Feeding the Wild Birds

Tweet

I love to feed the birds. It's amazing to watch their different behaviors. For instance, the Downy Woodpeckers sort of 'check things out' first. . . slowly creeping backwards down a tree trunk toward the feeder. They like suet cakes. You won't find a woodpecker at a typical bird feeder with a perch. The Red Bellied Woodpeckers move in jerky motions and call out with a little short shrill. They bop their head back and forth as if they are looking for someone. When they decide to get to the suet feeder, they fly down, they are cautious, looking to the left, then the right before they start their meal. They tend to peck until they get a big morsel. Then they dart quickly back to the tree and hide the morsel in a tree cavity. They are so amazing to watch. The Blue Jays in the east are nice. The Scrub Jays in the west are mean! I've seen them with a sparrow in their talons holding it up to a fence pecking the poor sparrows face. But the Blue Jays in the east aren't that way. They are beautiful, bright blue with amazing black markings. They have a very annoying call! They like corn and sunflower seeds. They will eat most anything I believe. They are also less likely to be found perching on a feeder. They are ground feeders and like to get their food from the ground below the feeders. The Cardinals have a pretty call, are ground feeders or platform feeders but will also perch on a feeder if hungry enough. They seem to come in pairs. If you see a male, (brightly red colored) then there is usually a female (sort of an orangish brown color) near. If you want to attract the beautiful bright orange Orioles, you need to put out oranges or grape jelly. The first time I ever saw an Oriole close up was when I caught one trying to eat from a hummingbird feeder. So don't be surprised if you see them trying to eat your sugar water for your hummers! That brings me to the Hummingbird! They migrate beginning in March, depending on where you live. I live in NC so they won't be here until April sometime. We only have the Ruby throated here. The Ruby Throated Hummingbird is the only hummer east of the Mississippi River. The west gets a nice variety of hummers. Do not put red dye in your feeders!! Here is a good recipe. 4 cups water, 1 cup sugar. Some say boil it, some say don't. I do because they say it helps keep the mold down. Chill it before filling your feeder. The red on the feeder is enough to attract your hummers, and also the sugar will attract them. If you have a lot of hummers and they fight, put feeders several feet apart so they don't have to share. I also love the Eastern Blue Birds! They are so very pretty!They love insects. I actually drove 40 miles last week to buy meal worms for the Blues! If you buy the meal worms, make sure you put them in a feeder with smooth sides or they will crawl out and leave before the bird gets to eat! I could go on and on forever about feeding birds, but one last thing for you. The very BEST place to buy feeders is Wild Birds Unlimited. They can be very expensive, so if you can't afford them, go check them out to look. Then, go to Wal Mart and buy one! Wild Birds Unlimited has so many awesome feeders. You can also get ideas on how to make your own from looking at their feeders too. Well, that's it for now. If you have any questions regarding feeding birds. . . please write me! I am not a certified expert, but I have been feeding the birds for years and can ID a bird just from hearing it's call.