4
Species Variety
The species you attract is
determined primarily by the
seeds you offer.
Black oil sunflower is the
hands-down favorite of all the
birds that visit tube and house
type feeders. White proso millet
is favored by birds who visit
platform feeders (doves and
sparrows). Ducks, geese, and
quail will eat corn.
Many of the cereal grains
(corn, milo, oats, canary, wheat,
rape, flax, and buckwheat) in
mixed bird seeds are NOT
favorites of birds that visit
tube feeders.
Watch a feeder filled with a
seed mix and you’ll see the birds
methodically drop or kick out
most of the seeds to get to
their favorite – sunflower. Birds
will also kick out artificial
“berry" pellets, processed seed
flavored and colored to look like
“real" fruit.
If I Stop Feeding, What Will Happen.
Some people don’t feed birds because they are concerned that
the birds will become dependent on the feeders for survival and if
they stop, the birds will starve to death.
Normally, this is not true. Feeders serve as supplements to
natural food sources, not replacements. Birds that visit feeders
develop a routine or pattern of visiting feeders. If your feeder is
empty on a particular day, they simply go on to the next. If your
feeder remains empty for a long period of time, they may quit
coming at all.
The exception to this is when there are snow storms, ice storms,
and periods of severe, prolonged cold – birds then need food badly.
Your feeder can make a difference in the birds survival.
Seeds that wind up on the
ground are likely to be
contaminated by dampness and
bird droppings. If the birds don’t
eat them, rodents will.
The most effective way to
attract the largest variety of
birds to your yard is to put out
separate feeders for each food:
s
Starling-resistant suet
feeder
s
Hopper feeder for sunflower
s
Bluebird feeder
s
Wire mesh cage feeder for
peanuts
s
Nectar feeder
s
Tube feeder for thistle
s
Stationary or tray fruit
feeder
s
Hopper or platform feeder
for millet
This article was written by
Thomas D. Patrick, President and
Founder of the WindStar Wildlife
Institute, a national, non-profit
conservation organization whose
mission is to help individuals and
families establish or improve the
wildlife habitat on their properties.
For more information or for the
name of a Master Wildlife Habitat
Naturalist in your area, please
contact:
WindStar Wildlife Institute
10072 Vista Court
Myersville, Maryland 21773
Phone: (301) 293-3351
E-mail: wildalife@windstar.org
http://www.windstar.org
