What's flying around in your yard these days, besides snow? 
Birds need shelter, food, and water.
Birds appreciate shelter (evergreens, shrubs, a hedge) as cover to fly in and out of, or they may not stop to feed. Feeding is when they are most vulnerable to predator birds and cats.
According to studies, seed mixes are a waste of money. Different species of birds like different types of seeds and will dig through a mix looking for what it wants, throwing everything else aside.
It's better to have 2 or 3 (or more) feeders, each containing a different kind of seed.
Sunflower seeds, especially the high-fat black variety, attract the widest variety of birds.
Niger (or Nyjer) seed attracts goldfinches and house finches.
Safflower seed attracts cardinals, peanuts attract blue jays.
Suet cake, often hung in cages, will attract birds not interested in seed, such as downy woodpeckers.
It's important to keep your bird feeders clean. Wet seed is host to a fungus that is toxic to birds. Throw moldy seed in the garbage, not on the ground or in the composter.
Birds are often desperate for water in the winter. Heated birdbaths or immersion heaters for regular birdbaths can be readily purchased.
If squirrels are doing most of the dining in your yard, try one or more of the following suggestions.
*Squirrel-proof feeders have a bar that shuts the feeding tray when anything as heavy as a squirrel lands on it.
*A squirrel baffle, either purchased or made from a length of furnace duct, on the wire above the feeder or the pole below.
*A Slinky! This child's toy, stretched out a bit on the wire or pole, is impossible for a squirrel to climb across or get through.
*Space your feeders well away from trees, decks or walls. A squirrel can jump two metres (6 ft) straight up and three metres (10 ft) out.
* Try setting out a separate food supply (including dried corn cobs) for the squirrels. Some people however, are reluctant to do anything that might attract even more squirrels!
*Remember that squirrels take only food. Cats kill birds - a lot. It's instinct, even in an old house cat. Make sure your feeder isn't also a dining spot for Fluffy.
~info courtesy of the Hamilton Spectator~
Have seen the acrobatics some squirrels go through to get at the food? I swear I've seen them jump a lot further than 10 ft.!! It can be really entertaining to watch them sometimes. It's like they're fearless!
We have a heated birdbath. It's buried under all the other summer "stuff" in the shed. Big help that is, eh?
Birds need shelter, food, and water.
Birds appreciate shelter (evergreens, shrubs, a hedge) as cover to fly in and out of, or they may not stop to feed. Feeding is when they are most vulnerable to predator birds and cats.
According to studies, seed mixes are a waste of money. Different species of birds like different types of seeds and will dig through a mix looking for what it wants, throwing everything else aside.
It's better to have 2 or 3 (or more) feeders, each containing a different kind of seed.
Sunflower seeds, especially the high-fat black variety, attract the widest variety of birds.
Niger (or Nyjer) seed attracts goldfinches and house finches.
Safflower seed attracts cardinals, peanuts attract blue jays.
Suet cake, often hung in cages, will attract birds not interested in seed, such as downy woodpeckers.
It's important to keep your bird feeders clean. Wet seed is host to a fungus that is toxic to birds. Throw moldy seed in the garbage, not on the ground or in the composter.
Birds are often desperate for water in the winter. Heated birdbaths or immersion heaters for regular birdbaths can be readily purchased.
If squirrels are doing most of the dining in your yard, try one or more of the following suggestions.
*Squirrel-proof feeders have a bar that shuts the feeding tray when anything as heavy as a squirrel lands on it.
*A squirrel baffle, either purchased or made from a length of furnace duct, on the wire above the feeder or the pole below.
*A Slinky! This child's toy, stretched out a bit on the wire or pole, is impossible for a squirrel to climb across or get through.
*Space your feeders well away from trees, decks or walls. A squirrel can jump two metres (6 ft) straight up and three metres (10 ft) out.
* Try setting out a separate food supply (including dried corn cobs) for the squirrels. Some people however, are reluctant to do anything that might attract even more squirrels!
*Remember that squirrels take only food. Cats kill birds - a lot. It's instinct, even in an old house cat. Make sure your feeder isn't also a dining spot for Fluffy.
~info courtesy of the Hamilton Spectator~
Have seen the acrobatics some squirrels go through to get at the food? I swear I've seen them jump a lot further than 10 ft.!! It can be really entertaining to watch them sometimes. It's like they're fearless!
We have a heated birdbath. It's buried under all the other summer "stuff" in the shed. Big help that is, eh?
They look absolutely beautiful.
