Birdfeeders

Migration is truly a spectacular aspect of bird behavior. In North America, about 80% of about 650 species are involved in migrating. This can be observed anywhere from the Arctic to the tropics, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. There are as many variations im routes, timing and techniques as there are migratory species. Almost everything we know about bird migration has been learned in the past 150 years. Modern techniques such as banding have certainly helped to collect data but birders have also gathered large amounts of information. There are many counts conducted throughout the year and people with backyard bird feeders have gathered much useful data. As we draw birds to our tube feeders, suet feeders, platform feeders, etc. we are presented with the ability to add to the knowledge of how birds behave. We witness arrivals, departures, summer and winter quarters and many species en route. Our bird feeders give us the opportunity to participate in annual counts that help scientists piece together bird patterns. Still, our knowledge of bird migration is far from comprehensive, and new insights are gained constantly be birdwatchers as well as by professional ornithologists.

Now you are keeping records of the birds visiting your yard and when they are visiting, but are there birds in the area that have not been drawn to your yard? How to know and then draw them in? The best thing to do is visit your local park and just sit down and watch. Are you seeing an abundance of ground feeders? Well, maybe platform feeders should be a more dominating presence in your yard. Are there lots of birds in the water? The addition of bird baths would certainly entice some of them to your yard. It’s always fun to add different types of bird feeders and bird baths and see how the visiting population in your yard changes.

In order to draw the greatest number and variety of birds to our yards, it is important to place bird feeders at more than one level, for different species normally feed at different levels. Placing a platform feeder on the ground will attract the ground feeders in your area. You will likely see quail, mourning doves, juncos, towhees and warblers. Of course, you may also have others checking out the offerings, but these species normally feed on the ground, so platform feeders suit them perfectly. The next group regularly feeds at the level of low bushes and undergrowth. If we hang a tube feeder in the range of 2-5 feet off the ground, it will be visited by cardinals, field sparrows, mockingbirds, winter wrens, finches and sparrows. High bushes and low branches in the 5-15 foot range are often visited by jays, goldfinch, grosbeak, cuckoo, robins, etc. I have found that tube feeders or hopper feeders hung from branches or on poles in the 5-6 foot range will nicely attract birds from both groups. If overcrowding becomes a problem, simply add another feeder a few feet away and all will be happy. Bald eagles, Baltimore orioles, hawks, herons, pine siskin, purple finch and flycatchers prefer the tree top level, but will certainly come down lower for a tasty treat from a hopper bird feeder or tube feeder.

Everybody knows that hummingbirds drink nectar out of hummingbird feeders as well as taking nectar from flowers, but many people do not know that a substantial part of their diet consists of spiders and insects. Hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of any warm-blooded animal, so they must feed constantly during the day in order to satisfy their calorie needs. In spite of being quite small, hummingbirds are very aggressive and ready to attack other hummingbirds, larger birds or even humans who they think are threatening their food source. During times when many hummers are fighting for use of hummingbird feeders, not only is there a lot of territorial behavior, but they can get quite upset when we approach the hummingbird feeders even to fill them. In early spring, you may even find Orioles trying to feed at hummingbird feeders. If this happens, be sure to put up Oriole feeders and you will have them visiting all summer while they raise their young nearby.

Hummingbirds range from southwestern Alaska to the Straits of Magellan. However, the number of species definitely diminishes as you move farther away from the Equator. In North America, only the Ruby-throated hummingbird breeds east of the Mississippi, but there are 14 other species in the West and in the mountains of the Southwest. No hummers breed on the praires of the Great Plains. Most of our species are migratory and the Ruby-throated crosses the Gulf of Mexico and winters in Central America.

When we have bird feeders in our yards, we cause many birds to visit. After all, that’s the reason we have the bird feeders! Having all these birds in one area often also attracts bird-eating hawks. Depending on your location, you could see sharp-shinned hawks, cooper’s hawks or any species of falcons. We offer cover in the form of trees and shrubs as cover for birds, but this same cover could also hide a hawk’s approach. All hawks are protected by law, as they should be, so don’t even think of killing them.

Having an occasional hawk visit should not be thought of as a bad thing. Just consider the hawk as  another bird visiting your yard. Unlike domestic cats, hawks have their place in the intricate balance of nature. Even though we hate to see a kill, they are necessary to keep the balance of bird populations. Without natural predators, birds that hatch 5-6 baby birds at a time would soon overwhelm any area. Don’t feel bad when your bird feeders attract a hawk or falcon to your area. You are not contributing to the death of birds! Birds will be caught - it’s only a matter of whether or not you see it.

