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The Basics of Bird Feeding Over 100 North American bird species supplement
their natural diets with birdseed, suet, fruit and nectar obtained from
feeders. Attracting and feeding wild birds
can benefit our feathered friends while providing the year round
entertainment and pleasure of bird watching in your own backyard. The
obvious time to feed birds is in winter
when natural food supplies are scarce; however, additional species will
visit
feeders during the spring and fall migrations, and also during summer
while
nesting. New and unusual birds can be seen at your bird feeders as
they pass through for a few weeks during spring and autumn migration
times, so have your feeders full and ready.
To keep birds coming back to your
feeders in any season provide them with the following three essential
elements:
- Variety of quality seed in some type of safe
and clean bird feeder .
- Fresh water for drinking and bathing in a
pond or birdbath .
- Ample cover, preferably provided by native
plants. Native plants also provide potential nesting sites and a source
of natural food.
After
you have decided that attracting and feeding birds is right for
you, the first step is to choose a bird feeder . 
Choosing a Bird Feeder
There are several
types of feeders used for attracting and feeding different
types of wild birds. Their
eating habits and diet needs will determine which type they prefer. If you choose more than one type and
locate them in different areas, you will witness more species and avoid
feeder congestion. Sunflower-seed tube
feeders
If you are going to put out just one feeder, this is your best choice.
Select a model with metal ports around the seed dispensers to protect the
feeder from nibbling squirrels and house sparrows. Hang the feeder at least
five feet off the ground and try to position it near a window where you can
enjoy the visitors, which are likely to include chickadees, titmice,
nuthatches, goldfinches, siskins and purple and house finches. Tube and port feeders can also
be purchased to accommodate different types of seed such as nyjer thistle
and peanuts. Too close to a window
may increase window collision.
Stickers or decorative items such as Mylar Windsocks can
deter birds from flying into window glass.
Also, using blinds inside the window adds a reflection, which helps
the bird see the glass.  Suet feeders
Suet is popular with titmice, chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers.
Wrens, creepers and warblers will also occasionally peck at suet. While you
can hang suet chunks in a mesh onion bag, you can also purchase cage
feeders. Some people like to make their own suet "puddings" by
grinding the suet and adding seeds, and create homemade suet feeders by
packing the mixture into the crevices of large pinecones. Suet feeders can
be hung from trees, from poles near other feeders, or from a wire stretched
between trees. Avoid feeding suet when temperatures rise into the 80-degree
range, as it can turn rancid. A
wide variety of suet cakes can be purchased to attract different
types of birds. Suet feeders
can be basic and simply functional or provide a beautiful décor to your
yard. Some suet feeders are
combined with other types of feeders such as hopper feeders.
 Hopper feeders
Hopper feeders help keep several pounds of mixed seed dry and ready
for hungry birds. When the birds hop on the feeder, the seeds are
released. Hopper feeders should be
positioned on a pole about five feet off the ground and will draw all the
species that tube feeders attract, along with larger birds like jays,
grackles, red-winged blackbirds and cardinals. Suit your bird feeding needs with many different sizes of hopper
feeders.
 Thistle (nyjer)
feeders
Especially designed to dispense thistle (nyjer) seed, these feeders have
tiny holes that make the seed available only to small-beaked finches such
as goldfinches, redpolls and pine siskins. Hang your thistle feeder from a
tree or place it on a five-foot pole near other feeders. Squirrel baffles
will help to protect the feeder.
 Ground feeders
These simple screen-bottomed trays typically sit several inches off the
ground or your deck and help to keep grain or seeds and bird droppings from
coming in contact with each other. Some feeders have covers to keep out snow;
others may have wire mesh to keep out squirrels and large birds like crows.
Ground feeding tables should be placed in open areas at least 10 feet from
the nearest tree or shrub to give birds a chance to flee predators. Doves,
juncos, sparrows, towhees, goldfinches and cardinals are all likely to visit
ground feeders. Avoid using ground feeders if cats are likely to pounce from
nearby shrubs. Platform feeders
can also be hung to provide protection.
To see RARE SPECIES SIGHTINGS IN UTAH, visit UtahBirds.org. http://utahbirds.org/RecCom/RareBirdsIndex.html
LOCATION,
LOCATION, LOCATION!
Bird feeders present potential risks, such as window collisions,
predation, and exposure to disease. Next NEWSLETTER, we will address
some topics and tips for the Placement and Location of your bird feeder
for safely Attracting and Feeding Birds.
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