Feeders help birds in winter
A parade of birds flitted to my backyard feeders on a recent snowy day, nabbing a bit of suet ora black sunflower seed before darting back to the safety of nearby trees.
Cardinals, finches, nuthatches – even a woodpecker or two – scored a snack as my two indoor catssat rapt at the windows, their tails twitching hopefully.
The birds seemed exceptionally active during the first snowfall of the season – a flurry that isnot unusual when the weather turns.
“When there’s snow on the ground, that can be particularly troublesome for birds,” said JohnRobinson, chief ornithologist for Scotts Miracle-Gro, which in recent years has added birdseedmixes to its repertoire of lawn and garden products.
A blanket of snow keeps birds from reaching their usual food sources, making them more relianton the offerings of human friends. Freezing rain or sleet makes the situation more dire.
“Ice locks up all the food in the environment,” Robinson said.
Although birds might be able to dig through snow to reach food, they have little success withice.
“That’s really when bird feeders are likely to play a big role.”
In central Ohio, the birds most likely to visit include blue jays, cardinals, goldfinches, housefinches, chickadees, mourning doves, nuthatches, titmice and downy woodpeckers. Feeding on theground might be dark-eyed juncos and tree sparrows.
Although all these species are more common in the woodlands than treeless former cornfields,it’s possible to lure the birds to a suburban yard.
Put up a feeder or two and fill them with high-quality seed, Robinson said. A seed blend is agood way to attract a variety of birds, but bypass mixes that include a lot of cracked corn and redmilo, fillers that attract less-desirable birds such as grackles and starlings.
Black oil sunflower seeds or sunflower hearts and chips attract most of the feeder birds. Whitemillet attracts sparrows and wrens; peanuts attract woodpeckers, titmice and jays.
Besides good food, the birds will want to feel secure in the yard. Give them a few evergreensand a brush pile, places to which they can dart to escape a hungry hawk or prowling cat. Add an oakto provide acorns for woodpeckers. Provide water as well. Birds will need a drink and perhaps abath.
But don’t be surprised if you put up a feeder and fail to have visitors for a while. “Bepatient,” Robinson said. “If you’ve never had a feeder, it could take awhile (up to 21 days) forbirds to find it.”
Once a few birds find the food, though, their activity will prompt others to visit, and soonword will be out on the street that your house has tasty, high-quality grub.
Even if the nearest large area of woods is a distance away, birds will fly up to a half-mile fora good meal, Robinson said.
He recommends that a person just starting in the bird-feeding business have three types offeeders.
• Always hang a suet feeder in winter. “That’s when birds need a lot of energy,” he said, andthe high fat content of suet provides it.
• Put up a platform-type feeder with a roof. the cover keeps the seed and the birds out of theelements.
• Hang a tube feeder, which come in a variety of styles, some just for finches, and some ofwhich allow larger birds at some ports.
To prevent the spread of disease, clean the feeders once a month with a solution of 10 percentbleach. Scrap any seed remaining in the feeder at that time and start anew.
Then, relax and enjoy the show.
Cindy Decker, Dispatch Home & Garden editor, writes about native gardening and living withwildlife. Reach her at 614-461-5027 or by e-mail.
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