What Should I Feed Birds In The Different Seasons?
There are different types of food you should offer only during select seasons, here, you can learn about what to feed the birds in all of the seasons.
Spring
In the spring, you can keep up all of your feeders until late spring, it will be time to take down your suet cage. in the warm weather and rain, Suet will get mouldy and the birds will not touch it. In the Spring, especially May, you will see a large incline of colourful migrants such as Grosbeaks, Warblers, and sparrows.
Summer
In summer, you will begin to notice a decrease in bird populations at your feeder. I have 2 reasons for you. 1.) The Bird's natural food sources are back and they dont need the bird feeders as much for food supply. 2.) because the birds are raising young and are too busy to visit the feeders. in summer, do not put up you suet cage. if you are trying to see woodpeckers, creepers, or nuthatches. consider purchasing a tube style peanut feeder. they enjoy the vertical clinging as the peck at the peanuts. it is more natural. In late summer, you may notice some migrants.
Fall
fall is perhaps one of the best times to watch the birds at your feeder. The birds will most likely not be as colourful as they were in the spring but there will surely be a lot of them! In the fall. the big migration is taking place. This is when the birds are heading south to their wintering grounds. The fall migration can begin as early as June. but in the fall, the migration is at its heights. at your feeders, you may receive, Buntings, warblers, sparrows, juncos, and finches that are migrating south. even if you live north, you may receive migrants. only few birds head up to the artic tundra in the winter, it gets too cold up there. In fall, feed birds birdseed blends, thistle, peanuts, and a little bit of shelter, such as a bush would be nice for them.
Winter
Winter is the most important time to keep your feeding stations well stocked. this is because the bird's natural food sources become very scarce. forcing them to feed more than usual at the feeding station. The birds will take almost anything you can offer at the feeders, such as Suet, thistle, birdseed blends, peanuts and black oil sunflower seeds. all of the above can be fed to the birds in winter. Black oil sunflower seeds have been known to attract 40 different species of birds. more than any other bird food alone. they are high in energy and nutrition for the birds, making them good for the cold climates.
Top 6 Bird Foods Available
Seeds
More than 20 different kinds of seeds are available on the market. Some can be used alone, while others are mixed to attract more species. some seeds include millet, sunflower, thistle, safflower, peanut, etc. Here are some top choices for bird feeder contents.
Black oil sunflower seed
The best type of bird seed alone. More species eat this seed than any other. More than 40 species are known to feed on this seed, from cardinals to all the sparrows, downy and hairy woodpeckers, and nuthatches. these seeds are good for birds are for them, it is a tasty treat!
Regular Sunflower seed
Cardinals, Sparrows, goldfinch, house finch, and mockingbirds enjoy this variety of seed. Spring cleanup is a must. These seeds can make it more difficult for other plants to grow. the husks of these seeds fill up with water and kill grass if not cleaned up every now and then.
Thistle
Imported from Africa and India. This is the most preferred seed for Goldfinch. Titmice are also found of this seed. On the ground, mourning doves seem to enjoy them. thistle does not kill you grass. The thing with thistle is when a bird on the feeder is eating the seed, such as a goldfinch, they open the shell to get the seed, and they spit the shell out and it falls on the ground, leaving a big pile of shells to clean up. if any seeds fall as well, the doves and ground birds will finish them off.
Suet
There are many different varieties of suet to choose from, berry punch, beef, high energy, winter, and raisin crunch. Much more suet forms can be bought at stores. Titmice and Carolina wrens will spend time at a suet feeder. This food is a favorite for woodpeckers as well as nuthatches and chickadees. Pileated woodpeckers are also found of this variety. suet is modified animal fat and seeds. the birds get a high amount of fat and protein when they eat this seed, making it perfect for winter feeding.
Fruit
Many different kinds of fruit can be provided at a bird feeder. Orioles love orange halves. Grapes apples and kiwis will provide a nutritious treat. in winter, robins will take cut apples. the problem with fruit is that it can dry out fast or rot. making it having to be replaced frequently. try feeding birds fruit in spring, fall and winter, when it is not hot.
Seeds
More than 20 different kinds of seeds are available on the market. Some can be used alone, while others are mixed to attract more species. some seeds include millet, sunflower, thistle, safflower, peanut, etc. Here are some top choices for bird feeder contents.
Black oil sunflower seed
The best type of bird seed alone. More species eat this seed than any other. More than 40 species are known to feed on this seed, from cardinals to all the sparrows, downy and hairy woodpeckers, and nuthatches. these seeds are good for birds are for them, it is a tasty treat!
Regular Sunflower seed
Cardinals, Sparrows, goldfinch, house finch, and mockingbirds enjoy this variety of seed. Spring cleanup is a must. These seeds can make it more difficult for other plants to grow. the husks of these seeds fill up with water and kill grass if not cleaned up every now and then.
Thistle
Imported from Africa and India. This is the most preferred seed for Goldfinch. Titmice are also found of this seed. On the ground, mourning doves seem to enjoy them. thistle does not kill you grass. The thing with thistle is when a bird on the feeder is eating the seed, such as a goldfinch, they open the shell to get the seed, and they spit the shell out and it falls on the ground, leaving a big pile of shells to clean up. if any seeds fall as well, the doves and ground birds will finish them off.
