Help our birds survive the winter!
During the winter, birds must find reliable sources of food to survive. Unfortunately, many birds are lost to starvation.
With much of our native-bird habitat dwindling, we can help birds survive by offering high calorie foods.
Make sure to keep feeders clean and near vegetative cover to protect them from predators. Report any stray or outdoor cats that may learn of feeders and prey on birds.
You can also help birds by planting native and by not using pesticides, especially neonicotinoids.
For bird feeders, nest boxes, baths and all other things birds, visit Wild Birds Unlimited.
For local bird seed and supplies, visit RJ Paddywacks in El Jebel (970) 963-1700.
FEEDING BIRDS DETAILED
Watching birds at your feeders can be the most enjoyable parts of your day, however: please do not feed birds if you cannot commit to the tasks of keeping your feeders safe and sanitary. "First do no harm" (Latin: Primum non nocere)
Roaring Fork Audubon is committed to teaching our children about the birds and other wildlife in our valley. If your school is interested in having RFA provide a free bird-feeding station, contact Mary at smnharris@gmail.com.
WHY FEED BIRDS?
Humans have eliminated an alarming amount of our native bird’s food sources. With every home we build, every trail we make, every road or other development we construct, we take away their food. Providing good quality, safe locations with clean feeders, can be very beneficial to the survival of our birds that may be struggling to survive.
Bird feeding provides enjoyment to millions of North Americans each year. When proper feeding methods are followed, both humans and birds derive benefits from feeders. Bird feeding, especially at schools, is a great way for kids to learn about our wildlife and teaches responsibility and empathy.
However, recent research on the impact of bird feeding has shown that feeders can sometimes be a source of disease for the birds visiting them. There is good news, too: with minimal effort, any feeder operator in North America can provide a safe, healthy feeding station for birds.
HUMMINGBIRDS
Hummingbird feeders can be a great source of nectar for our small migrating or breeding treasures, especially during spring when the males must arrive as early as possible to secure and defend their breeding sites and encounter snow-covered habitat and in fall when the treacherous journey may be just as difficult. Science has shown that, done properly, the molecular make up of sugar closely resembles that of natural nectar gathered from flowers; and you will not encourage a hummingbird to stay too long or feed too much at your feeder. A simple way to make nectar is to follow the 1 to 4 ratio and start with a large container that holds 1 to 2 quarts (depending on how busy your feeders are). For 1 quart of solution, put 1 cup of sugar in the container, stir with just enough hot water from the tap to dissolve the sugar, cover and microwave or boil on stove for 2 to 4 minutes, and add cold water to make the liquid equal the 1- or 2-quart mark. You can also use ice cubes to cool the solution for immediate use. Use just enough 1:4 nectar solution for a couple days, and store the rest in the refrigerator to save lots of time!
· Make the proper solution of 1:4 (1 cup sugar per quart) see recipe above.
· USE ONLY WHITE SUGAR. Do not use raw, brown or organic sugar; do not use honey; do not purchase the pre-mixed red solution; and do not add dyes. All of these have potential harmful bacteria or chemicals.
Change nectar often. Nectar begins to ferment the moment it is made. If it is spring and the weather is cold, every 3 to 4 days may be okay. During summer’s heat, every 2 days is imperative. You can make hummers very ill by offering fermented water. Hang the feeders in the shade if that is available.
· Clean and rinse feeders every time nectar is replaced. Mold will easily grow and can actually kill hummers. Most feeder ports are very difficult to clean, and Roaring Fork Audubon recommends the easy-to-clean “Best-1 Hummingbird Feeder” from Poteet, Texas. www.hummingbirdsplus.org.
· Don’t use insecticides, such as wasp killers, anywhere near bird feeders, especially hummingbird feeders.
· Purchase a bottle brush cleaner for the container.
Yes, that’s a lot to know and do; but, once you get into the routine, the rewards are definitely worth it!
SEED AND SUET FEEDERS
Don’t use insecticides, such as wasp killers, anywhere near bird feeders, especially hummingbird feeders.
1) Locate bird feeders at different levels.
Sparrows, juncos and towhees usually feed on the ground; finches feed in shrubs; and chickadees, titmice and woodpeckers feed in trees. To avoid crowding and to attract the greatest variety of species, provide table-like feeders for ground-feeding birds, hopper or tube feeders for shrub and treetop feeders and suet feeders well off the ground for woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees.
2) Offer a variety of seeds in separate feeders.
A diverse mix of seeds will attract the greatest variety of birds. To avoid waste, offer different seeds in different feeders. Black oil sunflower seed appeals to the greatest number of birds and is very healthy. Offer sunflower seeds, nyjer (thistle) seeds and peanuts in separate feeders. When using blends, choose mixtures containing sunflower seeds, millet and cracked corn—the three most popular types of birdseed. Birds that are sunflower specialists will readily eat the sunflower seed and toss the millet and corn to the ground to be eaten by ground-feeding birds such as sparrows and juncos. Mixtures of peanuts, nuts, and dried fruit attract woodpeckers, nuthatches and titmice. A few species prefer milo, wheat and oats, which are featured in less expensive blends and may not have much nutrition.
Don’t offer so-called wild bird mixes in tube feeders. These are better fed on platforms or out of hopper feeders. Birds that prefer sunflower seed will just empty the feeder to get at the sunflower seeds.
