Building
Bird Feeders
Site
Surveying
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Set out
birdfeeders and poles in fall, with an eye for a
safe spot in the yard. Situate poles where the
sun shines in the morning (a bird's preferred
dining time) and hang tree feeders on thinner
tree branches inaccessible to thieving squirrels.
Feeders hung at different heights will draw more
varied birds. Base your feeding stations away
from potential cat hide-outs in undergrowth and
at least 10 ft. from windows, to avoid avian
smashups
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Festoon outdoor evergreen garlands with pieces of
fruit and strings of cranberries or raisins and
add on a birdseed wreath for good measure. Your
faded Christmas tree can come back to life as a
post-holiday birdfeeder studded with tasty treats
including popcorn, nuts, fruit and suet.
By Kathy Pyle
Photograph by Peter Krumhard
Winter is for the birds! Time for
project:
1 hr. for feeder setup, 1 hr. weekly
for refilling feeders and birdbath, cleaning
feeders
Materials list:
• one basic
birdfeeder
• tubular feeder
• suet holder |
•
sunflower seed, suet cakes, and thistle
seed
• a thawed source of water
• birdfeeder brush
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Winter
gardens take wing when they're well
supplied with what birds need. As the
first snow flurries fly and the soil
freezes into a Popsicle, remember to
stock up for your feathered friends. Hang
a variety of birdfeeders and watch those
bare branches blossom with visitors. Most
birds flock to feeders when they know
food is available in a safe place.
Nature's supply of
bird food - berries, insects and flower
seed - dwindles in late fall. (Crabapples
are the dietary last resort for many
birds.) When the leaves fall, it's time
to beckon the birds with birdseed, suet
and fruit. A variety of feeders prevents
a one-species monopoly of jays, starlings
or sparrows. You'll be most successful
recruiting hungry birds if you start with
a few classic feeders. Then, as you get
to know the winter sojourners in your
area, add on bells and whistles to
attract more exotic species.
Kid-friendly:
Yes! Part of the beauty of
this feeding the birds is that anyone can
handle it.
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Tips for the Birds:
Sunflower savvy
 
Any well-stocked larder includes a large, sturdy
sunflower feeder
Birdseed Wreath
Bird Feeder, Magnum Sunflower Feeder
filled just with sunflower seed. The
one-seed specialty prevents messy seed picking and
dropping that occurs when larger birds peck through a mix
in search of sunflowers.
For feathered Pavarotti's
If you're in the mood for a little music,
include a tubular feeder
The
Droll Yankees Classic Tubular Mini Feeder
in your repertoire to attract songbirds such
as finches, nuthatches and chickadees. Draw a greater
variety of birds to tubular feeders by filling them with
a birdseed "lasagna" (layers of different
seeds). Goldfinches also flock to a feeder stocked with
thistle seed. This oil-rich birdseed is harvested from a
sunflower relative known as niger.
For fat and sassy
Suet (beef fat) supplies the soft-food
eaters of the bird world with cold-weather fuel.
Woodpeckers and other birds dive into the suet feeder
Bird
Feeder, The Nuttery Hanging Suet Basket
from fall through early spring . Please stand at the
table
Open feeding platforms
Bird Feeder, Platform Feeder with Legs
entice a wider diversity of birds that can't
get a grip on rod-type perches. Offer seedy spreads here
to bigger birds.
Salad bowl for the birds
In winter, put out fruit (halved oranges, raisins,
cranberries, currants and apple slices) in bowl feeders.
The Droll Yankees Seed Saver Feeder
They also come in handy for dishing up
mealworms for bluebirds and crumbs or suet. Soak dried
fruit in water first to soften it.
Water world
As the ground freezes and heavier snowfalls occur,
birds work harder to melt snow for drinking and preening
(necessary to insulate their feathers). Keep your
birdbath Birdbath, Rustic thawed and ready with a special
bird bath heater. If an extension cord is needed to
supply electrical juice, use a heavy-duty utility cord.
Weekly Feeder Check:
Once weekly in winter, check seed levels in
all feeders, add fresh water to bird baths, and brush off
seed trays and tables to prevent spread of bird viruses.
Anti-squirrel security devices keep out greedy squirrels
with a squirrel guard
The
Droll Yankees Squirrel Guard
or bafflers
Squirrel Baffler
mounted on your feeder pole . Squirrels can
be sidetracked if you provide a feeder box just for them
Squirrel
Feeder, Squirrel Feed Box
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