Suet
There are many different varieties of suet to choose from, berry punch, beef, high energy, winter, and raisin crunch. Much more suet forms can be bought at stores. Titmice and Carolina wrens will spend time at a suet feeder. This food is a favorite for woodpeckers as well as nuthatches and chickadees. Pileated woodpeckers are also found of this variety. suet is modified animal fat and seeds. the birds get a high amount of fat and protein when they eat this seed, making it perfect for winter feeding.
Fruit
Many different kinds of fruit can be provided at a bird feeder. Orioles love orange halves. Grapes apples and kiwis will provide a nutritious treat. in winter, robins will take cut apples. the problem with fruit is that it can dry out fast or rot. making it having to be replaced frequently. try feeding birds fruit in spring, fall and winter, when it is not hot.
Create A Bird Feeder
You will need:
Empty Water/pop bottle (2 Liters Works Best)
Twig
Birdseed
scissors
Ruler (cm)
marker
string/wire
*Keep the bottle cap*
What to do:
Clean out the empty Bottle with water. use ruler to measure 4cm up from the bottom of the bottle. use marker to mark 4 cm. repeat on other side of bottle. use scissors (or a knife) to carefully punch a hole on the marks for the twig to fit through. push twig through bottle until it reaches the other side. that is the perch. measure 4 cm above that with a ruler on both sides and cut a small hole (2cm diameter) this is where the birds will get their seed. put a piece of tape over the hole and put in the birdseed through the top. fill Birdfeeder until it is about 8 cm from the top. remember, you can put in as much or as little as you want. near the cap punch one hole on one side and another hole on the other side. run string / wire through the holes. then tie the tips of the string/ wire together and hang your new feeder somewhere. take off tape when you hang it. now watch your feathered friends chow down at your feeder! if you want more to come, try adding a birdbath nearby.
Twig
Birdseed
scissors
Ruler (cm)
marker
string/wire
*Keep the bottle cap*
What to do:
Clean out the empty Bottle with water. use ruler to measure 4cm up from the bottom of the bottle. use marker to mark 4 cm. repeat on other side of bottle. use scissors (or a knife) to carefully punch a hole on the marks for the twig to fit through. push twig through bottle until it reaches the other side. that is the perch. measure 4 cm above that with a ruler on both sides and cut a small hole (2cm diameter) this is where the birds will get their seed. put a piece of tape over the hole and put in the birdseed through the top. fill Birdfeeder until it is about 8 cm from the top. remember, you can put in as much or as little as you want. near the cap punch one hole on one side and another hole on the other side. run string / wire through the holes. then tie the tips of the string/ wire together and hang your new feeder somewhere. take off tape when you hang it. now watch your feathered friends chow down at your feeder! if you want more to come, try adding a birdbath nearby.
Solving Problems
Hawks
Coopers hawks and sharp-shinned hawks are common visitors to bird feeders. only they do not come for seed, they come for the birds who eat the seed. the hawk shown in the picture (left) was trying to catch a sparrow at my feeder. it is a coopers hawk. now, what do you do if a hawk shows up at your feeder? simple. during migration individual hawks may surprise attack a bird feeder and catch one of the birds. but during the winter the hawks may visit the feeder a few times every day or week. the key to getting rid of these birds is closing the feeding station for a few days or weeks. and if the hawk comes back when you put them back up, you may have to close up the feeding station for the entire season. the hawk will hopefully develop a new feeding routine and move away.
Unwanted Birds
some people welcome all birds to their feeders, no matter how big or small, or how much seed it eats at the feeder. but for those of you who do not, you may have to buy a special feeders. believe it or not, some bird feeder ports will shut when a bird too heavy lands on the perch. some perches on the feeders are too small for some large blackbirds. a special kind of bird food called suet is for woodpeckers, chickadees, and other small birds, the large birds have trouble gripping onto a suet cage. some often visiting birds you may not want at your feeders may be starlings, grackles, cowbirds, and red winged blackbirds. the blackbird family often dominates and takes over feeding stations and scares the smaller birds.
Squirrels
many people enjoy watching squirrels leaping from tree to tree, but when they start to eat expensive bird seed and chew holes in peoples feeders then it becomes a problem. the main way squirrels usually get onto feeders is leaping from a nearby branch or tree. the key to getting them away from feeders is to try to hang the feeders about 10 feet away from any point where the squirrel may try to jump from. also remember bird feeders are safest from windows to prevent collisions. after you re- locate your feeders, the squirrels may disappear from them! there is also feeder companies that claim that their feeders are squirrel proof. but sometimes you cannot trust every brand, most squirrel proof feeders attract squirrels. but some do not. if you buy a bird feeder that is not expensive, the squirrel may chew holes in the bottom and sides to get seed.
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Raccoons
Raccoons often will come to feeders at dusk or in early morning. one problem I have is that the raccoons are taking the suet out of my suet cage at night! the main way to get rid of these pests is to make your feeders surrounded by fence. you can install a fence into your yard and it will keep these mammals out. if they tend to keep showing up, you may have to take down your feeders for about a week or take all of the seed out of it for a week. they will find a new place to feed from and will leave your feeders alone. if all fails, you may have to put out a raccoon trap in your yard to get rid of them for good. but remember there may be more then one raccoon that visits. if you catch an adult it may have babies in a den somewhere. you will have to put a lot of thought into it if you want to put up a trap. you can also re locate your feeders. one last way of getting rid of the raccoons is simply taking your bird feeders inside for the night and putting them back up in the morning before the birds arrive. it will work!