Feeding Backyard Birds

We previously discussed weaning backyard birds onto your feeder foods. In doing this, you may have noticed that at first, wild birds were busy at your feeders even though you may have not kept them up all day.

Now, you probably find few wild birds at your feeders. This is likely happening because other bird watchers in your area have feeders up – possibly all day.

I myself, have them up from 11:00 until 7:00. Thus, my neighbors are seeing my feathered friends in the morning – I often do not see them until afternoon.

Though food sources (insects, weed seeds, and berries) are still available, you may want to keep feeders up to keep a group of backyard birds at your feeders throughout the day. After all, you have put out the welcome mat, so make them at home.

As for myself, I am keeping my feeders up all day long.

- Craig Curtis

Technorati Tags: Fall Bird Feeding, migratory birds, wild birds

Fall marks the beginning of “bird feeding season” when bird watchers anticipate the fun and laughter that wild birds bring with their charming presence.

But are common backyard birds really in need of fall bird feeding?Is it really vital for bird watchers to provide food at this time?

Go outside and take a look around you.

What is the climate or the temperature?In South-central Pennsylvania, my neighbors and I have felt 80’s and 90’s for the past two weeks. Yes, summer weather is lingering on.

Birds are in great need of water – not food. Why? They need to keep cool – not warm. Water cools them down. So please provide fresh water. Refresh at least once per day to keep from attracting mosquitoes.

Keep looking around you.

Along with this summer-like heat, hordes of insects swarm through the air and common backyard birds are busy eating them. Ones like chickadees are tree gleaners, spending the majority of their time gleaning insects from trees and plants.

Because insects are the majority of many birds’ diets, wild birds will be busy eating them until a killing pre-winter frost freezes them.

You may also see weeds flourishing in nearby fields, or any overgrown area. Many ground dwelling birds such as Mourning Doves and American Goldfinches are preoccupied foraging for seeds within weeds that again will be flourishing until a killing frost occurs.

You may have seed bearing flowers such as Sunflowers which have already gone to head. Another seed-bearing flower you may have in your garden is Aster, which bears seed in late summer and fall.

Notice your summer fruit-bearing trees, many of which are bare. Autumn fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, however, will soon flourish through fall. This will be discussed in my seasonal food and cover post.

Lastly, you may see nut-bearing trees in your yard that wild birds eat through fall. These too, will be discussed in my seasonal food and cover post.

Notice four main food sources that are abundant:

• Insects
• Weed seeds and plant matter
• Seed bearing flowers
• Berries

Yes, until colder weather sets in and kills off birds’ natural food sources, feeding common backyard birds will only suit human pleasure.

Bird feeders are not vital to their life during the warmer, calmer part of fall. Sometimes, however, winter weather does begin in the latter half of autumn – particularly November.

I, myself begin feeding wild birds mid-late November.

-Craig

Technorati Tags: Fall Bird Feeding, wild birds