Feeders bring nature to your window

10 years ago

    HOULTON, Maine — Feeding wild birds can be both therapeutic and relaxing for many individuals as the gentle sounds of a songbird chirping a melody is one of the finer sounds in nature.


People can enjoy the up close and personal sights and sounds of birds with minimal effort and cost. For some, simply throwing some sunflower seeds or tossing a few breadcrumbs on the lawn will suffice. For others, hanging a variety of bird feeders in a nearby tree or mounting them on a pole or attaching them to a window works.
Kathy Wiggins, an employee of Aroostook Milling in Houlton, offers the following advice for those looking to get started with feeding birds.
“You’ll have a better chance of attracting a wide variety of birds if you choose a quality bird feeder and fill it with the seeds loved by different species,” she said. “In this area, there are lots of chickadees, goldfinches, redpolls, sparrows, blue jays and mourning doves. People have told me there are cardinals too, but I have not been lucky enough to see any.”
Although most birds aren’t picky, choosing a seed they are fond of helps guarantee a better turnout at your feeder. Putting a mixture of seeds into a feeder also increases the chances of getting greater variety of birds, she said.
Black oil sunflower seed is the most common type of food and is popular with chickadees, grosbeaks, cardinals, but that is not the only choice. Thistle and nyjer seeds are also popular and are the favorite seed of finches. Peanuts are another popular choice.
Those who are looking to get a specialized mixture of food can do so at Aroostook Milling as the company not only sells the popular Blue Seal and Nature’s Choice varieties, but also sells mixed seed by the pound.
Hummingbird feeders typically can be placed starting May 15, Wiggins said. There are commercially made nectar products out there for these feeders. However, simply mixing a batch of sugar and water will suffice. It can also be tinted with food coloring to easily see how much has been depleted.
Location of feeders is not as tricky as one would think. Simply place the feeder where it can be viewed easily and is also easy to access for refilling. However, for the best success hang feeders by nearby trees or shrubbery so that the birds will have a quick place to retreat to if they feel threatened.
Feeders come in freestanding, pole-mounted and hanging varieties. In extremely windy areas, consider a sheltered location for your feeder.
Keep in mind that birds will not be the only animals attracted to the feeder. Squirrels are notorious pillagers, as are raccoons and even rats, especially if seed is knocked over onto the ground and not cleaned up promptly. Squirrels are particularly dexterous and can scale bird feeder poles and raid the easy loot. There are bird feeders available that feature a cone-shaped shield with an 18-inch radius on the post below the feeder (at least four feet above the ground), which are geared toward stopping pests in their tracks.
As your backyard expands, consider adding more feeders of different sizes and even nesting containers and birdbaths to attract even more winged companions.