Setting up a feeder for wild birds can offer you the opportunity to observe them at close range, to see different species of birds and to learn more about the species present in your area in a fun way; for sure it is a great way to allow children to approach the world of birds. It is also a way to help protect wild bird populations, especially in urban and disturbed areas, provided you feed them the right way; in fact, the presence of many native birds has increased in many parts of the world thanks to the food procured for them by humans. This article illustrates the basics for choosing food and the manger, how to position the latter, and explains how to keep away unwanted insects and birds.
Warning: this article refers to the most common species of North America, however occasionally it also mentions birds present in other parts of the world to underline their similarities. In any case, carefully check the needs of the species living in your area as they may be different from those indicated in this guide.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Choosing the Bird Food
Step 1. Remember that not all suits are created equal
Seeds are the most commonly used food for feeding wild birds, but choose them carefully. Different birds prefer different types of seeds. Eg:
- Cardinals, finches - both small and large - and frosoi prefer to feed directly from the manger. They prefer unpeeled sunflower seeds, with the exception of small finches who prefer shelled sunflower seeds and thistle seeds.
- Other birds tend to grab food to eat away from the feeder. Among these birds are the tit, rock woodpecker and woodpecker, which prefer sunflower seeds and peeled peanuts, split in half.
- Prefer the white millet for ground-eating birds, such as swamp miles and sparrows, spotted pipili and doves.
- Some birds prefer nectar to seeds, such as rainbow lorikeets and hummingbirds (see next step).
- Observe the behavior of the species in your area to understand which seeds they like best.
Step 2. Buy the nectar or make it at home
The nectar used to attract hummingbirds and orioles should consist of four parts of hot water and one part of sugar. Before using homemade nectar, wait for it to cool.
- Don't use artificial sweeteners, as they don't contain the calories birds need to survive, and would likely starve them. Additionally, chemicals in artificial products such as gelatin can cause digestive upset in birds.
- It is not necessary to add a food coloring. Most hummingbird feeders on the market are shiny enough to attract birds without the need for additives.
- Once you have created your quantity of preparation, store it in an airtight bottle in the fridge, but make sure the "nectar" is at room temperature before offering it to the birds.
- You can also purchase nectar in liquid or powder form. It would be advisable to buy it when the supply of nutrients in the nectar is important for the bird's health (as for the rainbow lorikeets). Look for products suitable for feeding the species that populate your areas.
- In New Zealand, putting out nectar when natural is in short supply will attract tui, gray-backed goggles and New Zealand bell ringer. In the meantime, he plants trees that produce nectar to increase the local natural potential.
Step 3. Provide other types of bird food
There lard it is the favorite food of many species, including woodpeckers, rock woodpeckers, tits and wrens. Pouring or lard can also be used. Birds such as orioles and thrushes prefer to eat fruit, such as apples, bananas, oranges and raisins. In New Zealand, birds like the tui and the gray-backed goggle love oranges, apples, grapefruit and pears.
- Insectivorous birds, such as the blue jay, the Australian kingfisher, the raven, and the magpie will appreciate insects and especially worms. However, this type of food must be freshly prepared and its administration must be limited to once a day.
- L' water is always welcome and can be kept in a bird tray or other container.
Step 4. Look for the right recipes for different types of birds
There are several ideas for preparing specific food for different bird species. Ask for advice at national parks, your vet, local bird rescuers, or bird experts. Preparing balanced food can help some species to take on essential nutrients, as well as being a fun activity for the whole family. Here are some ideas:
- Prepare bird food with suet.
- Prepare bird food of worms and suet.
- Making bird food at home.
- Making peanut butter bird food.
- Making oat bird food.
- Prepare food for hummingbirds.
Step 5. Pay attention to the amount of food given
If there is any food left at the end of the day, you are probably overfeeding the birds. Reduce your daily amounts.
