Backyard Birding FAQs

What kind of feeder should I put up?

This depends on the birds you want to attract. A ground or platform feeder will attract just about everything in the area. The wide-open design of these feeders doesn’t discriminate between songbirds, squirrels, crows or pigeons. A great variety of seed can be presented in these feeders. Be sure to get one that allows for water drainage. Another advantage of this feeder is that it will capture the opened seed shells and prevent them from dropping to the ground. It’s easier to pick the feeder up and dump old seed and shells into the trash than to rake the ground to gather the mess. Tube feeders are generally best for smaller perching songbirds, such as finches, chickadees and nuthatches. They can be filled with black oil sunflower seeds or mixed seed. If squirrels are a problem, get a tube fitted with a surrounding cage that allows the songbirds to enter easily, while blocking squirrels and larger birds, such as grackles, from getting to the seed. Hoppers are similar to ground and platform feeders in that a great many birds can use them. I’ve found, however, that certain ground feeding birds, such as white-throated sparrows, will not use the hopper. An advantage of the hopper over most ground and platforms feeders (though there are exceptions) is that the seed is enclosed and therefore protected from the weather. Some hoppers are also available with guards, screens and other devices that will deter squirrels and large birds from using them. Suet feeders are an easy way to feed insect-feeding birds using suet cakes. These cages can be hung from large plant hooks, trees or even the poles that support some hoppers. You’ll attract quite a variety of birds (and squirrels) to these feeders. There are also a number of specialty feeders that cater to certain birds. Goldfinches have the ability to hang upside down while feeding, so the upside-down nyjer/thistle feeder is perfect for them. This feeder also attracts chickadees, little acrobats that can also feed upside down, though I’ve never observed them staying in that position for a long period of time like the goldfinches. Nectar feeders attract hummingbirds and orioles. There are also various globe feeders that do not have perches. These will appeal only to the smaller clinging songbirds and not to any species that requires a feeding perch.

Does the type of food I offer to the birds matter?

It certainly does and for various reasons. Most birds have a preferred food. If that food is not offered, the birds will not stay long. Black oil sunflower is preferred and enjoyed by a tremendous number of different birds, though I’d stop just short of saying it’s universal. That’s one reason why you’ll see it packaged with other seeds as “Wild Bird Mixed Seed” – it will simply attract the greatest variety of birds. Read the package contents carefully, however, to see what the other seeds are. Some seeds are just fillers and the birds won’t eat them. This is probably the main reason for the difference in price that you’ll pay for mixed seed from different companies. Sunflower, prosso millets, peanut pieces and a small amount of cracked corn is good. Wheat and milo are almost worthless and the birds will ignore them. The birds will make quite a mess around the feeders searching for their preferred seeds. I’ve had cardinals digging through the mixed seed at my hopper looking for sunflower seeds. Their digging motion scattered the millet all over the ground, making easy pickings for the mourning doves. If the seed falling to the ground were wheat, the doves would have ignored it.

What kind of seed should I put in my feeders?

The most popular seed by far is black oil sunflower seed. This seed is eaten by a wide variety of birds. It has a relatively soft shell, is high in fat content and provides much needed protein. It is also easy to obtain, available in wild bird stores, garden centers and supermarkets. The only drawback is the mess that is made from the seed shells. To get around this, you can offer sunflower chips. Sunflower chips can be expensive, but since the entire chip is edible - there is no shell - you actually get more pure seed for your dollar. The only problem that I’ve encountered with sunflower chips is that they are not very resistant to moisture. They tend to absorb moisture from rain and high humidity and become moldy. I only use sunflower chips in small quantities and in feeders that protect them as much as possible from the weather. Striped sunflower seed is eaten by many birds though isn’t preferred as much as the black oil variety. The shell is a bit harder than the black oil shell, making it a little harder for smaller songbirds to crack open.  Mixed seed is exactly that – a mixture of different seeds. A quality mix will contain a high percentage of sunflower, white proso millet and various nuts. Be sure to check the ingredients of the mix. Some lower quality seed mixes contain “filler seeds” that add bulk to the bag but are ignored by the birds. Some typical filler seeds are milo, wheat and canary seed. Some birding stores and garden centers sell bulk seed. You can easily make your own mixed seed by buying in bulk and mixing it yourself. After a period of time, you can alter the mix to suit the birds that feed in your yard. Safflower seed is often listed as a favorite of cardinals. True, they will eat it, but it’s not their preferred food. It appears to be an “acquired taste” in that birds have to adapt to safflower. Birds that have learned to eat safflower include cardinals, house finches, tufted titmice and chickadees, but again, it’s not their first preference. Safflower does however seem to deter squirrels. Nyjer or thistle seed is often called “black gold”, both for the number of birds it attracts and for the price you have to pay for it! This seed is the absolute favorite of goldfinches. It is also high on the list of preferred seeds of house and purple finches, pine siskins and chickadees. It is a very tiny seed and requires a specialized feeder with very small feeding ports. You can also use an “upside-down” feeder, where the feeding port is under the perch. This deters house sparrows and others from decimating the seed supply. Goldfinches and chickadees feed quite happily while hanging upside down. Cracked corn is a food eaten by a variety of birds such as sparrows, blue jays and doves. It also attracts grackles, crows and other large birds that may not be desirable at your feeder. Sometimes I’ll put some cracked corn in an area of my yard away from the feeders to distract pigeons. Peanuts are an absolute favorite of woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, tufted titmice and blue jays. Be sure to use only unsalted peanuts. Woodpeckers and blue jays will eat the peanuts in the shell, while the smaller birds prefer the peanuts out of the shell. There are also commercial peanut / assorted nut mixtures that nut eating birds love.

