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Q: I recently purchased a bird feeder, and have yet to see any birds. What am I doing wrong? Is it out in the open too much?
You're not doing anything wrong. It takes time for birds to locate a "new" feeding source. A spate of bad weather always drives birds to concentrate at feeders. You may also wish to try putting your feeder farther out, and not so close to your house. Put it in a tree or near a tree that the birds regularly use. They may not see the feeder on your balcony.
Q: If I stop feeding the birds in my backyard, will they starve?
No. Birds are not totally reliant on the food offered at your feeding station. Birds have evolved over millions of years to be very mobile in their food-finding habits. Because they can fly, birds are very efficient at going to where the food is. Birds have wings and they tend to use them. Feeding stations have been linked to somewhat improved survival of birds in very harsh weather conditions.But overall bird feeding does not drastically affect the birds' survivability.
Q: Do birds that eat at feeders lose their ability to find food naturally? Do they become totally dependent on feeders as a food source?
No, the food most birds eat at feeding stations is only a portion of their overall diets. Birds are programmed by instinct to forage for food. And most seed-eating birds at your feeders during the winter switch to an insect-based diet when warm weather returns in the spring. Just because a new McDonald's opens in your neighborhood and you eat there a few times doesn't mean you'll lose the ability to go to the grocery store and cook meals at home. Well, at least it shouldn't.
Q: How do I keep the squirrels off of my bird feeders?
Baffling your feeders (preventing squirrels from gaining access to the feeders) is the best way. Feeders can be strung from a thin wire, far from any object from which the squirrels can leap. String the wire with empty 35mm film canisters (lids on) which will spin and dump the squirrels off. There are many squirrel-proof feeders on the market. These may give the squirrels a small electric shock, may prevent them from reaching the seed, or may rotate or bounce to dump the squirrels off. But be forewarned. Squirrels have been known to outsmart the most ingenious of the squirrel-proof inventions. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Feed squirrels some ears of dried corn, but place the corn away from your bird feeders. Given the choice, squirrels will always go for the easiest food, and they LOVE corn. For more information on feeding or defeating backyard squirrels, check out the BWD booklet Enjoying Squirrels More (or Less).
Q: How do I keep [choose one] house finches/blackbirds/pigeons/house sparrows from hogging all the seed at my feeders?
Chances are you are feeding some food that that species really loves to eat. Try eliminating mixed seed from your feeding operation. Blackbirds, sparrows,pigeons, and doves all relish mixed seed. Some feeder operators feed only black-oil sunflower to reduce the number of "unwanted" species at their feeders.
In the Southwest, however, mixed seed is a very important part of bird feeding, so like any tough decision, there are trade-offs.To discourage house finches, try eliminating platform feeders and ground feeding. Remove, or shorten, the perches on your tube feeders. House finches like to perch when eating. Goldfinches, nuthatches, chickadees, and other small feeder birds, can still get access to the seeds at tube feeders with short perches.
Q: What is the very best seed to offer to birds?
Black-oil sunflower seed is the most universally eaten seed at bird feeders. But there are many other seed and foods to offer to birds. What is most popular with your birds depends on where you live and what birds are present.
Q: What is the best feeder for bird feeding?
There is no single best feeder for bird feeding. A well-rounded feeding operation will include a platform feeder, a tube feeder, a hopper feeder, a suet feeder, and a peanut feeder. And don't forget the bird bath!