How can I attract wild birds to my yard?
October 31, 2011 Finch Bird Feeder
What kind of feeder and seed should i use? I’m building a birdhouse next week to place out there too. In my yard right so far ive seen robins, mourning doves, chickadees and crows, etc with blue jays and cardinals during the winter. i also have goldfinches and hummingbirds during the summer but i’m going to wait to get them feeders because its starting to get cold and im sure they’ve already began to migrate south.
I only have one feeder out right now, but the seed my dad bought is really cheap and generic and i want to replace it with something else that will attract more birds.
Comments (4)
It is great to feed the finches in the backyard. But imagine having one as a pet.
Here’s a list showing bird preferences.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/BirdFoods.htm
Be sure to put your feeders in protected places like by trees or shrubs. Birds don’t feel safe eating out in the open.
Next summer plant zinnias to attract birds. All kinds of birds love zinnias and zinnias are the easiest flowers to grow and much cheaper than buying seeds. Plant moonflowers to attract hummers.
Careful of putting out too much seed. You’ll draw mice and rats and raccoons and other undesirables as well.
You can dip a clean pinecone in some honey, and then in birdseed. they’ll love it! (-:
You will need several different feeders with different foods
Finches eat niger seeds. It is tiny oblong seeds in a tube feeder. It is very expensive but they love it. Buy only a small bag at a time because it only has a shelf life of 2 months. The also eat sunflower seeds but you will not attract anywhere near as many.
Most larger birds (like cardinals) like plain black oil sunflower seeds
Smaller birds like chickadees eat the cheap mix. They like the little seed and the bigger birds eat the few sunflower seeds in there.
You will not be able to feed the hummingbirds in winter because the sugar water will freeze. You can feed them in the summer though. No food color is needed in the water. It is actually bad for the birds. Plant some flowers for them to drink from. Red is a great color. Google Flowers for hummingbirds.
Robins and bluebirds eat mainly worms and grubs from the ground. You can buy the worms and put them on a flat feeder off the ground. I dug up worms and offered and they acted as they were offended. Don’t think I’d buy the worms.
Birds love fruit put out on a platform feeder for them. Cut up or sliced apples, bananas, oranges, etc. When it starts to go soft in the fridge–just offer it up on a platter!
Be sure to make your birdhouses by specifications need by each bird. They have to have certain size holes, some like perches–some dont, Most all won’t to be made of old wood if you have it–especially bluebirds.