3) Provide suet during cool weather only.
Suet (beef fat) attracts insect-eating birds such as woodpeckers, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches and titmice. Place the suet in special feeders or net onion bags at least five feet from the ground to keep it out of the reach of dogs. Do not put out suet during hot weather as it can turn rancid; also, dripping fat can damage natural waterproofing on bird feathers. Consider using a suet feeder designed specifically for woodpeckers that enables them to utilize their tails to brace against the feeder.
4) Provide fruit for berry-eating birds.
Fruit specialists such as robins, waxwings and bluebirds rarely eat birdseed. To attract these birds in summer, soak raisins and currants in water overnight and place them on a table feeder; or purchase blends with a dried-fruit mixture. To attract orioles and tanagers, skewer halved oranges onto a spike near other feeders or supply nectar feeders.
If you decide to provide grape jelly, do so in side-serving dishes small enough that the birds cannot get their wings in the jelly, as this can cause much harm. After the spring migration rush, discontinue offering jelly.
5) Store seed in secure metal containers.
Store seed in metal garbage cans with secure lids to protect it from squirrels and mice. Keep the cans in a cool, dry location; avoid storing in the heat. Damp seeds may grow mold that can be fatal to birds. Overheating can destroy the nutrition and taste of sunflower seeds. For these reasons, it’s best not to keep seed from one winter to the next.
6) Discourage squirrels and bears from consuming feeder foods.
Squirrels are best excluded by placing feeders on a pole in an open area. Pole-mounted feeders should be about five feet off the ground and protected by a cone-shaped baffle (at least 17 inches diameter) or similar obstacle below the feeder. Locate pole-mounted feeders at least ten feet from the nearest shrub, tree or other tall structure. Squirrel feeders stocked with blends that are especially attractive to squirrels and chipmunks can reduce competition for high-priced foods offered at bird feeders. Place squirrel feeders far from bird feeders to further reduce competition.
For bears, pay attention to local ordinances that prohibit bird feeders when bears are active. This is done in areas where bears have discovered humans as a food source. In areas where bears may live but are not a problem, you can get creative with how to hang and refill feeders well beyond the reach of bears. They will quickly learn they should not waste their time trying to get your minimal calories if they cannot reach it. There are many clever ways you can research or contact us at info@roaringforkaudubon.org for more ideas.
Bringing feeders at night is always a good idea. Raccoons, bears, and other nocturnal or dawn feeding animals can wreak havoc on your feeders.
7) Clean feeders, and regularly rake up spilled grain and hulls.
Shake your seed feeders (especially thistle and tube feeders) before you refill them to dislodge any compacted seed. Dump out any wet clumps of old seed.
Uneaten seed can become soggy and grow deadly mold. Using a long-handled bottlebrush, scrub with dish detergent and rinse with a powerful hose; then soak in a bucket of ten percent non-chlorine bleach solution, rinse well, and dry in the sun before filling.
Keep some old spatulas and brushes handy by the feeding station for cleaning purposes.
Don’t allow large amounts of seed to become wet in rainy periods, as on platform feeders. Instead, when weather is inclement, feed primarily from covered feeders that will keep seed dry; or dispense only a handful of seed at a time on platforms.
Don’t put out any more seed than can be eaten by the birds by nightfall, especially where raccoons, opossums, bears, deer or rodents are present.
If you see a sick or dead bird at your feeders, halt your feeding for a few weeks to allow the healthy birds to disperse. This lessens the possibility of disease transmission. Remove and discard in the trash any dead birds. Report the sick birds to your local wildlife officials, many of whom monitor wildlife health. Contact Roaring Fork Audubon immediately so we can alert others.
Reduce window kills of birds by placing feeders a safe distance away. If birds regularly strike a particular window, place a screen, crop netting or a series of branches over or in front of the outside glass panel to break up the reflection. See our information on deadly window strikes!
Don’t use grease, oil, petroleum jelly or similar substances on your feeder poles or wires to thwart squirrels, ants or other feeder-raiding creatures. If these substances come into contact with bird feathers, it is impossible for the bird to preen or wash them out. Gooey feathers can become useless for flight or insulation, thus putting the birds at risk to predators, extreme weather and disease. For squirrels and other mammals, use a pole-mounted baffle (many are sold commercially). To discourage ants, use an ant guard that prevents ants from reaching the feeder. Both baffles and ant guards are available on the Internet, by mail order or in retail stores that sell an extensive array of backyard products.
If your feeder is overrun with invasive birds (Eurasian Collared-dove, House Sparrow or European Starling), stop offering mixed seed on the ground or on platform feeders (unless they are covered with a cage). Feed only black-oil sunflower seed in tube or hopper feeders until the problem species disperse. There are many cage type coverings you can use to make sure the larger species cannot get to your platform or tube feeders. Many folks use make-shift covers out of old wire boxes and other clever coverings.
Make a brush pile near your feeder to make sparrows, towhees and other shy birds feel more at home; and be sure it won’t harbor roaming cats.
Add natural features to your feeding station, such as branches to perch on, to make birds feel more at ease.
Don’t place birdbaths under feeders or perches where droppings can fall into them.
Rinse and scrub birdbaths daily in summer or whenever they become fouled with bird droppings. Once a month, scrub them with a light bleach solution (1/4 cup of bleach in 2 gallons of water), rinse thoroughly and refill.