Feeding Wild Birds
If
you have a bird feeder in your backyard, you're in good company. Bird
watching is one of America's fastest-growing hobbies, and surveys show
that nearly half the households in the United States provide food for
wild birds.
The appeal is obvious—by feeding birds we bring them close so we can
see them more easily. Their colorful, lively company brightens up our
lives, especially through the dreary days of winter.
Setting up a backyard bird feeder can make birds' lives easier, too. In
much of North America, winter is a difficult time for birds. Finding
food can be especially challenging during periods of extreme cold.
What should you serve your bird visitors for dinner? And how should you
serve it? The shelves of supermarkets, home and garden stores, and
speciality bird-feeding stores are stocked with bags, buckets, and
cakes of many food types, as well as numerous different feeders. You
may find the task of selecting the best foods and feeders a bit
daunting.
We'll describe the basic feeder types, their pluses and minuses, and
the types of birds they attract. We'll help you choose foods that the
birds you want to attract enjoy the most. You'll find out where in your
yard to position your feeder, and how to look after it, for the health
and safety of your birds. Finally we offer suggestions about dealing
with unwanted feeder visitors.
Follow the links below for details. And then sit back and enjoy the birds!
Feeder Types
Choose the feeder that's right for the birds you want to attract.
Choosing Bird Food
The best foods for the birds you want to invite to dinner.
Feeder Location
Where to put your bird feeder for the best results.
Feeder Maintenance
Taking care of your feeder.
Feeder Pests and Predators
How to deal with unwanted feeder visitors.
BirdNotes--Winter Bird Feeding
Download this popular tip sheet (PDF reader required.)