Spring Bird Feeding

SPRING BIRD FEEDING

This male cardinal has caught his own reflection in the camera.
Luckily this devoted father will continue to feed his young.

Almost all mating birds feed insects to their young because the high protein encourages rapid growth.

When winter ends, many winter bird enthusiasts rapidly take down their feeders.  They clean and store them until next winter. Their intentions are honorable.  These actions encourage wild birds to seek other sources of food and not become overly dependent on humans.

When he is ready to leave the nest in a few weeks this young sparrow
will be almost as big as his parents.

On the other hand, many other back yard birders continue to feed high protein foods to birds throughout the mating season. These include: black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts and suet*.  Apples are also valuable due to lack of other fruit naturally available.

Cardinals nest on the ground and in thickets making them easy prey
for cats and other predators  

While the parents incubate the clutch until they hatch, this nearby and available source of high protein food supplies dependable nourishment. This also remains true for the adults as they feed their hungry young.

After the nestlings have left the nest and become fledglings the adults often have only a few days to teach the young how to survive before they are left on their own. 

A chore from sunrise to nightfall, the parents devotion to their offspring has
ensured the survival of birds from the age of the dinosaurs.  

You will often see baby birds following the mother around, wings flapping, begging for food at feeders.

Some of the birds at this winter feeder were born the spring before.

This lesson is crucial for survival when winter comes in just six months.

These Hairy Woodpeckers are a common sight in the northeast
using backyard feeders all year long. 

Early in the season we get to comfortably watch birds close up as they perform their mating rituals. The female cardinal sings while the male feeds her, demonstrating he can be a good provider for their offspring which they will raise together. The male cardinal cares for the first brood while the female incubates their second clutch. During the summer the entire cardinal family will visit your garden.

Perhaps the favorite of all garden birds, it is easy to keep cardinals coming
to your garden. Gray striped and black oil sunflower seeds will do the trick. 

Generally, I let the wild bird seed run out so I don’t waste it, which is mainly millet and corn, low protein fillers for overwintering birds. Wild bird mix doesn’t store well over summer and can attract unwanted visitors or insects to your storage area.

Crows are so intelligent that the young need to stay with the parents for two years to
learn everything they need to know for survival. 

  

Additionally, water is essential. Many birds will come just for clean water. Wrens prefer running fountains while many others prefer still water that they can bathe in. I supply both. Keep your water clean for healthy birds and insect control.

A mother flicker (center) takes advantage of a bird bath to teach her young how to visit them.
For mosquito control empty and clean your bird baths a few times a week.

*Suet is made from fat which becomes rancid at high temperatures. 
If you have extra it can be frozen until next autumn.

Happy Spring,   

James