Originally aired during the week of November 17, 2003
Monday: Hey this is Neal, and I'm parked in front of the big screen here, eating
popcorn and thumbing through my Peterson's Guide to see what's on this morning. Let's see . . . blue jays at 10 . . . cardinals at 11 . . . and chickadees at
noon! OK, as you can tell I'm not sitting in front of the TV - I'm in front of my
picture window. I've just put my feeder out and I'm looking forward to a winter
of bird watching. Feeders need to be consistently filled throughout the winter,
and its best to make sure the feeder site is protected from winds and predators.
Open areas within about 10 feet of a bush or tree are ideal. To prevent birds
from crashing into window panes, hang strips of cloth or tinfoil on nearby
windows. Hey what's the cat doing in the picture? This is not supposed to be
part of the plot! Hold on while I change this channel - thanks for stopping by .
. . this is Neal thanks for your Minute!
One way to attract birds to your yard in the winter is to establish a
bird feeding station. Sorry, I didn't mean to get technical on you. I mean, you
can feed a variety of birds if you provide seed dispensers, suet containers and
ground feeders. The usual suspects showing up at feeders in New England are
Black-capped Chickadees, Mourning doves, Bluejays, White-breasted Nuthatches,
and Tufted Titmice. These birds will be happy feeding from seed feeders, suet
feeders, or on the ground. They are all fond of black-oil sunflower seeds, which
are fairly inexpensive. Suet, or beef fat, is popular among winter birds because
they need the long-term energy the fat provides. Different birds have different
diets. To see a variety of winged visitors this winter, be sure to provide
different foods for them to eat. Then, see who shows up for dinner!
Attracting birds, any birds, to your yard in winter can be pretty
easy. Setting up feeders that attract specific types of birds can take a little
more planning. Maybe you'd like to attract more colorful species of birds to
your yard, such as the Northern Cardinal, or the American Goldfinch. Besides
providing an area in your yard where birds feel safe feeding, it is important to
provide the type of food that your desired species likes to eat. So here's the
menu: Cardinals enjoy cracked wheat and sunflower seeds. To draw the American
Goldfinch near, try providing some thistle seeds and broken sunflower hearts.
You can buy all kinds of different birdseed mixtures, or create your own. Even
in winter, a birdbath can also be an important part of your sanctuary. Birds
still need to drink and bathe in the winter months. A heated birdbath is a good
idea around these parts.
As we well know, New England winters can be tough. Soon we'll be
shoveling our driveways or scraping snow off our cars. But for birds and other
wildlife, foraging for food can be a life or death matter. One way to make it
easy on our feathered friends is to set up bird feeders. A variety of food items
are a welcome treat including seeds, nuts, fruits and sources of fat, such as
suet. Those of us who feed birds in the winter are used to seeing Black-Capped
Chickadees, Bluejays, and White-breasted Nuthatches. How about attracting other
birds such as Dark-eyed Juncos and Downy Woodpeckers? Both of these bird species
will enjoy eating unsalted nutmeats, cracked-corn, and sunflower seeds. You can
make bird feeding a family project, too. Kids will enjoy spreading peanut butter
on a dried pinecone, then rolling it in birdseed. Hang it out at your bird
feeder and observe!
Feeding and watching birds can be an enjoyable winter activity. However,
bird feeders can attract more than birds. Squirrels can be pushy visitors. And
their table manners are atrocious! To keep squirrels away from your bird
feeders place the feeder at least 7-8 feet away from solid tree limbs, railings
or fences. To occupy hungry squirrels, try providing them with hard corn on the
cob away from your bird feeders. Four-legged pests aren't the only ones
disrupting the peaceful feeding of our small songbirds. Bluejays, pigeons, and
house sparrows can disturb smaller birds and knock valuable seeds on the ground.
To prevent disruption from these larger birds, provide ground or platform
feeders for them to feed from. For the best results with your feeders, provide a
variety of foods in addition to a water source. Then grab your binoculars, find
a comfy chair by the window and enjoy birdwatching!
