Learn the Basics of Feeding Wild Birds

You can augment the food you supply to wild birds in your yard by planting trees and shrubs that provide good shelter and additional nutrition. Also consider providing the birds with a source of running water and with birdhouses to serve as nesting spaces. (Remember that birdhouses should always be pole-mounted to discourage predators.)

Commercial Bird Seed

While planting your yard in such a way as to attract a stable bird population serves a larger purpose, you'll still want to use commercial feed in some sort of bird feeder for a very selfish reason. By concentrating a food source in one location you'll have a better chance of actually watching the birds that live in your yard. The food you put out does not have to be elaborate and in fact can be chosen as a treat for the birds. Black sunflower seeds, for instance, will attract more than 44 varieties of birds and is often a central ingredient in the bulk birdseeds mixes sold in many pet stores.

In looking at commercial mixes, try to find one with a combination of grains most likely to be eaten by birds in your area. If birds don't like a mix they will pick out the parts they do enjoy and scatter the rest making a horrible mess. Before you start to feed wild birds, do some research on the species common to your region and on the kind of feeder they prefer. Some birds will come to a tray feeder while others want something on which to perch while they eat.

Feeding birds is not a problem if you know what the birds prefer. Gold finches and pine siskins for instance, like thistle and sunflower seeds. Quail and pheasants prefer cracked corn and millet as well as berries. Roadrunners feed on meat scraps and suet. Hummingbirds prefer plant nectar and insects but will take sugar water and commercial nectar. Robins, bluebirds and thrushes prefer suet, mealworms, and berries but will also eat bread products, raisins, currants and nuts.

Continue to : Hanging Bird Feeders and other Types of Feeders