Feeding the birds
It’s
mid-February and the birds are fluttering all about my window asking for
breakfast, lunch and dinner. I am a
nature lover to be sure, and I do my best to make sure their feeders don’t run
dry. My backyard, like many in southeastern Michigan, sees a variety of
feathered friends every day.
Photo
courtesy of www.audobon.org
I
have visitors such as goldfinches, cardinals, black-capped chickadees and
woodpeckers. As anyone who has had experience with feeding the birds at any time of year
knows, you cannot simply feed the birds. No sir, no way.
The squirrels will quickly jump on board to grab some food as well. To accommodate them, I always put extra seed on the ground to discourage them from trying to crash the party up at the feeder itself.
Each
variety of bird has its own preferences for the type of seed it likes to munch
on. This is important to remember if you are looking to attract a specific
breed. For example, goldfinches love thistle, cardinals like black oil
sunflower seeds, black capped chickadee like finely ground sunflower seeds and woodpeckers
prefer small shelled peanuts.
Here
I have a photo of one of my feeders with eight goldfinches having lunch. The
black grain that you can see is the thistle.
This is a male Northern Cardinal. They are beautiful to look at in the winter, as their red feathers are so brilliant against the white snow.
Photo courtesy of www.allaboutbirds.com
Photo courtesy of www.allaboutbirds.com
The
links below provide a food preference chart as well as a beginner’s guide to
attracting the birds you would like to see in your yard. Give it a try; it’s
both visually fun and you keep their bellies full when it’s really cold
outside!
Love this!
ReplyDeleteLisa,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and useful blog! I like the fact that you've been able to post interesting and helpful tips and information even during the winter months. The retailer I've worked for during my undergrad stocks all sorts of bird seed, it's amazing how much we sell during the winter months. Not many people realize how difficult the winter months in Michigan can be, in regards to various species struggling to find food, especially with snow covered ground. The snow cover actually impacts all sorts of non-hibernating wild animals and their search for food. Last year the Michigan Deer population became severely starved, and went to extreme lengths such as eating from bird feeders just to survive 2014's harsh winter.
Excellent blog,
-Mike_TMMS