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Feed the Birds

© Murdo Morrison

If you have been implementing our recommendations in the Backyard Habitats topic area your garden should be full of natural food for birds. Flowers that were not deadheaded have produced seed, carefully selected shrubs and trees are covered with berries.

However, for various reasons you may want to introduce feeders into your backyard. In our garden, despite the many natural sources, we still locate various types of feeders close to our main viewing window. These not only allow us to get a closer look at the birds but provide supplemental food sources, especially later in the winter. Since there are many good guides to bird feeding in book form and online, this article will largely reflect our experience using feeders in our backyard. A good online source of information about birds in general is the Cornell Ornithology Lab web site. For information about bird feeders visit their Feeder tips page.

Selecting feeder types and locations depends on a number of factors. You need to become familiar with the types of birds common to you area, their food preferences and eating habits. Feeders should be located fairly close to protective cover so birds have a safe area to approach and return from the feeder but not so close as to allow house cats to sneak up on the birds.

In our garden we use a variety of feeders including a pole mounted finch seed feeder for thistle seed, two hanging wooden feeders and two metal framed feeders, both used for a general seed mix. In addition, suet is provided in a metal cage attached to the tree. In the summer months we may also add a hummingbird feeder.

Our most problematic feeders are the wooden, hopper style ones. These are readily accessible by squirrels who can leap remarkable distances to gain access. We have found that squirrels can circumvent many of the strategies that people employ to thwart them. Even so called squirrel proof feeders can be outwitted by these smart animals. We have adopted a policy of tolerating their antics. Any seed they spill from these feeders get mopped up by the ground feeders and larger birds.

In general, it pays to buy better quality feeders. Our more successful feeders are column feeders made of metal or durable plastic with metal fittings. We suspend these from metal rods which connect together and allow us to suspend these feeders from branches in such a way that the feeders are largely inaccessible for squirrels. The metal fittings make it impossible for squirrels to damage these sturdy feeders. From past experience we have learned that wooden feeders, although more natural and attractive to look at, are vulnerable to squirrel damage, harder to clean and less water proof. It is important to select feeders that keep moisture out of the seed as much as possible.

The copyright of the article Feed the Birds in Backyard Habitats is owned by Murdo Morrison. Permission to republish Feed the Birds in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.