We had an exciting experience yesterday. We were watching all the birds visiting our bird feeders in the late afternoon. There were many sparrows, finches, blue jays, quail, mourning doves, juncos, etc., all filling up for the night at our tube feeders, thistle feeders and platform feeders. All of a sudden, they all vanished. As I was wondering what had scared them, a large Cooper’s hawk landed on the fence. They feed on song birds which they usually catch in flight. It is fairly uncommon to see one for they usually hunt in forests or at the edges of open country. However, Cooper’s hawks are attracted to yards with bird feeders. It must have spotted all the activity in our yard. Anyway, it sat on the  fence for a minute looking around. As it looked one way, a small bird behind it would scoot from the ground up to a nearby tree. When the hawk turned the other way, there would be an escape from the other side. Finally, the hawk dropped to the ground and slowly walked behind a large plant. Suddenly, a sparrow shot out from under the plant and headed over the top of the house with the hawk right behind it. It was exciting to watch the hunt, but we were glad not to witness the kill. I felt badly for the sparrow, but realize this is part of the balance of nature.

Some people are happy with any visitors to their bird feeders, but many would prefer to keep the bullies, like jays and mockingbirds, away from their bird feeders. The easiest way to accomplish this is with squirrel proof bird feeders. The most efficient feeders are weight sensitive. When a heavier bird lands, the perch drops down and brings a cover over the feed ports. These of course also keep squirrels out. When a smaller, lighter bird lands, it can feed with no problem. There are also many squirrel proof bird feeders that come surrounded by wire cages which prevent larger birds as well as squirrels from getting to the seed, while smaller birds enter freely. 

The Pine Siskin is a frequent visitor to most tube bird feeders that are filled with sunflower seeds as they range all over the United States. They also love nyjer seed so will happily visit thistle bird feeders as well. They also eat pine seeds, weed seeds and insects. Pine Siskins are quite common in most suburban areas as well as in evergreen woods, mixed wooded areas and in thickets. The male and female are very similar in coloring - a streaky brown bird about the size of a finch. There are noticeable yellow patches on the wings. It’s streaked back distinguishes it from other birds of the same size. They say that Pine Siskin are able to predict storms by their frenetic eating beforehand. Occasionally, they  never migrate to the south.

These two similar species are found in all regions of the United States in urban areas, parks, mixed woods and on low mountain slopes. They absolutely love small nyjer seeds so will be frequent visitors at thistle feeders which is the common name used for nyjer feeders. They are also frequent visitors to tube feeders that contain sunflower seeds. Because they are quite social birds, they are usually seen in groups or flocks of as many as 20 to 30 birds, often including siskins and gold finches. They also eat other seeds, fruits and berries. Drawing these finches to your yard can be the most entertaining if you also have an elevated bird bath filled with clean fresh water. They love drinking from bird baths, often many at a time. Splashing around in the water is also a common practice. While chattering away, they will spend lots of time going back and forth between bird baths and thistle feeders, pushing each other out of the way sometimes and then happily sharing at other times. They look very much alike and are often confused. The male house finch has a red head and upper breast with brownish back and sides. The female has uniform fine brownish streaks on the head and larger brown streaks on the belly and breast. The male purple finch has a red head, back and breast. The female has brown streaks and no red coloring.

It’s fairly easy to attract a flock of goldfinches to your yard. Thistle bird feeders are like a goldfinch magnet! These are tube feeders that are made of wire mesh instead of plastic tubes. The goldfinches just cling to the thistle bird feeder and pull out the tiny nyjer seeds. They are great fun to watch. As they are usually in a flock, you will have a large group of pretty yellow and black small birds that not only frequent thistle feeders, but are regularly seen at sunflower seed filled tube feeders. They are also frequent bathers, so will spend much time at an elevated bird bath. They are constantly moving, chattering and squabbling with one another. They seem to get along with most other birds, except are intimidated by the more aggressive jays. They are found in open areas with some trees and shrubbery available for cover. They are common in suburban areas, parks, gardens, wood edges, etc. Besides the seeds we offer in our bird feeders, goldfinches also eat other seeds, berries and insects.