Birdfeeders

Every morning at 6am I walk for about an hour with a friend. We have been doing this for more than 10 years and always walk the same route. You would think that by now we would be sick of seeing the same things day after day. Yet, the opposite is true. As we observe the local wildlife sharing our neighborhood, we are constantly amazed at the variety of species that we suspect most people are unaware of. The rare sighting of a fox or the rather common wild turkey are early morning treats, but what we marvel at the most is the ever changing bird behavior. Since we both have hanging bird feeders in our yards, we are constantly comparing the visitors in each back yard. However, we are fascinated by the different early morning behaviors we see throughout the year. At this time of the year, it is still dark at 6am, so all is quiet as we begin walking. As the sky lightens, the first birds are heard - often crows are the first we hear and then the first we see. Soon we pass trees that seem to be alive with bird chirping, yet it is difficult to spot even one. Often we hear the geese flying south before we can spot them. At home, we see how busy our hanging bird feeders are and how many birds are out foraging by 7am. What a treat it is to participate in this early morning ritual.

As the population of the United States grows, there is less and less open area for bird habitats and according to yearly counts, the populations of songbirds in the U.S. are declining. Each of us can help by making our backyards as bird friendly as possible. Of course, hanging bird feeders will attract birds, but how we maintain our yards is quite important. The  well-kept yard that is as neat and tidy as the inside of a house is really an ecological desert. Where exotic plants are nurtured and all insects are banished is no place for a bird to live. When chemicals are used as well, the result is the unintentional destruction of bird life. Studies have shown that yards and gardens receive more pesticides per year than does almost any other land in the U.S! These chemicals kill birds, either directly or by poisoning the worms and insects that the birds eat. We all need to get involved and spread the word. Everyone doesn’t need to have hanging bird feeders in their yards, but everyone can have at least a portion of their yard that offers food and protection for local bird populations.

The first thing we must do to draw birds to our yards is offer a variety of foods at a variety of heights. That’s why there are so many different styles of ground feeders and hanging bird feeders. Also important however, is to create a variety of habitats. In a small yard, it is impossible to do all of these things, but we can all be aware of providing as much variation as possible. If you are surrounded by big trees, it’s important to create a clearing. If all around your yard is clearing, plant some trees and shrubs. If it is not a safety risk, leave dead trees standing, or at least leave dead limbs on a tree. Create loose piles of brush in one area, maybe let part of your lawn grow tall (a 10′ x 10′ area is plenty). Even if there is part of your yard that is currently overgrown with weeds, just leave it alone. All these things will present your yard as a friendly place to visit and soon those hanging bird feeders will be extraordinarily busy!

The most difficult time for any bird is it’s first year of life. This is the time when there is not only so much to learn, but many predators are actively searching for the relatively defenseless chicks. During this first year, there is a very high fatality rate for most species. If a bird makes it through this first year, it has a good chance of living for several more. The average life span of most small birds, such as those that generally visit our hanging bird feeders, is two to five years. The larger birds like crows that generally don’t visit our hanging bird feeders but are certainly in our yards and neighborhoods, may live ten years or more.

Because hummingbirds have such a high metabolism, they must eat enormous quantities of food in order to stay fueled. Nectar is an easily digested source of quick energy. It is thought that they consume 50 percent of their weight in sugar every day! No wonder hummingbird feeders are so popular. However, they also need protein, fat and minerals which they get by eating small insects and spiders. In order to save energy while eating, a hummer will perch instead of hovering if possible. This is why I prefer to have hummingbird feeders that have perches attached. Hummingbirds can be fiercely competitive for food so you may see quite aggressive behavior around your hummingbird feeder. If this happens, it is a good idea to add another hummingbird feeder just a few feet away from the first one. This will offer a food supply for more hummers and ease the aggression.

