Words On Birds 09-20-24

 

     Autumn officially starts on Sunday, so now is a good time to think about reassessing your bird feeding program. Whether you feed all year long, or just during the colder months, now is the time to ready your feeders for the fall and winter season. For those who don’t feed the birds all summer, readying the bird feeders for winter becomes one of those fall projects that you should add to the “to do” list. 

 

     Depending upon what else is on that list, the birds often become a lower priority and feeders may not be up until the first snow flies. By then, however, the ground is often too frozen to put in another pole if one is needed to hang the feeders. Then you have to settle with hanging a feeder from a tree or somewhere where you may not see it so well from inside the house on those frigid days. Planning the position of your feeder stations now will optimize your enjoyment of them later.

 

     Another advantage of starting to feed earlier in the fall, which I mentioned last week, is that you are likely to catch some interesting migrants on their way south. Migrating hummingbirds and orioles, as well as occasional rose-breasted grosbeaks and indigo buntings may stop to refuel. You may also be visited by white-throated, white-crowned or fox sparrows as they move through the area. 

 

     Fall is also a good time for unlikely visitors to make an appearance. Many immature birds wander out of their normal ranges. Look for dickcissels, western tanagers or yellow-headed blackbirds during autumn. Check those feeders carefully, because you never know what might show up!

 

     You may also catch the early arrival of wintering birds from up north. Juncos, crossbills, pine siskins and redpolls are always possible at feeders in late fall and winter. All the more reason to have your feeders cleaned, filled and ready.

 

     Speaking of clean, I can’t emphasize enough the need to keep feeders clean throughout the seasons. If you have had feeders up this summer but haven’t cleaned them in a while, you best add that to your project list. It is all too easy for seed left in a feeder too long to breed bacteria that will harm the birds. If seed goes bad, birds may fall ill or simply learn to stay away. The regular cleaning of feeders at least once a month will keep birds attracted to your yard.

 

     To clean feeders, usually soap and water will suffice. It is best to disassemble feeder and clean all the parts separately. If it has been a while and they are particularly dirty, or if you suspect mold, a 10% solution of bleach or vinegar will help kill bacteria. Just be sure to rinse thoroughly and let everything dry before reassembling.

 

     If you are thinking of adding new feeders, position them when you can view them from the house to provide maximum enjoyment during the fall and winter. You can place them on a pole in the yard near cover that the birds can use, but far enough away from where squirrels might jump. Unless you get one of the feeders that is squirrel-proof (there are a few that work better than most), you should add a good baffle to the pole to help deter squirrels. A bracket that mounts next to a window or clamps onto a deck will bring a feeder closer for easier viewing. A window feeder mounted on the glass or on your sill will bring them even closer. 

 

     Several different feeders with different seed will bring the greatest variety of birds. Sunflower is popular with most birds, but many enjoy peanuts as well. Finches also love Nyger and cardinals enjoy safflower. Adding suet, mealworms (dried or live), peanut butter or fruit will attract other birds. 

 

     Water is also very important, especially during the winter months. A heated bird bath provides fresh drinking water for birds in winter when natural sources are frozen. Water will draw many grateful birds to your yard, even some that are not usually seed eaters.

 

     So, plan your bird feeder projects now before the winter chill sets in, and before your neighbors get the jump on attracting “your” birds to their yard!