Feeding the Birds

It's estimated there are more than 100 billion birds on the earth! Here are some feeding tips to entice a few to your yard.

When you first start to feed the birds, place the feeder in a spot not too close to the house, to give some of the more timid types of birds a feeling of security. After feeding for awhile, you can gradually move the feeder closer to the house. To attract the most types if birds, you'll want to have three basic types of food. Sunflower seeds, mixed seed and suet. Sunflower seeds are a must, it is the seed most preferred by the most variety of birds. It comes in two types, the black-striped and the black-oil. It doesn't really matter which kind you use. I've found both types are equally well received by the birds. The mixed seed usually consists of sunflower seeds, millet, cracked corn and grain. Suet is a type of fat.

Not all birds feed in the same manner. Some eat from a height, like in a tree, while others prefer to eat on or near the ground. So you'll need to offer food at different heights, to please both types. One thing I've found is that birds who'll eat from a feeder will not usually eat mixed seed. They prefer sunflower seeds. So fill your feeder with only sunflower seeds and sprinkle the mixed seed on the ground. Birds such as the Mourning Dove and Juncos are ground feeders and seem to enjoy the mixed seed. If you choose to offer suet I would also suggest buying the proper tpye of feeder to hold the suet cakes. I once used an onion bag and a Starling got his foot caught in it, fortunately he freed himself without injury. I don't usually buy the suet cakes, when I speak of suet it is actually a little something I mix up myself, shortening and mixed seed. Just melt the shortening, add the seed and put it in the fridge so the shortening can set. You can put it in small dishes to make blocks for the suet holder, or what I usually do is put it all in a large container, store it in the fridge, then just scoop some out and sprinkle it on the ground. Starlings especially, love this. You'll need to add more or less seed to the shortening, depending on what you plan to do with it. More shortening, less seed if you want to make blocks for the suet holder. If you want to sprinkle it on the ground, you only need a little shortening. It's really just to give the seed some extra flavor. If you do make your own suet blocks you'll only be able to do this in the winter. In the summer the blocks would just fall apart, as the shortening would liquify in the heat. If you want to feed suet in the summer, you'll have to buy the blocks from the store.