This issue has:

Hot Topic

Feeding hundreds of appreciative diners!

Tips for Successful Summer Bird Feeding

News & Reviews

Quips & Queries

Bird Bluff OR Bird Believable?

Wild Bird Ballyhoo

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Hot Topic

Have you ever dreamed of being a great chef, catering to the needs of many, if not hundreds, of appreciative diners?

But, then you stopped and said, “Whoa, that would be just too much work!”

If I could show you a way to make this happen, would you be interested?

Of course, I am talking about setting the table for wild birds in your backyard. You may not wish to feed hundreds at ONE time, but you can learn to attract hundreds OVER time. The result will be hours of fun for you and your whole family!

Let’s have a look at some of the methods to accomplish this task.

There are many ways to set the table for wild birds. Some wild bird dishes are not suitable for all seasons, but a great variety of selection is always possible.

There are as many types of feeders as there are restaurants for humans. You can go for the fancy and whimsical, or just simply functional.

You might want to attract only the exotic or simply provide a fast and friendly source of food for all our feathered friends.

No matter what your motive, bird feeders can add color and activity to your backyard. They will provide you and your family with hours of relaxing entertainment. You might even learn some things about wild bird behaviour while you are being entertained.

People, who live in areas where birds migrate to warmer climates to avoid the colder winter temperatures, often believe they should only feed wild birds during the colder season. It has been a tradition for many people to put out bird feeders in November and take them in again when the birds begin to return in the spring. (I discussed last month why feeding wild birds in the spring can be very beneficial to them and for us.)

But bird watchers are missing out by not summer wild bird feeding. This is where the great opportunity to feed hundreds, presents itself. And here is why:

1. There is a greater variety of species during the warmer summer months. Attracting wild birds to feeders provides the opportunity to see species that would be missed during the winter season. Bird feeders, bird houses and bird baths help to bring birds within viewing range and there are so many more around at this time of year.

2. The number of wild birds in each species in summer is far greater too, making it easier to attract wild birds to our backyards.

3. Mating, nest building and rearing of the young all take place in the warmer months. Very interesting behaviour can be observed at this time of the year and will not be as easily seen without bird feeders, bird houses and bird baths.

4. It is much easier and far more pleasant looking after feeders in the warm summer months!

I hope these suggestions help to provide an answer to those who have held a secret desire to feed throngs of birds! If you have any more questions about summer bird feeding you can find the answers here.

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Tips for Successful Summer Bird Feeding

• Use several different types of feeders.

• Use tube feeders for small birds, one to hold nyjer seed and one for selected mixed seed.

• Use summer suet to assist the parent birds with high energy food for themselves and their young.

• Use a hopper style bird feeder and a platform feeder.

• Put out a bird bath with a dripper or mister. This will attract birds that normally do not come to seed feeders, like Warblers, Tanagers and Robins. The action in the water will keep mosquito larvae from hatching too. This will help in the prevention of West Nile disease.

• Mealworm feeders will attract Bluebirds and other insect eating wild birds.

• Provide bird houses for specific species which live in your area and 20 to 30 feet away from bird feeders.

• Keep your bird feeders and bird baths clean. (Cleaning tips.)

• By putting out two Hummingbird feeders and/or an Oriole feeder, more peaceful Hummingbird behaviour will abound in your yard!

• Fruit and jelly feeders will also attract Orioles, Tanagers and other fruit eaters.

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News & Reviews

• June is Dad’s month and we want to help you show him how much he is appreciated by giving him a gift that will remind him of your love all year. Have a look at what Duncraft has to offer for high quality bird feeders and accessories. Here is a link to their site from our site for your convenience.

• We have new pages on our site!

  Bird Baths and Other Bird Bathing Habits
  
  Enhancing Bird Gardens with Bird Baths
  
  A Bird Guide to Bird Baths: Care and Cleaning
  
  The Number One Backyard Bird Predators Are …?
  
  Gourd Houses are Number One with Wild Birds
  
  

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Quips and Queries

Q: Why do people put up Purple Martin Houses?

A: People in the warm weather across North America are plagued by mosquitoes, black flies and other annoying, biting, flying insects. Purple Martins eat primarily mosquitoes, flies of all kinds (including black flies, house flies, deer flies and many other types) beetles, june bugs (I am fascinated by bugs, almost as much as I am by wild birds, but not June bugs!), bees, wasps, flying ants and the list goes on. And being social creatures, Purple Martins like to raise their baby birds in colonies. So it is possible to erect one Purple Martin House and have dozens of bug destroyers right in your yard. No chemicals, or other environmentally destructive means and labour un-intensive, method of reducing your pest level. How good is that?!

If you have a question or comment, click here. If you don’t want your name listed with the question you ask, we won’t include it. We always ask permission first.

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Bird Bluff OR Bird Believable?

TRUE or FALSE:

Besides eating voluminous amounts of bugs Purple Martins also drive off vultures, small hawks and crows.

(You will find the answer in the red and yellow box at the bottom of this e-zine.)

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Wild Bird Ballyhoo

In the July 2007 issue =>

• We’ll be covering a “snagging” situation!

• Can you keep your bird feeders clean and still have time to enjoy them? We’ll show you how!

In the August 2007 issue =>

• Wild Bird Diet 101

• When Bats in Your Belfry are a Good Thing

Our store will be opening soon!

It’s looking very good for the opening of our own Wild Bird Store! Just a few more “twigs and moss” to place in just the right spots and we’ll be good to go. Hope you will drop by often to browse the impressive selection we will be offering.

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We really hope that you’ve enjoyed reading this newsletter, even half as much as we enjoyed preparing it!

… and that’s "The Scoop" for now!

Judy

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