There is a lot of joy to be had, by the simple act of feeding birds.You
have the pleasure of viewing these varied and beautiful creatures. A second
benefit is the good feeling you get, knowing that you've helped one of
God's little creatures survive the rigors of winter.Depending on your circumstance
and environment, you may want to feed your birds year round. If you live
in an urban area with little or no native vegetation, the birds won't be
able to find their natural food. Without a reliable source
of food, the birds will soon leave, in search of berries and seed elsewhere.
When you first start putting seed out for the birds, you will probably
only get a few visiting sparrows or wrens. They will come back, and bring
a friend or two. Passing birds will take notice and drop in for a snack.
Soon you will find yourself enjoying birds which you have never seen before,
and you will be hooked.....Once you decide to set up a feeding program,
your local birds will become dependent on you. Don't feed them when it
is convenient for yourself, and then decide to discontinue your hobby when
the weather turns bad, or you have a little snow on the ground. This is
when your birds will need you the most.
In suburban and rural environments, natural food is more plentiful during
the summer months. The birds will stay around, enjoying their favorite
snacks. It is not nearly as important to put seed out at this time of the
year.
Different species of birds seek different foods. You will have periods
when a certain type of bird is very prevelant, but suddenly just disappear....
and a different species shows up. This normally coincides either with their
mating season, or the ripening of certain, different fruits etc. Remember
that as soon as your birds have run out of natural feed, they will leave
unless you provide them with a good reason to stick around. You want to
begin feeding them before they run out of natural feed, or they
will have no choice but to leave, in search of a new source of food. If
you set up your feeders early and keep them filled with food, you will
attract many wintering birds that will become accustomed to visiting before
cold weather begins. Once you have started to feed, don't stop until you
are sure that the winter is over. A late and unexpected snowfall covers
much of songbirds' natural food.
Whether you live in the city or the country, one way to be sure of year
round birds is to feed them year around. There is no more wonderful sight
in late spring and summer than to watch a mother bird take food from your
feeder to her nest to nourish the next generation, or when she first brings
her young to the feeder.
If your garden is frequented by particular types of birds, use the following
chart to find out what their favorite types of foods are.
Seeds to Feed Different Birds
Name of Bird |
Foods they like |
Blue Jay |
Black striped sunflower, peanut kernels, black oil sunflower |
Stellars's Jay |
Black striped sunflower, peanut kernels, black oil sunflower |
Northern Cardinal |
Black striped sunflower, safflower seeds, black oil sunflower, cracked
corn, millet, other seeds, unsalted nutmeats, raisins |
Northern Oriole |
Hummingbird nectar, grape jelly |
Northern Mockingbird |
Orange halves, sliced raw apple, raisins, suet, corn bread |
American Goldfinch |
Thistle (niger), black oil sunflower, hulled sunflower seeds |
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird |
Hummingbird Nectar |
House Finch |
Thistle (niger), black oil sunflower, hulled sunflower seeds |
Mourning Dove |
Oil-type sunflower seeds, white and red proso millet, safflower, cracked
corn, wheat, milo, other seeds |
Downy Woodpecker |
Suet, corn bread, peanut butter, unsalted nutmeats, sunflower seeds,
cracked corn |
White Breasted Nuthatch |
Black stiped sunflower |
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak |
Sunflower seeds of all types, safflower, cracked corn |
Clark's Nutcracker |
Whole and shelled peanuts, suet, black stiped sunflower, black oil
sunflower |
Tufted Titmouse |
Black striped sunflower, peanut kernels |
Gray Catbird |
grape jelly |
Dark-Eyed Junco |
White proso and red proso millet, finely cracked corn, oil-type sunflower
seed, unsalted nutmeats, canary seeds |
Gray Jay |
Raisins, suet, cat food |
Evening Grosbeak |
Black striped sunflower, black oil sunflower |
Black-Capped Chickadee |
Suet, black striped sunflower, peanut kernels, black oil sunflower,
cracked unsalted nutmeats, safflower |
Carolina Chickadee |
Suet, black striped sunflower, peanut kernels, black oil sunflower |
Native Sparrows |
Red or white proso millet, oil-type sunflower seeds, cracked corn,
some safflower. |
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