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Bird
feeding provides enjoyment to millions of North Americans each
year. When proper feeding methods are followed, both humans and
birds derive benefits from feeders. However, recent research on
the impact of bird feeding has shown that feeders can sometimes
be a source of disease for the birds visiting them. There is good
news, too: With minimal effort, any feeder operator in North America
can provide a safe, healthy feeding station for birds. The following
information, compiled by the editors at Bird Watcher's Digest,
offers useful tips and techniques for maximizing your bird-feeding
enjoyment. |
Tips for a Healthy
Feeding Station
- Give your seed feeders (especially
thistle and tube feeders) a shake before you refill them, to
dislodge any compacted seed. Dump out any wet clumps of old
seed. Clean all hulls off platform feeders and out of seed trays
daily.
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- Keep some old spatulas and brushes
handy by the feeding station for cleaning purposes.
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- Disinfect feeders by scrubbing
with a weak bleach solution (1/4 cup of bleach to 2 gallons
of warm water) every few weeks, more often in summer or rainy
periods. Rinse and allow feeders to dry before refilling.
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- Wash your hands thoroughly after
filling or cleaning your feeders.
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- Store your seed in a clean,
dry, air-tight container, such as a metal or plastic garbage
can.
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- Don't allow large amounts of
seed to become wet, as on platform feeders. Instead, when it's
wet outside, feed primarily from covered feeders that will keep
seed dry, or put out only a handful of seed at a time on platforms.
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- Don't put hulled sunflower hearts
(or bits) out where wet weather can cause them to spoil. Offer
them in a tube or hopper feeder.
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- If you see a sick or dead bird
at your feeders, halt your feeding for a few weeks to allow
the healthy birds to disperse. This lessens the possibility
of disease transmission. Remove and discard in the trash any
dead birds. Report the sick birds to your local wildlife officials,
many of whom monitor wildlife health.
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- If you provide suet, reduce
the amount you offer in hot weather. Heat can make suet rancid
and unhealthy for birds. Runny suet can also stick to birds'
feathers, making them hard to keep clean and useful. Use rendered
suet or heat-resilient suet blocks that are available commercially.
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- Reduce window-kills of birds
by placing feeders a safe distance away. If birds regularly
strike a particular window place a screen, crop netting, or
a series of branches over or in front of the outside glass panel
to break up the reflection.
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- Though birds may not be entirely
dependent on your feeder, it's best not to leave them totally
without food if you plan to be away from home in mid-winter.
Purchase an oversized feeder with a large seed capacity, or
ask a willing neighbor to continue feeding your birds.
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- Don't discontinue feeding as
soon as the grass greens and the weather warms in spring. Many
birds will continue coming to your feeders all summer long.
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- Don't use grease, oil, petroleum
jelly, or similar substances on your feeder poles or wires to
thwart squirrels, ants, or other feeder-raiding creatures. If
these substances come into contact with bird feathers they are
impossible for the bird to preen or wash out. Gooey feathers
can become useless for flight or insulation, thus putting the
birds at risk to predators, extreme weather, and disease. For
squirrels and other mammals, use a pole-mounted baffle (many
are sold commercially). For ants, use an ant guard that prevents
ants from reaching the feeder. Both baffles and ant guards are
available on the Internet, by mail-order, or in retail stores
that sell an extensive array of backyard products.
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Hummingbird Feeding Tips
- Don't use hummingbird feeders
that are difficult to clean or have many small parts.
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- Do wash your hummingbird feeders
thoroughly with hot, soapy water, and rinse completely, every
time you refill them.
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- Don't allow molds or yeasts
to grow in your hummingbird feeders. When these appear, empty
and scrub feeders immediately.
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- When making hummingbird nectar,
blend water and white table sugar in a 4 to 1 ratio (4 parts
water to 1 part sugar). Add the sugar to boiling water. Bring
the mixture to a boil again while stirring to dissolve the sugar,
then let cool.
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- Don't use insecticides, such
as wasp killers, anywhere near bird feeders, especially hummingbird
feeders.
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- Don't use anything but white,
granulated table sugar. No powdered or brown sugar, honey, molasses,
red-food coloring, artificial sweeteners or nutrients should
be used.
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Tips for a Healthy
Bird Bath
- Don't situate bird baths under
feeders or perches, where droppings can fall into them.
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- Rinse and scrub birdbaths daily
in summer, or whenever they become fouled with bird droppings.
Once a month, scrub out with a light bleach solution (1/4 cup
of bleach in 2 gallons of water), rinse thoroughly and refill.
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Thanks to our friends at Bird Watcher's
Digest for the reprint of this information. Visit them on the web at
www.birdwatchersdigest.com
or call 800-879-2473.
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