Attracting Birds by using Birdfeeders
Having long, cylindrical feeders with many feeding ports are preferred by many small birds, quick birds like the Chickadee like to get their seeds easily & fast. A rounded feeder is preferred by small to medium birds like Cardinal. A small feeder is good for small birds. A large feeding dish or tray with a steel cage (squirrel proof) attracts larger, ground feeding birds like Doves, Blue Jays, Grackles & others. A red or colourful feeder with decorative flower petals will attract humming birds. Placing oranges or having fruit trees will attract fruit loving birds such as the Oriole.
Attracting Birds by using Birdseed & Fountains
Bird fountains are a must for any bird-lover, they can attract birds that may not like birdseed at at! Fountains with running water are more appealing. Mixed year round bird seed is very common & easy to get. It will attract the largest diversity of birds. Black oil sunflower seed (also called nyger seed) are preferred for Chickadee’s, Titmice, Goldfinches, Cardinal, Nuthatches & others. Thistle is preferred by many song birds. Honey, sugar water or a humming bird feed attracts humming birds like the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. Having apple or pear trees will attract many fruit loving birds like the Oriole. Suit is also a great feed, they have suit feed for different types of birds. Personally, I use the woodpecker mixture & it is well loved by my woodpeckers, Starlings & Nuthatches. Corn is well loved by doves.
Attracting Birds without the Squirrels
If you only want to attract birds then I’d suggest squirrel-proofing your bird-feeders & bird houses. To squirrel proof bird-feeders, you can: have a pole mounted feeder or a shepherds hook hanging feeder pole & placing the correct sized squirrel baffle at the mid-way point of the pole. This can also work for a pole mounted birdhouse. You can have a squirrel proof bird-feeder- they have a steel cage wrapped around it. There’s also ones that have Fancy motors that swing the squirrel off. Or weight-triggered bird-feeders that when a squirrel jumps on the door shuts & when the squirrel jumps off the door opens. It’s a good idea to squirrel proof your bird houses because they do eat bird eggs & chicks & they can tear apart a bird house with ease- if it’s made of wood.
Attracting Birds: the Raptors Arrive
Having many different types of birds in your yard will eventually attracts raptors- birds of prey. I have a frequent visitor here called a Sharp Shinned Hawk who comes around trying to catch it’s next meal. There are many Red Tailed Hawks that live in the nearby woods by the lake & an occasional Bald Eagle is sighted. There’s really nothing you can do to shoo away a bird of prey.