To avoid any leftover food, identify the time the birds prefer to eat and place fresh food at the right times (also pay attention to the increased need for food during the breeding season). If you meet their needs, the birds will quickly get used to your routine
Method 2 of 4: Choose the Right Feeder
Step 1. Look for a feeder that is easy to fill, has no sharp edges and is easy to clean
Plus, it should protect the seeds from rain and have good drainage.
- Keep in mind, when shopping for a bird feeder, what kind of seed you want to fill it with. Make sure the feeder you choose can dispense the seed you intend to give to the birds.
- Make sure that the feeder is sturdy and that it will not be damaged if it falls. Bird feeders can easily take hits, especially from squirrels, so buy a sturdy one made from quality materials so you don't have to replace it too quickly.
Step 2. Provide a platform feeder for larger, ground-eating birds
The platform feeder consists of a tray with a cover and holes on the sides or bottom for drainage. Hang the manger on a tree or post no more than 12 inches above the ground. Birds attracted to platform feeders include sparrows, doves, jays and cardinals.
Platform feeders are best suited to fruit-eating birds. Cutting grapes, apples or pomegranates into pieces and placing them on a platform helps attract fruit-hungry birds. However, be sure to only put fresh fruit on it, and remove it once it is no longer moist, or it will become infested with pests
Step 3. If you want to feed small birds, choose tube feeders
Designed with short perches and large holes, they allow smaller birds to feed without being intimidated by larger birds. Hang them on trees, on the creeper of a porch or place them on flat and elevated surfaces.
Step 4. Feed the hummingbirds from the nectar feeders
Having a tubular shape and small holes, they are designed to feed hummingbirds. Clean them frequently to always ensure scrupulous hygiene and choose a container that is easy to remove and clean.
A sugar solution doesn't just feed birds, it also promotes bacterial growth. In order for the birds not to ingest infected nectar, it is important to change and clean the feeder regularly. At cool temperatures (below 20 ° C) it is sufficient to do this once a week, but if the temperature is above 30-32 ° C, it is necessary to clean the feeder and change the solution every day
Step 5. Keep the suet in the appropriate suet feeders
They resemble square iron cages and are designed to dispense lard. Birds can remain in the cage while eating suet; if there are many birds in the surrounding area, it is recommended to avoid conflicts between larger and smaller birds.
- If you have any leftover fat or lard, small pieces can be pinned to the head of nails or other similarly aligned objects so the birds will land to peck at them. Do not use rusty or pointed objects.
- For birds like woodpeckers, consider rubbing suet into the bark of a tree - it will attract them to your garden.
- Many suet-hungry birds don't like to feel exposed, so placing the feeder under tree branches is a great way to help them feel at home. Woodpeckers love to store food in crevices in trees and eat on tall branches, but move to lower heights as needed.
- If the suet starts to smell strongly or looks moldy, it is likely that it has gone rancid. Birds can get diseases from a moldy suet, so throw it away!
Step 6. For a more ornamental look, choose a feeder with dispenser
Similar to small houses, dispenser feeders can hold a variety of seeds and have perches suitable for both small and large birds. Either way, they are the ones preferred by squirrels and extra protection is needed.
Method 3 of 4: Place the Bird Feeder
Step 1. Choose the right location to get a good view
Since you will want to check how the birds feed, place the feeder near a window that you pass frequently. Keeping the feeder about three feet from a window will also prevent birds from accidentally bumping into the glass.
Step 2. Choose the right location for the birds
The place should be protected from the wind; some feeders do not need it, but those mounted on poles, for example, may wobble.
- Place the feeder near trees and bushes to give birds shelter to hide if predators get too close.
- Make sure predators like your beloved dog or cat can't reach the feeding trough. Further information on how to keep predators away or discourage them follows.
- When feeding nectar-eating birds such as hummingbirds, mount the feeder in the shade so the sugar solution will stay fresh longer. You can still place it in full sun, but be aware that you'll need to replace the nectar more often to prevent it from filling up with bacteria.
