Time for Bird Feeding

It is that time of year to start filling up the bird feeders again.

There is some difference of opinion about rather feeding birds hurts or helps them. Those against feeding claim that birds become dependent on humans for food and then have trouble fending for themselves if the feeding stops. But the studies that I have read say that the birds either go to other feeders or easily go back to finding food themselves if no feeders are available. We know that birds can survive just fine without human help….heck they have done it for millions of years. In my view, bird feeding is mainly for the enjoyment that it gives us humans….and it provides plenty of that.

But we do create some problems by putting up feeders. Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks cruise by my feeder from time to time looking for a nice juicy songbird for dinner. And feral cats can make a fine living hanging around under a feeder. You can’t do much about the occasional hawk, but most of us have found various ways to scare the feral cats away.

Bird seed is a favorite food of a range of animals besides birds. As you all know, squirrels, raccoons, deer, and even bears, love birdseed. A neighbor told me of someone in another state that used to put birdseed, cracked corn and apples slices out each night to feed the local deer. Each night the deer would come and they would always eat the birdseed first, before either the corn or the apples.

I have had pretty good luck against squirrels and raccoons by mounting my bird feeders on a six foot freestanding pole with a two foot predator guard on the pole. This setup must be at least six feet from trees and decks to keep the squirrels from leaping across. You can make your own predator guards out of 36 x 8 inch stovepipe or buy them at Birds Unlimited in Knoxville.

You’ll get the biggest variety of birds if you have a variety of feeders and food. In addition to the regular hanging feeders you may want to try, tray feeders, ground feeders and suet feeders to attract more birds.

For the type of birdseed, almost all the experts say that black oil sunflower seeds are number one. Striped sunflower seeds are ok, but not as good as the black ones. Safflower seed is a white seed that birds like but squirrels hate. Niger is that tiny black “thistle” seed that Goldfinches love. Niger takes a special feeder or Lowe’s sells it in a “sock” that you can hang. I’ve read that white millet is good, but most birds don’t eat red millet.

Watch out for low-priced and mixed seed. These often contain lots of “filler” seed like milo, red millet, wheat, or oats that most birds just scatter on the ground and don’t eat.

And don’t forget the insect eating birds like Bluebirds and Woodpeckers. We feed Bluebirds mealworms and cut up raisins and cranberries all winter. Woodpeckers come to suet and peanut feeders, but so will many other birds.

So, does feeding birds hurt or help? I haven’t read anything that convinces me that it hurts the birds, but it sure provides lots of enjoyment for us humans. Load up those feeders, winter is coming!