This past Saturday I attended a seminar at Andre Viette's Farm and Nursery devoted to attracting birds to your home and garden. Since there were over 60 people signed up for this popular subject, we were seated inside one of the larger potting sheds on the property instead of in the garden center where I've attended other workshops. I enjoyed seeing this behind-the-scenes large workroom where they mix their soil. If you're interested in birding, my scribbled notes are below.
The guest speaker was the owner of the Wild Bird Center who talked about the many varieties of bird feeders and seeds available. In this picture she is showing us a bluebird mealworm feeder. (You can make your own by using a tuna can.) She told us how to train bluebirds to come and eat the mealworms once you place them in the container: pick a time that's convenient for you, ring a bell or whistle once the mealworms are out, and if you are consistent, the birds will come eat the worms at that time every day. [I doubt I will ever have to worry about this method of feeding; no mealworms will be stored in my fridge.]
- Bluebirds like short grass and open areas (so they can see crickets and insects).
- You are less likely to see bluebirds if you live in a wooded area.
- If you will provide water in the winter, you will get lots of birds.
- Plastic bird baths are better than concrete ones because a concrete bath has a tendency to crack if water freezes in it.
- Tip: if you place a 2 - 3 inch rubber hose in the bottom of a bird bath, the water will not freeze.
- Bluebirds nest about 2 - 3x a year.
- Leaving the nests through the winter is a good idea because birds may use them in cold weather for protection. However, clean out bluebird boxes in February in anticipation of adults building new nests in the spring for their young. If you leave an old nest in the box, sometimes larva will be lurking underneath the nest and will suck blood from the baby birds when they are born.
- A copper guard around the 1 1/2" bluebird hole keeps the hole from getting bigger.
She also gave us some food for thought on how to create a wildlife habitat. [Enlarge picture to read the poster on Components of Wildlife Habitats.]
- Set your objectives: wildlife watching, nature photography, fishing, gardening, sharing nature experiences
- Study your property: food, water, cover, shelter - strive for diversity
- Measure your property: sketch a map showing existing structures, compass directions, and prevailing winds - also indicate what/where you see wildlife
- Action Plan: time line, budget, evaluate
The speaker focused quite a bit on selecting seed. She advised reading the label on bird seed and avoiding ones with lots of filler. Milo and wheat are considered filler seeds and are added to give weight to the bag. If the main ingredient you see on the label says milo, likely it means you're spending money for seed that doesn't give birds the nutrients they need and for seed which they will flick out of the feeder.
- Black oil sunflower seeds attract many birds and is a good all-around seed to use. Make sure your seeds are the freshest available, and try to use what you have within 4 to 5 months. The general rule is not to buy more than you can feed in a month. [Seed moths hatch from older seed and are a problem to eliminate.]
- White proso millet is the second most popular seed. Indigo buntings love millet, but don't go overboard because millet also attracts sparrows and starlings--although starlings like Japanese beetle larva.
- If you're trying to discourage squirrels, grackles, and crows in your feeders, try safflower seed because they won't eat it. You will have to feed safflower exclusively and give birds 2 - 3 weeks to get used to it in the feeder.
- Plant shrubs close to your feeding stations for song birds to have a niche closeby after feeding.
More notes:
Here's a picture taken inside the shed showing some of the feeders on display. Spring is the best time to utilitze your feeders. [Seed feeders should be cleaned twice a year.] Birds also like salt blocks that provide the salt they need in their diets. [I had only heard of this for deer!]
Finches are finicky eaters. Gold finches eat upside down and like to eat in groups. If you put a feeder with seed in it for finches, place it on a different pole or in a different area from your main feeders, and you will get more finches.If your seed is old, finches will not touch it.
Be wary of suet cakes that are on sale--usually it's because they are dried out and are old. Read the label--if it says berries are in it, make sure you're paying for real berries and not berry flavoring. Birds don't need all the various flavorings some suet cakes say they contain. The 8 and 9-ounce blocks are the cheaper quality suet cakes. The better quality are the 12-ounce cakes.
