A Dozen Bird Feeding Tips

1. Birds have 3 basic needs: food, water, and shelter.
   • To attract the widest variety of birds, offer different foods in different kinds of feeders.
   • Provide water year around. If possible, install a moving water system as the sound attracts birds.
   • Place feeders near "cover"... places for the birds to fly to and from for protection. Protect the feeder from weather and keep the food dry.
2. Keep your feeders clean to protect the health of the birds and to keep them coming back. To clean, use a mild bleach and water solution, but not soap.
3. Look for feeders designed for easy cleaning and filling. Metal parts protect against squirrel chewing damage.
4. Large birds chase smaller birds away, so give each their own feeder.
5. Offer selective feeders for smaller birds. Examples include caged "haven" feeders that screen out larger birds and deter squirrels, globe feeders that only small "clinging" birds can use, and squirrel-proof feeders that can be adjusted to exclude heavier birds as well.
6. If you're planning on feeding only one kind of seed, choose the black oil sunflower seed. It has the highest nutritional value, is reasonably priced, and the shell provides weather protection yet is thin enough for even the smallest birds to break open.
7. Seeds in their shell weather better, but birds often carry them elsewhere to eat. Use shelled seeds like sunflower hearts and peanut pieces or ready-to-eat seeds like thistle near your home for better viewing as birds will sit and eat these at the feeder.
8. Use sunflower hearts in window feeders and in feeders over decks and patios for less mess and best viewing. Use them sparingly and protect them from getting wet.
9. Mixed seeds in overhead feeders may cause a mess below as birds will kick out the seeds they don't want when searching for those they do. This is especially true of mixes with black oil sunflower seeds. Ground-feeding birds may clean up some of the spilled seed, but you'll have better results if you offer mixed seeds only in low tray or platform type feeders.
10. Feed squirrels with corn, sunflower seeds, or peanuts in their own feeders so they leave the birds alone. Use baffles (climbing barriers) on bird feeders to make it tough for squirrels to get to the food. Place bird feeders 7-8' from anywhere a squirrel could jump to the feeder. They are resourceful and amazing!
11. Store your seed in a tight-lidded container in a cool, dry place to keep it fresher.
12. The new suet mixes may be offered year around and will be eaten by "clinging" birds such as chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and flickers. This energy-rich food becomes especially important as a supplement in winter.