Feeding wild birds can be a fun and rewarding experience for bird lovers. Not only can it help you attract a variety of beautiful bird species to your yard, but it can also provide birds with a reliable source of food, especially during harsh winter months or times when natural food sources may be scarce. Here’s a guide to what you can feed and attract to your yard to make it a bird-friendly oasis.
Seed Selection: Choosing the Right Mix
Choosing the right birdseed mix is essential to attract the types of birds you want to see in your yard. For example, sunflower seeds are popular among finches, chickadees, and nuthatches, while nyjer seed is attractive to goldfinches and pine siskins. Safflower seed is a good option if you want to discourage squirrels, as they are less likely to eat it. When selecting seed mixes, look for high-quality blends that are free of filler ingredients like wheat, corn, or oats, which can attract unwanted pests or provide little nutritional value for birds.
Nutritious Treats
Fruits, Nuts, and Mealworms: In addition to seeds, many bird species enjoy fruits like apples, bananas, and berries, as well as nuts like peanuts and walnuts. Mealworms are also a great source of protein for insect-eating birds like bluebirds, nuthatches, and wrens. When offering these treats, it’s important to avoid salted or flavored nuts, which can be harmful to birds, and to provide fresh, clean options that are free of mold or bacteria.
Suet
A High-Energy Food for Winter Months Suet is a high-energy food that can help birds survive the cold winter months when natural food sources may be scarce. Suet is made from animal fat and is typically offered in cake or ball form. You can also mix suet with other ingredients like seeds, nuts, or fruits to create a more varied diet for birds. It’s important to choose high-quality suet that is free of additives like cornmeal or molasses, which can attract unwanted pests.
Dietary Preferences of Common Bird Species: What to Feed to Attract Them to Your Yard
Different bird species have different dietary preferences, so the types of food you offer will depend on the types of birds you want to attract to your yard. It’s important to research the dietary preferences of the bird species you’re interested in and choose the appropriate food sources accordingly. This will help ensure that the birds are getting the nutrition they need and that you’re attracting the types of birds you want to see in your yard.
The following table highlights several common bird species and some of their preferred foods:
| Bird Species | Food Preference |
|---|---|
| Purple Finch | Sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, thistle seeds |
| House Sparrow | Millet, cracked corn, small seeds |
| American Goldfinch | Sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, thistle seeds |
| Blue Jay | Nuts, seeds, suet, insects |
| Cardinal | Sunflower seeds, safflower seeds |
| Mourning Dove | Cracked corn, millet, sunflower seeds |
| Bluebird | Mealworms, crickets, small insects |
| House Finch | Sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, thistle seeds |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Sunflower seeds, suet, insects |
Note: It’s important to research the specific dietary preferences of each bird species as some species may have more specialized diets or preferences.
Attracting Specific Bird Species: Tips and Tricks
If you’re looking to attract specific bird species that are native to your area to your yard, it’s important to do some research on their dietary preferences and habits. For example, hummingbirds are attracted to sweet nectar, while woodpeckers enjoy suet and nuts. You can also use bird feeders, birdbaths, and nesting boxes to create a welcoming environment for different bird species.
Quick Tricks and Tips for Attracting Wild Birds to Your Yard:
- Provide food and water
- Plant native vegetation
- Avoid using pesticides
- Create a nesting habitat
- Reduce predators
- Be patient
Best Practices for Feeding Wild Birds
Safety, Hygiene, and Environmental Considerations When feeding wild birds, it’s important to follow best practices to ensure the safety and well-being of both the birds and your local environment. This includes cleaning feeders regularly to prevent the spread of disease, avoiding overcrowding and providing ample space between feeders, and avoiding the use of pesticides or other harmful chemicals that could harm birds or their habitats. Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind that feeding wild birds should be viewed as a supplemental food source and not a substitute for natural food sources or conservation efforts.