EVERYTHING WILD BIRD

Home of Treasure Valley No Sprout, No Filler Bird Seed

MIGRATION
Birds respond to the changes in weather, time of year, availability of food, and temperature in different ways. Many birds migrate to warmer climates and cover great distances to do so, like orioles, black-headed grosbeaks, and yellow headed black birds. Some are “altitudinal” migrants and move between higher and lower elevations like flickers and nuthatches. Some species are “interruptive” or “partial” migrants like gold finches, pine siskins, towhees, and red breasted nuthatches. They move within an area or region depending upon the availability of food. Seasonal movement depends on the weather and availability of food. Some birds just stay put all year long like house finches, chickadees, quail, and sparrows. Those that have a widely varied diet, eating insects in the summer and seed in the winter, have no need to move elsewhere. Long distance complete seasonal migration in and of itself is a hormonally driven, genetic instinct.

Whether they are moving through or make their home here year round, you can help make survival a little easier for the birds in the cold winter months. Winter weather makes finding food and water difficult……so, birds are attracted to the easiest source for a meal. November through March are critical months for the birds.

FOOD & WATER
It’s important to keep your feeders full of fresh foods that are high in energy and which can be accessed easily and safely. Offer foods for the variety of birds that are in your area. Black oil sunflower is a real favorite of most seed eating birds. Try sunflower that has been shelled and chipped. These are called medium chips and are relished by feeder birds and are very nutritious. Having no shell keeps down the mess and prevents sprouting in the spring. Feed Nyjer thistle for house finches, goldfinches and pine siskins. Offer millet for house sparrows, quail, doves, and juncos. Suet is great for woodpeckers and those needing some fatty fuel. Keep in mind that these are not rigid rules. Doves, quail, and juncos love to clean up under Nyjer feeders, sparrows will eat not just millet, but also sunflower, finely cracked corn, and shelled nuts. Gold finches love sunflower chips, too. Don’t forget the ducks! Ducks pretty much love all birdseed, period. Cracked corn and millet are excellent foods for them. Canola seeds, pumpkin seeds, and milo are used as poundage fillers, the song birds don’t eat them, and they are an absolute waste of your money. All birds require water for drinking and bathing. A heated water station is a very strong attractant and can bring birds to your yard that otherwise would not visit your feeders. Be sure your birdbath/bird water is shallow with good talon grip on the rim. Birds leaning over deep water to get a drink can fall in and drown any time of the year. Use medium sized rocks in your bird waterer to allow easier and safer access in deep bird baths.

FEEDERS
Trees and bushes lose their leaves and other warm weather flora dies, resulting in less protection for the birds. Try to position your feeders so that the birds have some cover nearby. Protection from predators is very important. Also, keep in mind protection from the rain, snow, and wind. Weather guards are available to shield the birds and food from the elements. If the amount of cover has decreased in the vicinity of your feeders, move the feeders closer to cover. You can also create cover by using branches stacked criss-cross on the ground or provide a discarded Christmas tree. Birds love brush piles that they can hide in.
Please remember… seed that has been wet for 4 or 5 days can begin to mold and potentially become unsafe for the birds to eat. Clean and wipe out your feeders more often during wet weather. Remove any crusty or caked food.
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? CALL US AT BIRDHOUSE & HABITAT 375-8051