Birdfeeders

We have 3 Acorn woodpeckers as regular visitors to our hanging platform feeder. I love watching them and have decided to learn more about woodpeckers. Some interesting facts I have found: there are only about 25 woodpecker species found in the entire United States even though there are more than 180 species in the world. The Downy Woodpecker is the most common in North America. Most woodpeckers have zygodactyl feet - this means they have toes that face the front and toes that face the back. This is why they can grip trees, fences and poles vertically. As they climb, they use their toes and brace with their tail feathers. This is the most comfortable position for them, so it is difficult for them to use many bird feeders, but the local woodpeckers have become very comfortable feeding at our hanging platform feeder.

There are many examples of how birds have learned new behaviors when it comes to bird feeders. Only a few years ago, Orioles did not approach bird feeders, but now they happily sip nectar from Oriole feeders. I have my own example of learned behavior. We have had a hanging platform feeder in our yard for years, but the local California quail who are regulars in our yard have never approached it. Early this summer, I put the platform feeder down on the deck and it became a favorite feeding station for the quail. Unfortunately, after a few weeks, the mice also found it, so I again hung it from the hook mounted on the deck railing where it had been for years. It only took a couple of weeks for the quail to discover where “their” platform feeder had moved to and now they are in it to feed daily.

I love watching hummingbirds at our hummingbird feeders, but ants can be a real problem. Ants also love the sweet nectar that we feed to the hummingbirds. Over the years, I have tried moving the hummingbird feeders around to try to stay ahead of the ants, tried washing the hummingbird feeders daily, etc. but really, only one thing has worked. It is ingenius in its simplicity. It is simply a small cup that you hang above the hummingbird feeder and fill with water. The ants have no way of getting around it to the feeder! It is a really inexpensive solution that I use above our Oriole feeders as well.

Like most people, I haven’t been fond of having lots of blue jays visit our bird feeders. However, they serve a couple of quite useful purposes. Most important, they are expert watchdogs. If any danger appears in the area, blue jays are almost always the first to sound an alarm. Other birds know this as well, for they immediately race for cover when a blue jay signals danger. Because of their aggressive nature, they are always the first to approach a new bird feeder or bird bath in our yard. A new hanging platform bird feeder was filled with a variety of seeds, but remained untouched until a brave blue jay decided to check it out. After he feasted for a while, another blue jay approached and before long, the platform bird feeder was a popular stop for many species.

Feeding hummingbirds is fun, interesting and the easiest thing in the world to do. These aggressive little birds will happily visit a hummingbird feeder hung right outside your window or even on your window. Just buy a hummingbird feeder and the rest is so simple. Just fill it with a nectar made of 4 parts clean water and one part regular white sugar. There is nothing else to buy and no mess to clean up under the hummingbird feeder. If ants become a problem, simply add an ant moat above the hanging hummingbird feeder. If you attract so many hummers that they are chasing each other away from the feeder, simply add another feeder to lessen the competition. Watching these gorgeous little birds is fun for the entire family.

Orioles are much harder to attract to your yard than many other species, but it’s worth the effort. These beautiful birds arrive in the spring from their winter stays in Mexico, Central America and South America. They migrate north to nest in early spring. They return to the same area year after year, so if you want to attract them to a new area, you have to have oriole bird feeders up in an open, highly visible place when they arrive. This is the third year we have had hooded orioles in our yard and every year we have more as the new fledglings learn to visit our oriole bird feeder. If you missed your opportunity this year, be sure to plan ahead so you have an oriole feeder full of nectar and hung by late March in most areas. Here in northern California, they always arrive around April 20. We have so much activity at the feeder now, that for the first time we are seeing the more aggressive orioles chase others away from the feeder. I think we need to hang a second oriole feeder! Remember, if you don’t attract any orioles the first time you put up an oriole feeder, don’t be discouraged. It often takes several seasons to establish a following.

I just put up a new coppertop bird feeder in a new location in our yard. It’s a really pretty feeder so I wanted it in a location to be easily seen from the family room. I filled it with just black oil sunflower seeds to try to attract as many species as possible. What bird would be the first to be brave enough to approach the new coppertop bird feeder and how long would it take? I wasn’t surprised when the first visitor was a blue jay for they are always the bravest and most curious about new things in the yard. However, I was surprised that within a couple of hours I had 2 jays visiting the new bird feeder! I’m sure it now won’t take long for many other species to follow the lead of the jays.

The Goldfinch lives in virtually all parts of the U.S. and is a regular visitor to thistle bird feeders. At this time of the year, they are especially attractive in their breeding attire. The males are a bright lemon color with a black cap and the females are also gold, although a less brilliant color. In the fall, they molt and become a brownish or grayish color. They are among the few species of birds that actually molt twice a year. They love the tiny seed called nyjer which is best served in a specialized feeder that is built to dispense this seed without wasting much. The Goldfinch is unlike most other birds for it eats only seeds. It even feeds its young partially digested seeds. Having a thistle bird feeder and a bird bath in the yard is a recipe for a yard full of finches!