seeds that birds will prefer in bulk and mix at home. Fresh bulk seed is most commonly found at stores that specialize in feeding birds. Grit and suet are two optional supplements that may increase the likelihood of birds visiting a feeder. Grit is used in the gizzard of birds to grind down feed and also serves as a source of calcium. Sand, fine poultry or canary grit, eggshells or crushed limestone can be mixed with the seed or placed on a tray on the ground.

Suet or hard beef fat is available in commercial no-melt packages or directly from the butcher or grocery meat counter. Mixtures made of animal fat mixed with other ingredients like seeds or nutmeats are an excellent source of energy for birds over the winter months. Suet can be fed in onion or orange sacks and in suet feeders on or near trees and wooden posts. Keep suet high and out of the sun to prevent melting.

Overall, it is fun and education to experiment with different food in various locations to determine what best suits the area and interest level.

Source: Ron Johnson, University of Nebraska–Lincoln