BIRD FEEDERS

Let’s discuss seed feeders. I frequently hear folks comment that they want to attract more birds to their yard, so they’d like to put up a seed feeder. While feeders in the winter can supplement native food, the best thing you can do to attract birds is to operate a year-round birdbath where songbirds can drink and bathe.

That being said, it IS lots of fun to watch birds at the feeder. So, a few tips. First – consider proper placement of any feeder on your property. To avoid window kills, don’t place your feeder too close to a window. Avoid placing any feeder adjacent to dense shrubs where the neighbor’s cat can hide and pounce on an unsuspecting bird visiting your feeder.

You can’t go wrong with black oil sunflower seed – it’s a favorite in our backyard feeder. Store your seed in a cool, dry place. A warm and humid location can produce sweaty seeds which can grow a harmful and often deadly chemical called aflatoxin. For this reason, I don’t recommend running your feeders during the summer – there’s plenty of natural food available then anyway. Give your feeders a periodic cleaning so the birds stay healthy. To see how others are providing food to backyard birds, this is a fun video to watch.

Remember not to gauge bird abundance in your area by the activity at your seed feeder. Uneaten seed does not mean that the sky is falling! Instead, it could mean that Mother Nature has provided a buffet of fresh food items elsewhere in the neighborhood.
And most of all, enjoy watching birds that come to your backyard feeders – this can be the best place to open your eyes to the wonderful world of birds. Enjoy the owls!

Order your Owl Shack HERE.