You can buy suet cakes already sliced for woodpecker feeders. These will attract the pileated woodpeckers. [I learned how to say this word: pee-lee-ated. I'm not sure I had ever heard it pronounced before. I don't have a woodpecker feeder with the small slit for placing a suet cake inside. I think that would be interesting to watch a woodpecker go after it. Any experiences to share on these feeders?]
Hummingbirds are insect eaters and need a separate area away from your other bird feeders. The rufus hummingbird is cold hardy and can often be seen here in Virginia in November and December whereas the ruby-throated likes warmer weather. They start arriving here towards the end of March up to April 15th. You should have your hummingbird feeders cleaned and ready by mid-March. To prevent wasting your sugar water, put a small amount in the bottom of your feeder until you know they'll show up. If they do show up, they have long enough tongues to reach it and keep them interested in coming back. You don't want them to arrive and your feeder not be ready with food for them. Store extra solution in the fridge.
Once hummingbirds find your feeder, they'll come back to the same spot each year. [Is this amazing or what?] Making your own sugar water: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water (not stronger, not weaker). Feeders should be cleaned weekly to prevent mold. Rinse with hot water; no bleach; use white vinegar. Ant motes work well attached above your feeder to catch ants that try to get to the sugar. Bees are attracted to the yellow color that is on some hummingbird feeders around the flowers. If you rub Avon-Skin-So-Soft around the flowers on top, it will keep bees away.
Bat boxes - need to be 10 - 15 feet high and need to be in the sun 6 - 8 hours to keep warm. Put on a pole on the side of a building. [Who has a bat box? Would you share your experiences if you do have one?] Robins and wrens use platform boxes. [I purchased a robin box at a yard sale two years ago, but the robins and wrens haven't made use of it yet.]
Purple martin houses are in groups in the open away from trees. The general idea is that purple martins will eat tons of mosquitoes. Now we're told that mosquitoes are too small for them; they will eat more dragonflies and bigger insects so they won't have to eat so many mosquitoes. [I still hope the purple martin house we have up will attract martins and eliminate any mosquitoes around.]
Well, that was a lot of information! If you made it this far, you must be a real bird lover! I enjoyed the seminar very much, and I'm looking forward to utilizing some of the tips I learned. Also, I'm looking forward this spring to using this Christmas present to watch the birds. :)
~Deb
After reading your notes I feel like I was in the class.
Bat boxes are made many times by Boy Scouts as Eagle projects.Just a tid bit for you to learn today.
Posted by: Tammy | Friday, February 15, 2008 at 05:54 AM
Thanks for the tip about the safflower seed and the squirrels. We have one that eats regularly (he just hangs on and swings back and forth while he feasts on the birdseed!) and we would like to get rid of him. My hubs will be happy when he hears that there is a solution!
Posted by: Randi | Friday, February 15, 2008 at 10:40 AM
I just heard someone talking about bat boxes! Evidently they are great for controlling mosquitoes. Just one bat supposedly eats 3,000 mosquitoes a night!!! Get some of those bat boxes right away.
Posted by: Bet | Friday, February 15, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Lots of great information! It was like I was there! Thanks! I was about to buy a cement bird bath, but will opt for a plastic one that looks like cement...if I can find one like that!
Posted by: Dorothy | Friday, February 15, 2008 at 06:01 PM
Oh Deb, I like this post. I enjoy birds so much. We have all kinds. My new bluebird house that I got for Christmas has new occupants. We enjoy watching them. How do I get a copper guard for the hole? Make it? Very informative, thanks so much!
Posted by: Kathie | Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 08:57 AM
I love bird watching and am always looking for ways to attract them to my yard, thank you for the wonderful tips!
Kelli
Posted by: Kelli | Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 11:59 PM
We have always had one of those suet feeders up, nailed to the side of a tree. We had downy woodpeckers, nuthatches, flickers, titmice, chickadees...they all enjoy the suet. I tried to hang one with a suction cup on our windows here (since we have no trees in the yard), but there are no birds in our yard so the suet just melted under the intense heat! :-(
Posted by: Dorothy | Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 02:13 PM