In the United States, there are 16 species of hummingbirds. In the east, there is only the ruby-throated hummingbird, but west of the Mississippi there are several and in parts of the Southwest, many species of hummingbirds come to breed. No matter how many species are in your area, these winged jewels are fantastic to watch. They are the only bird who can fly in every direction: up, down, sideways and even upside down if necessary. Watching them hover near a flower or hummingbird feeder is truly a joy. Hummers can reach speeds of 60 miles per hour which makes them one of the fastest small birds. Hummingbirds are particularly fond of anything red, which is why having red flowers in your yard is a sure way to attract them. Of course, red hummingbird feeders will quickly be popular among local hummers. Since hummingbirds have a higher metabolism than any other bird, they need to eat enormous amounts of food. Nectar is easily digested for a source of quick energy.

If you live from the great plains east, you have a good chance of attracting cardinals to your yard. They like to live in open areas that offer both some trees and some shrubs - hopefully those that produce berries. They like to build their nests 4-6 feet off the ground in dense greenery. They are particularly fond of evergreens, privet and honeysuckle. Their favorite feeding stations seem to be platform bird feeders and hopper bird feeders and are fond especially of sunflower seeds, but will also eat cracked corn, millet and nutmeats. Platform bird feeders and hopper bird feeders can be filled with either just sunflower seeds or a mixture of seeds to suit many tastes. Once you have attracted cardinals, they will become regular visitors, for these beautiful birds rarely travel very great distances.

All bird species have slightly different styles of feeding, which is why it is important to have different types and heights of bird feeders. It is also quite interesting to discover the different methods practiced in your yard. Birds such as titmice and chickadees usually take just one seed from a hanging bird feeder and fly to another perch to eat it. Many other birds like goldfinches, siskins and mourning doves will often stay in one place and keep eating many seeds. Some birds visit only hanging bird feeders, while others will only approach ground feeders. This behavior mimics the way they eat in the wild. For example, goldfinches generally feed on tree and weed seeds so will come to a hanging bird feeder. Woodpeckers feed on insects found in tree bark so are most comfortable visiting bird feeders that are high off the ground. Mourning doves and quail feed off of seeds which have fallen to the ground so will usually only visit ground feeders. Of course there are always exceptions. The local mourning doves have discovered our hanging platform feeders and after a few experimental attempts, are now quite comfortable feeding on the swinging platform feeders. Then we have birds like blue jays and starlings that will eat at any level from most kinds of bird feeders.

There are several species of hawks that prey on small birds. In the U.S. the most common are the large Cooper’s hawk and the similar looking, but smaller sharp-shinned hawk. The first time (that I saw anyway) a Cooper’s hawk landed on our fence I was amazed at how quickly all the birds that had just been in the yard simply vanished. However, as I watched out the window, when the hawk looked left, birds that were on the ground on his right quickly made it to the safety of the trees. When the hawk looked right, the same thing happened on the left. It was fascinating to watch the hawk quietly sit and wait and watch until he spotted a sparrow on the ground and the chase was on. Luckily, they took off over the top of our house so I didn’t have to see the catch. On one other occasion, we had a short visit from a sharp-shinned hawk, but it took off without chasing any birds. It is important to remember that hawks are part of the balance of nature and are also protected by law. By having hanging bird feeders in our yards that attract many species of birds, it is quite probable that hawks will also discover our yards. The best way to protect your visiting birds is to provide plenty of shelter. If a hawk approaches, birds need brush piles, trees, shrubs, etc. to rush to for protection. I know many people don’t like to have jays visiting their hanging bird feeders, but I have noticed that they are usually the first to sound the warning that danger is near.

Cats are a problem in most neighborhoods. Of course, if you have a cat, make it an indoor cat, but you cannot control what your neighbors do and many people think it’s just fine to let their cats roam. In many areas, including ours, feral cats are also an issue. If you are sure that the cats visiting your yard are wild, you can often catch them with a baited live trap and take them to your local humane society. Just be sure you are not taking away your next door neighbor’s pet! There are also a few ways to protect birds visiting your yard. Most importantly, eliminate all hiding places near your bird feeders so cats don’t have a place to hide. Be sure to have bird baths out in the open and up off the ground. Hanging bird feeders seem safe, but remember the ground feeders often gather below hanging bird feeders to get the dropped seed. Any area where ground feeders are visiting should have low fencing between feeding areas and any nearby brush or other hiding places. The best defense is making sure birds can see any approaching cats.