Bird Food

[TomTelford]

Just wondering what everyone is using to attract birds.  I've got two seed feeders with Bragg's custom mix (heavy on the sunflower seeds) and I'm just about to put up some hummingbird feeders.  I had some suet feeders out this winter but only the deer seemed interested.

We are a crop farm surrounded by mixed woodland so there should be no shortage of nesting opportunities.  I was thinking about putting up some nesting boxes but am I'm not sure what I want to attract.

Any thoughts or success stories?

Tom.

[Faltorvo]

I have a niger feeder , 2 feeders with nothing but mixed sunflower seeds, 2 suit cages (both still very active.

If you got your suit at Canadian tire, that might be part of the problem, I don't know if there suppliers is from china or not but the birds seemed to hate it.

MY suit feeders and my sisters had very little action  in Jan, we both got ours from C tire.

I replaced mine from a different supplier and my birds were back in a day on the suit, she did the same, with the same results.

A little trick for your hummer feeder. If you have the style of hummer feeder that has the yellow, thimble sized caged insert, that goes inside the flower shaped piece, take one of the yellow inserts out and you now have a duel feeder. Hummers and Baltimore orioles can now use it.

[TomTelford]

Thanks for the Oriole Feeder mod....

Tom

[Halton Hills]

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Just be aware that you've now turned your Humming Bird feeder into a wasp feeder as well  :wink: (though I do it too.....lol)

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As far as the bird box goes......I've had good luck with mine over the years as the Tree Swallows seem to love it.

It was very exciting when an Eastern Bluebird had staked it out for several weeks in the early spring.

But, sadly, he was promptly evicted the day the Swallows showed up (not that I'm complaining)

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I used some old barn board to build it. The floor space is 4" x 4"......the height (front wall) is about 12"

The hole is 8" from the bottom and is 1.5" in diameter.......I also added a doubler to make the hole deeper (keeps the Raccoons at bay)

As well, I like to put a steel ring around the hole to stop any squirrels from chewing their way in.

There are some ventilation holes on the side near the top and I knotched the floor corners to provide some drainage.

And, most importantly, DO NOT install a perch.

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I'm also am a big fan of the basic Robin shelf. It's roughly 6" to 8" square and mounted on an oustide wall about 12" below the soffet (at least 4 ft. from a corner)

The norm is 3 clutches per season......and it's pretty much predator proof.

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All photos are from today  

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[JimmyM]

I'm using 3 tube type feeders  during the spring to fall months and the box style (2) during the winter. The straight black oil sunflower seems to get the most action and from all birds , Rose Breasted Grosbeaks , Goldfinches , House Finches , RW Blackbirds , Chickadees , Grackles, Red Cardinals , Bluejays and others including a Yellow Headed Blackbird . I bought the Scott's ( in a pinch ) from CTC - it is way too pricey but seems very attractive to the birds. . Ren's sells it for $30/ 50lbs . In the second feeder I use the cheapee CTC mixed seed and  the feeder gets emptied in about 2 hours - most of it scattered on the lawn by grackles , however, everything gets completely eaten from the ground by most of the above mentioned birds and a few squirrels which probably take most of the corn . 1 nyger feeder gets most of the Goldfinch action with sometimes as many as 8-10 taking turns.
I also have 2 bird baths / water feeders with 1 set up about 4 feet from ground level and another above 1 foot up and these get constant attention . The higher mostly and it needs cleanning and a refill daily . A Robin empties about half of the water every afternoon and and I find droppings and lots of sunflower seed shells in it.
 Have 2 Hummingbird feeders set up. 1 with wasp guards and this one is getting nothing so far. The feeder with no guards has been getting constant hummer visits for about a week , no Orioles yet.

Halton Hills - the 2 bird houses look great . Will build and set up a Robin platform this week. Thanks for the design photos !  
Regards,
Jim

[TomTelford]

Great stuff!

I don't think I have to attract robins but I'd love to have some swallows around.  I'm thinking they'd sit nicely ontop of the 4"x4" posts of our north fence.

I've set up a number of wasp traps around the house as they are bad here.  The area around the house is entirely gardens so wasps will come anyway.  Actually I've had problems with them trying to nest inside the feeders...   :x

Thanks again.

Tom.

[KGJ]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum. I have relatively little expertise in birding, however, I'd liike to develop it. Is there a difference in quality of Niger seed? I have a finch feeder and got my seed from a local chain store. However, very few finches come to visit.
Karma

[JimmyM]

A couple of ideas that might help attract goldfinches

- if you have had some birds to your feeder but no lingering feeding or apparent revisits , it may be a seed problem and trying new seed could fix it.
- if you are seeing no goldfinches , it could be that they are being well fed elsewhere or maybe there are few in your area . Try relocating your feeder .
- a water source such as a bird bath or some other stable shallow bowl , located in the vicinity your feeder can also help keep the birds coming . Baths should be maintained to prevent  possible mosquito breeding .
- keeping on trying. It may take a while to get them coming .
Good luck!
Jim

[Pat Hodgson]

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As far as the bird box goes......I've had good luck with mine over the years as the Tree Swallows seem to love it.

It was very exciting when an Eastern Bluebird had staked it out for several weeks in the early spring.

But, sadly, he was promptly evicted the day the Swallows showed up (not that I'm complaining)
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This is why the recommendation is to put up 2 bird houses 10-15' apart.  One set of tree swallows will tolerate bluebirds in the 2nd box but will chase away a 2nd set of tree swallows.

[Halton Hills]

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2nd box has been in place for a couple of years now...... :wink:

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