Wow. Time flies. Ten years ago, I published a column on common bird-feeding mistakes. There are right ways to feed birds, and oh-so-many wrong ways. After a decade, I suspect we could all use a refresher. Here it comes again: my top 10 bird-feeding mistakes, slightly updated.
10. Placing feeders too far from bushes and trees
Different feeder birds have different foraging strategies. Goldfinches, pine siskins and redpolls will mob an exposed feeder, relying on their numbers to spot approaching danger. They have heavier bills, so they can sit on a feeder and chow down, while still keeping a watchful eye out for predators. Chickadees, titmice and nuthatches dash in for a seed, then retreat to safety before eating. They need to work harder to open a seed and prefer to do so in dense cover. Feeders that are placed too far from security are often ignored.
9. Placing feeders an improper distance from windows
If you’ve observed birds bashing into your windows, move the feeders farther from the house. Or closer. When feeders are very close to a window, birds can’t build up enough speed to injure themselves. If this doesn’t work, try other bird-protecting window treatments, too numerous to mention here.
8. Placing feeders near shrubs and dense plantings where cats can lurk
It’s not as big a problem in winter when the leaves are gone and there’s nowhere to hide. Still, outdoor cats are the number one cause of bird mortality. Don’t help them.
7. Cleaning feeders too infrequently
Under moist, warm conditions, seed rots. Hummingbird food ferments. Mold develops. Overheating is not a winter problem, but big flocks of birds pooping around a feeder can spread disease. My own feeders get a mild bleach bath at least once per season.
6. Storing seed improperly
I stockpile bulk seed in covered metal trash cans to keep it cool and dry, and to ward off rodents. Sunflower seeds usually store well. Nyjer seed, which small finches love, is more vulnerable to rot and fermentation over time. Nyjer is a thistle-like seed imported from Africa. When I see goldfinches ignoring it, I worry that it has spoiled. That’s an expensive mistake.
5. Offering too little food variety
Black oil sunflower seeds satisfy most feeder visitors. But other foods will attract specific birds. Goldfinches, siskins and redpolls relish Nyjer. Woodpeckers choose suet above all else, and other birds will nibble on it. Bluebirds gobble mealworms. Figure out what birds are in your neighborhood and cater to their preferences.
4. Offering too much food variety
Personally, I avoid seed mixes. My local birds will pick out the sunflower seeds and ignore the rest. Many mixes are designed for sale across the country. Some of that mixed seed appeals primarily to birds in western states. Eastern birds are pickier. Millet comes in several varieties, and some of it will only attract starlings, pigeons and house sparrows, which most people prefer not to entice into their backyards. Platform feeders are great for cardinals, but they also tempt swarms of doves, jays, and squirrels.
3. Making life too easy for ants and bees
Fortunately, it’s not a winter problem. Unfortunately, I usually forget to put insect guards on my hummingbird feeders in the spring, until I discover I’ve again made life too easy for ants and bees.
2. Making life too easy for bears
For now, I’ve given up bird-feeding except in winter. This disappointed my local bears, but it was the right thing to do. I could, of course, bring the feeders in at night. But I know I will forget. Sooner or later, the poles will be bent to the ground and the feeders torn apart. Again.
1. Making life too easy for squirrels
I try to compromise with squirrels. They can have whatever falls on the ground. They may traipse all over my porch. But they can’t be allowed to climb onto the feeder and “squirrel away” all the food. I draw the line there.
With baffles and special feeders, I can keep them out of the bird seed much of the time. But sometimes I’ve got more squirrels on my porch than there are cannabis shops in Maine. The battle never ends.
Some people don’t mind the squirrel surplus. They put out foods that squirrels prefer, perhaps luring them away from the bird feeders by offering something better. I’ve tried it before, and it sorta works. But, at the end of the day, I’m just not that kind-hearted.
