Bird Feeding Tips

The most important factor that will influence birds to your feeder is not what the feeder looks like but what you are feeding.  Birds are ingenious creatures and if there is food available to them, they can figure out how to get it.  Birds like nearby vegetation in proximity to their food source.  It allows them to carry off the seed to a selective perch and to consume that seed in comfort.  Vegetation is the key to attracting all types of birds and insects, butterflies and bees as well to your property on a year-round basis.

Seeds are just one component to the feeding program.  Nectar look-a-likes (for hummingbirds, and orioles) are also important considerations in the summer and suet during the winter months.

Never forget that water plays an important part of attracting birds.  Bird baths or deck ponds will add a variety of birds to your backyard viewing and will bring you hours of enjoyment.

Bird Feeding Preferences

Blue jay - shelled peanuts, shelled sunflower seeds, black oil or striped sunflower seeds
Chickadees - black oil or striped sunflower seeds
Cardinal - sunflower and safflower seeds
American Goldfinch - Niger and sunflower seeds
Purple Finch - all types of sunflower seeds
Mourning Dove - white, red proso or golden millet and sunflower seeds
Common Grackle - cracked corn, black oil or striped sunflower seeds
Evening Grosbeak - striped sunflower seeds
Song Sparrow - white and red proso millet