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When to feed birds? | What about Water? | Should I maintain a constant food source? | How will birds find my feeders? | How much will the birds eat? | What to feed insect and fruit eaters? | Do I need trees, shrubs and flowers? | Will birds' feet stick to metal perches in winter? | Why will birds not eat? | Will squirrels ruin my feeders? | How do I clean feeders? | What do I do about all the seed on the ground under the feeder? | How can I discourage bees and ants at hummingbird feeders? | Will suet go bad in the summer? | How can I prevent moths, worms and insects? | I see birds at my feeder, but they take a seed and fly away? | Why will cardinals not come to my feeders?

When To Feed birds?
It is best to provide food all year long. Especially important is February through August, when natural grasses and fruit-bearing trees are not mature and birds are nesting and producing young. During the winter months, it is often difficult for birds and wildlife to find adequate food sources.

What About Water?
Clean, fresh water should be provided at all times. During winter months, water sources are often frozen. A bird bath with a water heater will supply outdoor pets with needed water. During the summer, drinking and bathing water is important. City (tap) water often contains chemicals not part of nature. Using a nutritionally fortified wild bird food is recommended.

Should I Maintain A Constant Food Source?
Once you start providing food for outdoor pets, make sure to keep your feeders full. Birds will constantly return to full feeders.

How Will Birds Find My Feeders?
Birds find food by sight. Place feeders in easily seen areas. Be patient and the birds will come. To have many birds on a frequent basis can take a year or two depending on your geographical area and the migration patterns of the birds. Birds are constantly searching for food sources. If you don’t seem to be attracting birds, make sure you have the right food. If you purchase inexpensive mixes containing a lot of milo, millet and corn, you may not attract the more desirable songbirds. If you have a good food available, try tying a piece of tin foil on top of the feeder. A little glint from this foil will catch their eye.

How Much Will The Birds Eat?
Songbirds have a very high metabolic rate and a body temperature of 109 degrees. They need to eat constantly in order to store up energy for cold winter periods and need to eat frequently in summer months to burn off heat. Some birds will consume more than their body weight on a daily basis.

What To Feed Insect And Fruit Eaters?
During the winter months, birds such as woodpeckers, wrens, bluebirds and others have a more difficult time finding food sources. Providing wild bird food that contains nutmeats and real fruit (not just fruit flavor) is important. Because of the use of pesticides, birds in urban areas often have trouble finding insects.

Do I Need Trees, Shrubs and Flowers?
Many birds prefer to have cover from shrubs and trees. Cardinals, for example, prefer low, thick shrubs and will come to feeders that provide this cover. Flowers are important for attracting the nectar eaters such as orioles and hummingbirds.

Will Birds' Feet Stick To Metal Perches In Winter?
No. Birds have no sweat glands in their feet, so they will not stick to metal surfaces.

Why Will Birds Not Eat?

1. Replace the seed. Seeds with high oil content (sunflowers, safflower, nuts, Nyjer®) can go rancid if stored too long or stored in a hot warehouse. Make sure the store where you purchase your seed rotates inventory correctly and does not carry large amounts of seed over the hot summer months into the next year.
2. Check your feeder. It may be contaminated. Wash it thoroughly.
3. Check to make sure that your feeder is not easily accessible by predators such as cats. Birds will figure this out and avoid your feeder.
4. Examine your seed mixture. If you are attracting all the wrong birds, you are probably using the wrong seed mixture.
5. Feeder could be plugged due to wet clumping seed from rain.

Will Squirrels Ruin My Feeders?
No matter how hard you try, squirrels will come to bird feeders. If you use inexpensive plastic feeders, squirrels can damage these feeders. There are other feeders and baffles available that discourage squirrels. Remember that squirrels need food too and that is why they visit the feeders. Keep squirrel food in an area away from your bird feeders and often the squirrels will stay away.

How Do I Clean Feeders?
Thoroughly wash them with soap and water. It is best to also use a solution of 4 parts bleach to 1 part water to sterilize feeders. Clean frequently. Let feeders dry thoroughly before refilling to prevent mold growth.

What Do I Do About All The Seed On The Ground Under The Feeder?

1. Many seeds have hulls that the birds break open. They eat the meat out and then drop the hull. If you feed whole sunflowers, Nyjer®, safflower, etc. you will have hulls on the ground unless you use a catch tray under the feeder.
2. Check your seed mixture. If the mixture contains a lot of milo, millet or corn, many songbirds will simply drop this seed to the ground and search out the sunflowers and other desirable foods. To avoid this waste, use better mixes with less millet, milo and corn, or use a waste-free mix (i.e., Total Cuisine™ or Nut N' Berry®). In general, the less expensive the mix, the more waste you will have.

How Can I Discourage Bees and Ants At Hummingbird Feeders?

1. To avoid bees, purchase hummingbird feeders that have deep “bee proof” feeding holes. The bees will avoid these feeders.
2. To avoid ants, cover the top or hanging portion of the feeder with Vaseline. You can also purchase an ant-free attachment for your feeder.

Will Suet Go Bad In The Summer?
When you purchase suet make sure to purchase brands that indicate “all year” or brands that say “suet dough.” These usually do not get rancid or melt in summer heat.

How Can I Prevent Moths, Worms and Insects?
Indian meal moths and other insects lay their eggs in various seeds and grains. While they may not be appealing to you, these little insects and moths are harmless and are part of nature. In fact, many birds thrive on these small insects. If they are a bother to you, freeze your seed and they will disappear. To avoid having these moths and insects hatch, buy seed in smaller quantities so it will be used up faster.

I See Birds At My Feeder, But They Take A Seed and Fly Away?
Some birds, such as blue jays and nuthatches, take seeds from the feeder and then go to a different spot to crack open the seed and eat the kernel or hide seeds for later use. They will hide these seeds in cracks in trees and other places so they will have something to eat in the winter.

Why Will Cardinals Not Come To My Feeders?
Cardinals prefer to feed on the ground, from a platform feeder or a hopper feeder. A special cardinal feeder is available. Cardinals also prefer to have cover close by (shrubs, thickets, etc.) for protection. Seed types (sunflowers, safflower and fruit) are also important.

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