If I feed wild birds am I making them dependent on people?

The short answer is no. Let me explain. Birds have been surviving for millions of years before people started feeding them. They have evolved to always keep several feeding options open to them. In this way, if one or two sources of food disappears, they will not starve. When mother nature is providing an abundance of seeds and insects, your feeder will be only one of several places they will visit in the course of a week.

There are times when snow and ice cover up natural food sources, then your feeder probably helps some birds survive a long, cold winter night. For the most part though, people feed the birds because they enjoy watching them, not because the birds need our help to survive.

What happens if I'm away and my feeder is emptied?

If your feeder is empty while your away the birds that have been visiting your yard will find either natural food sources or another feeder to sustain them. When you return and refill your feeder the birds will discover within a few days that you're back in business.

Should I feed birds in the Spring and Summer?

Yes. Spring can be one of the hardest times for birds to find food. Insects have not yet become active and any remaining natural seeds will be soggy and spoiled. Spring is also the time of year when birds are mating and laying eggs. These activities require extra nutrition.

Late spring and early summer is when birds are feeding their newborn chicks. They will come to your feeders to satisfy their own needs, while bringing insects back for their young. By mid to late summer you should see adult birds bring their young to your feeders. This is one of the real treats for the avid bird feeder.

Finally, by feeding year round more birds will learn to visit your yard and you will see a wide array of species with each season.

Should I offer water?

Yes. A good way to attract more birds is by providing open water near the feeding stations. This is especially important in the winter when birds can have great difficulty finding water. Heating elements are available to keep water unfrozen. Do not use glycerin as it is toxic to birds. Also, try adding dripping or running water to make your bird bath even more attractive.

What about landscaping my yard to attract more birds?

In the wild, birds tend to frequent areas where open fields end and forests begin. Therefore they prefer lawns that are rimmed by shrubs and hedges. Evergreens, particularly cedar, are good for providing safety and shelter. Fruit-bearing trees or shrubs, particularly those that hold their fruits through the winter will help attract birds. Brush piles in your yard will provide places for birds to escape predators and harsh weather. Finally, remember that dead trees provide insects and nest building sites for many species of song birds.

What can I do to protect birds at my feeders from predatory hawks?

Offering cover for the song birds can help, particularly if your feeders are out in the open. A brush pile or discarded Christmas trees, placed near or directly under your feeders, will offer some cover and make it harder for predatory birds to capture the welcome visitors to your feeders. Sharp-shinned, Cooper's hawks and American Kestrels are the birds we see most often in the northeast. It is illegal to trap or kill these birds, as they are protected by law. Although it may be hard for some people, we should try to appreciate the beauty of these predators doing what comes naturally to them.

What to do about squirrels?

I probably get more questions about how to defeat these pesky rascals, than anything else. There are a few strategies that work. The first thing that you must realize is that squirrels can jump five or six feet vertically and about eight feet horizontally. They can climb up or down almost anything, and they have all day long to figure out how to get around the obstacles we put between them and the seed they love.

The first strategy is to prevent them from getting to the feeder. This can be done with a commercially available cone shaped baffle attached above a hanging feeder or below a pole mounted feeder. Also, PVC pipe can be used around the pole, or as the pole to prevent them from climbing. Remember to consider the location of the feeder and the eight foot horizontal leaping ability of the squirrel.

The second strategy is to buy a squirrel proof feeder. There are many on the market, but probably the most successful involve a cage around the feeder that allow smaller birds to eat but keep the larger squirrels out. They may still get a little seed out of these feeders by sticking their paws through the wire, but they do not destroy this type of feeder. It is the destruction of expensive feeders by these pests that most irritates the backyard bird feeder.

The third strategy is to offer food separately for the squirrels and chipmunks. This is the old "if you can't beat 'em, feed 'em" strategy. There are many seed mixes on the market, most involving corn, sunflower and nuts that will be readily eaten. At the New England Wild Bird Food Company we developed our NEWBird Battle's End Wildlife Blend for just this purpose. You can also offer inexpensive cracked corn or whole corn on the cob on feeders designed specifically for whole cobs. The problem with this strategy is you must always keep seed in these feeders, otherwise they will be after your bird feeders in very short notice.

Probably the best squirrel proof set up involves two or three of the above ideas. Good luck!