Step 3. Assemble the manger
There are several methods of mounting a manger; you can hang it on a stick, fix it on a pole, hang it on a tree, place it on a flat and stable surface; some are placed on the windows providing a close view of the birds. Follow the instructions that you will find attached to the purchased manger.
Strictly follow the instructions given to you upon purchase. If you build a manger yourself, be sure to assemble it carefully
Method 4 of 4: Keep Weed Species Away
Step 1. Keep unwanted birds away
The species of birds that will come to your garden depends on the choice of food and of the manger; for example, if you want to keep brown-headed cow and sparrows away, avoid the white mile. If you prefer smaller birds, choose feeders (such as tube feeders) that larger birds cannot use.
Step 2. Keep bugs away
The nectar, rich in sugar, is a great temptation for insects, such as ants or bees. Using a hanging hummingbird feeder (rather than a window-mounted device) can help, or choosing one with a suitable ant barrier, which stops ants traveling to the nectar.
- Do not use other methods, such as applying petroleum jelly or sticky substances, as there is a risk that the birds that are feeding will dirty their feathers thus reducing their ability to fly.
- Bees are a bigger problem as they fly. The best remedy is to be careful when filling the feeding trough so that there are no splashes of nectar around that will attract bees.
- Never use insecticides to kill ants or other insects. Different types of birds eat different things, and what might be good for one hummingbird could be very dangerous for a different type of bird, such as a woodpecker, which eats ants.
Step 3. Keep predators away
Choose tube feeders or small feeders that are not accessible to birds of prey, and place them near a shrub with thick foliage that can offer protection from predator attacks.
Think carefully before installing a bird feeder, if you have cats that routinely go to the garden or some of them roam the neighborhood. By luring birds to the feeder, you may inadvertently create a buffet for the area's cats
Step 4. Keep cats and mice away
Cats and mice are often attracted to seed waste, so reducing the residue as much as possible will help keep them away. So choose seeds (such as sunflower seeds) that the birds in your area like, add a tray that can collect the seeds at the base of the feeder, or provide other types of food.
Remember to always remove food that has dried out and is no longer palatable to birds. It could always attract a lot of parasites
Step 5. Keep squirrels away.
Consider using a small plastic dome to put on or under the feeder, or spray a repellent that does not bother birds, such as a pepper-based product. Hang the manger no more than one meter from the ground; if it is hanging from a tree, make sure it is as far away from the trunk as possible, but if it is mounted on a pole, make sure it is away from trees or other structures.
In this article you will find some more information
Step 6. Be careful not to attract fruit-eating birds if you have fruit trees in your garden
You may find them snacking on your plants too! Use nets to protect trees and bushes.
- Grow native plants to attract native birds to your garden and discourage them from eating your crop. This should also help save water and reduce garden work as native plants thrive in their environment.
- Avoid feeding the birds the fruits of diseased plants. Birds, expelling the seeds, would spread the disease causing problems far beyond your garden. It would be preferable not to grow plants that birds eat at all.
Advice
- Feeding orphaned birds is very different from feeding adult birds, special attention and specific knowledge of the needs of the different species are required. Learn more about the topic or talk to a veterinarian or someone belonging to a bird / animal rescue organization.
- If you don't want to make homemade food or just don't have time, there are many places to buy bird seeds from, such as farms.
- Avoid feeding the birds bread, unless it is organic whole wheat bread and the birds you feed it to can digest it (not everyone can). Many birds like it, from small species (such as starlings, finches and mynahs), to large species (such as ducks, geese, swans, etc.). Constantly providing bread can encourage pest species to gain the upper hand. There is no doubt that in some cases the great energy of complex carbohydrates in the form of bread can be useful for some birds, such as cockatoos, lorikeet, rowdy manorina, during the breeding season when food resources are lower. In any case, this should be the exception and not the rule. Never feed bad bread.
Warnings
- Do not recycle the nectar; throw away the leftovers.
- Learn what not to feed birds. Read the bread recommendations. Avoid foods like dehydrated coconut and peanuts; they are dangerous for birds.
- If you buy food, never use the expired one.