How do I set up a feeding station?

A feeding station is nothing more than a feeder with food for the birds. It can be as elaborate as you want it to be and, over time, can be expanded to include any number of feeders. If this is your first attempt at feeding birds in your yard, I’d recommend setting up an open platform feeder. This style of feeder will attract a great variety of birds. If you are new to birding, you may not really know all the birds that are in your neighborhood. An open platform feeder will attract most of them, giving you a good idea of what’s around. Once you’ve determined the types of birds that visit your yard, you can put up some “specialized” feeders to cater to specific birds, an upside-down nyjer seed feeder for goldfinches and chickadees for example. Try to set up the feeding station away from foot-traffic in your yard, but within easy viewing. The feeder should also be relatively close to some shrubs, bushes or other cover in case a hawk makes an appearance.

Should I feed the birds year round?

Why not? There are always some hungry birds around to attract to your yard. Over time, you’ll notice that some birds visit your feeding station year-round (residents) while others only appear for a short period of time or at certain times of the year (migrants). Feed them all year-round and enjoy yourself! Some people believe that the birds will become dependent on them for food and will suffer when they are away on vacation. I don’t believe this to be true. While the birds will frequent your feeders and enjoy the “free handouts”, they will still have other sources of food besides the feeders in your yard, both natural and your neighbors’ feeders.

Can I feed the birds the same food year-round?

For the most part, yes, though you may want to make slight adjustments for different times of the year. For example, in some parts of the country spring can be a very rainy time of year. Sunflower chips turn moldy when exposed to moisture for any period of time, so black oil sunflower seed may be a better choice. Save the sunflower chips for a “drier” time of the year. I always have multiple suet cakes available to the birds in the winter, but cut it back to a single cake during the summer. I hang orange slices in the spring for migrating orioles, but not at other times of the year. Since food is more abundant during the summer, I usually remove my large hopper feeders and hang more tube feeders, offering less seed but a greater variety. I think one of the most important times of year to feed the birds is the spring. The natural seed sources available to the birds are used up over the winter and are pretty slim by spring. This is also the time of year for migration and nesting for many birds, both activities requiring large outputs of energy. Supplementing the natural food sources with feeders in the yard makes life a bit easier for the birds.

How can I stop the squirrels from raiding my feeders?

It’s almost impossible to stop squirrels from trying to get at the food in your feeders, but there are definite measures that can be taken to deter them and slow them down. If you are hanging a feeder, try to have it at least eight feet from a fence, tree or anything else that squirrels can jump from. Consider using a baffle over the top of feeders hanging from tree limbs. Use a pole baffle if you hang your feeders from a garden hook or pole. Many feeders come enclosed in metal cages, which keep squirrels out but allow easy access for the birds. This type of feeder also has the advantage of keeping larger birds, such as grackles, away from seed as well. These caged feeders are also available for suet feeders, essentially a suet basket enclosed in a larger basket. There are also stand-alone cages that can be added to your existing tube feeders. Most open platform feeders don’t block squirrel access to the feeders, just to the seed. These feeders have cleverly designed grids that prevent the squirrels from getting their paws down to the seed. When using a feeder of this type, it’s common to see the squirrels sitting in the feeder trying to get the seed for a week or so. They finally figure out that it’s a waste of time and will leave the feeder alone. Another idea is to have a separate area of your yard where you specifically feed the squirrels. My sister Margaret uses an old metal coalscuttle to feed the squirrels in her yard away from her feeders. It’s ground level and easy for the squirrels to get to, effectively diverting them from the bird feeders.

How often should I clean my feeders and how do I do it?

Feeders should be cleaned once a month. Empty the feeder and use a brush and a hose to remove all loose seed and debris. Mix a mild bleach solution of one capful of liquid chlorine bleach for each gallon of lukewarm water. If the feeder is small enough, immerse it in the bleach solution. If not, use a brush to scrub the feeder down with the solution. Rinse the feeder thoroughly and let it dry completely before refilling with seed.

How can I make my yard into a bird-friendly habitat?

A bird-friendly yard has a “casual” feeling about it. It can look neat, but should not be manicured. It must appear natural to wildlife in order to mimic the natural habitat that birds are used to. It combines the availability of food, water, cover and nesting sites. Feeding stations offer birds a variety of seed, suet and fruit. Water is not only for thirst but also is important for bathing and preening. Cover, in the form of shrubs and trees, offers birds a place to hide while they look over your yard or if there is a threat from a predator. Cover also is a place to shake, preen and dry off after a visit to the birdbath. By planting shrubs and flowers that produce seeds that birds like, you can not only provide cover but also offer the birds natural food sources. Nesting sites don’t necessarily mean birdhouses. Many birds build nests in dense shrubbery. You should also try to locate feeders and baths away from traffic ways. Separate the feeding area of your yard from the bathing area. Birds do one or the other, but not both at the same time. Birdhouses should also be put up away from feeders, baths and areas of activity in order to encourage nesting. High traffic areas, from other birds, squirrels and humans, can be a threat to a nest full of babies. Birds will want to build nests away from such areas where it is safer.