Do you like learning from other bird watchers and gardeners? Browse the archive of our bird feeding blog.

Bird Feeders and Fall Migration 2009

Fall migration in our area is always stretched out much longer than spring migration. Many birders are thinking ahead about the long winter months and making plans to enhance their landscapes for wildlife. Food and cover become even more important during winter. Insects disappear until spring. Bird feeders become busy centers of activity. As temperatures drop, we use our binoculars more and more to watch the action.

Think about your supplies ahead of time. Keep binoculars handy. You might wish to dedicate a spiral notebook to journaling your sightings. We usually keep a tiny recorder in a pocket for quick observations while working outside without access to pen and paper.

Design your landscape for viewing your bird feeders and water features. Kitchen windows, computer stations and porches make great bird watching zones because you are multi-tasking when your bird feeders are visible from these locations.

This is a great time to take a look at your landscape with "new eyes" and think about adding simple features to attract wildlife. Be sure to have a clean water supply for bathing and drinking. Wild birds like to have trees and shrubs near the bird feeders. We always have more hawks during migration and the birds will be more comfortable using feeders with escape plans near by.

Bird feeders will help you attract wild birds to your property but you'll want to create a wild bird habitat to keep the birds coming back. We can show you how to improve your landscape.

We sell bird feeders that are well designed and well tested. You can attract a wide variety of birds by offering the correct food from the correct feeders. Food, water, and shelter are vital if you wish to maintain a bird-friendly habitat.

Bird Feeder Placement - Keep your bird feeders beyond the reach of squirrels by combining feeder placement and baffles

11/23/07
Placement of your feeders can be important. If you are trying to keep squirrels away you want to avoid positioning feeders near other trees and fences which can provide jumping access. Try to find the most isolated spot and keep as much distance as possible. Squirrels can jump great distances especially from a higher position. Some squirrels can jump across to your bird feeders over a 7 - 10 foot span and they have a vertical leap of 5 - 6 feet. If you force the squirrels to approach from below or from a straight down position, squirrel baffles can keep your feeders protected.

Bird Feeder Placement - Keep escape routes open and avoid large windows

10/23/06
Wild birds will like bird feeders that are positioned to keep all escape routes open. Frightened birds will take flight at any sign of a threat. Windows will reflect the sky and birds may collide with the windows. We get about 200 goldfinches for the winter. They take off in a giant explosion of feathers. Such a large group of birds demonstrates the need for a 360-degree escape plan.

Attract More Wild Birds with more than bird feeders

3/13/06
By offering a wider selection of food items you can increase the variety of wild birds you will attract. Most folks think of sunflower seeds but there are other food choices such as safflower seeds, peanuts, suet, fruit, jelly, pellets, mealworms, niger seeds, millet and more. Don't forget to plant grasses, berries and fruits. Our winter visitors love the wax myrtles, hollies, beautyberries and grass seeds. We gather brush piles for communal roosting and protection from ever-present hawks

Hungry Hawks at Our Pond

Read about our hawks here

Where are my birds this Spring?

5/3/04
You might notice a decline of birds at your feeders during migration periods. After a long winter without insects, the cardinal males are busy feeding bright green caterpillars to female cardinals. Swallows are swooping insects on wing. Hummingbirds are hovering in mid air and gulping up a cloud of insects. Wrens pop up in unexpected places seeking spiders. Roadrunners are on safari in the tall grass. Spring temperatures allow for a greater variety food sources to the bird's diets. Your birds may not have relocated. They may just be busy taking advantage of the protein supplied by Mother Nature. Keep your bird feeders full because the birds will return to them. In the meanwhile, get out your binoculars and watch the action.

Do Rats Scream?

More About Owls

More About Bird Feeders

More About Bird Feeders

Blog Home | Hawks | Owls | Bird Feeders

---

Return to top of page

See our whole line of gifts for adults and children who enjoy the great outdoors!

Some Gifts
with Bird and
Wildlife Themes

All right reserved. BIRDS-N-GARDEN.COM -- Selling wild bird feeders online since 2002 - Austin, TX.

Thank you for shopping our favorite wild bird feeders!
Please contact us if you have any difficulty purchasing from our website.