Bird Feeding Greetings FAQ
Common questions people wanted
to know about. Here are some Facts.
How do you discourage unwanted birds
using bird houses ment for a special bird?
For
small birds the entrance hole size minimal. More bird houses the more
choices for your special bird. Usually the birds will use non man made
homes. And will be safer anyway. Bird houses stand out more to
predators sometimes.
How do you get
rid of black birds raiding the bird feeder?
First
if you don't want birds don't put out seed for them. You can chase them
away everytime you see them. Get a feeder that is hard for them to hang
on to like the tube type.
I
have a mourning dove nesting on top of my front porch light, it is a
tubular light and perfect for her to nest. How long do these birds
nest?
She NEVER leaves the nest. We are
very careful not to use the
front door, let mom do her thing.
Doves and most
birds of similar size take about apprx. 3 weeks total use of the nest
before the little ones want to get out and fly. Most nesting mother
birds are on the nest more than off. They are fed sometimes by the
mates or get off a short time to look for food when weather conditions
are good. Birds fear predators more than people and most likely build
nest in high traffic areas.
I find dead birds in my bird feeder
or laying nearby. What's happening to them?
Sometimes
caused by old age or illness or poisoning. One once in a while may be
natural but many at a time is an epidemic. Bird seed has expiration
dates. Seed containing corn can spoil faster. Sometimes accidently seed
is packaged that had been tainted with insecticide. If you want to know
exactly what the bird died of take it to the wildlife organization in
your area for testing if you are loosing too many birds. West Nile
Virus and Rabies are some causes.
When do Hummingbirds migrate?
Hummingbirds
are going to start migration now (Aug, Sept) to the south from Northern
regions of United States. The flowers will start going to seed and that
tells the hummers it time to move on to better feeding grounds.
When should I stop feeding the
hummingbirds in Oklahoma?
By the first frost anywhere you live
you may not see a hummingbird, you'll know to take down the feeder.
Could be a life saver for a lone migrator up to a snow flurry. Nature
is always changing the climate. Hummingbirds have a clock telling them
to go and the chill is in the air.
What can I do
to keep cats away from the birds in my yard?
First
to notify the cat's owner of the problem. If they don't help or its a
stray, you may have to trap or capture the cat and take it to Angels
for Animals or the Humanes Society. Anyone who lets pets roam to
uninvited areas needs to be educated. Otherwise you may have to keep
chasing it out. Keep feeders and water so the birds can view what's
coming at them. See more on the links page about CATS here.
What do birds eat?
Depending on what type of bird birds eat a
various menu including seed, insects, fruit, nuts, and other animals
Check the
Bird Food Chart page and the
hummingbird food page and in the
Predator page.
Do you have a
recipe for Oriole food mix? I know the Hummingbird mix--is it the same
for Orioles?
Recomendation
for fruit and bug eating birds. Plant trees and bushes in your yard
that bare fruit. Check for the types of plants that are native in your
area. DON'T USE: ornamental plants. USE Example: Cherry, Peach,
Apricot, Apple, Sugar Maple trees, (woodpeckers will drill and the sap
of the tree comes out for others to eat as the winter thaw starts. Also
bugs are drawn to the sweets). All types of berry bushes and grapes,
nut trees and flowers that produce plenty of nectar. Some feed stores
have pre mixed seeds of dried fruits especially for certain birds like
the Oriole. Have suet available for lack of insects in the winter.
Orioles will eat sugar water ment for hummingbirds too.
How do I help a baby bird?
Check out Bird Feeding greetings links page
under medical
Wild
Bird Links
What's a bird count?
This
is a bi annual day when birders go out in the woods or your own
backyard and talley a list of birds you identify in the same hours all
over the country. Then you send in your findings to the organization
and they add them all up. It's the census of the population of birds
per year. Spring (MAY) and Winter (December).
What
plants should be in my yard for the birds?
Use
mostly native plant of your area. Trees and shrubs that produce fruits
Stay away from ornament type or poisonous varieties. Evergreen types
are good for protection in winter. Don't use insecticides the birds
will eat the bugs.
What's a bird count?
Worthy commment from Barbara of
New York
We need help for our
devastated birdlife!!
The missing birds are ducks, easily recognizable to regulars here, they
have
been in great decline. The other missing birds are every species
imaginable, from orioles to blue jays to the woodpeckers to the
cardinals
and the small herons. We for decades have had incredible numbers of
ducklings hatched, this is the first year (last year only four) this
year we
have none.
Yet at the same time, the abundance of the hawk families is stunning!
Even today you hear the young falcons calling for food and see the
adults
everywhere. These have been steadily increasing in variety and numbers
over the past 5 years. We have only a small greenspace with lake and
pond,
but even along the Bronx River I see predator birds in trees alongside
the
streams, I particularly am alarmed as ducks were so abundant there
also.
Perhaps this is local issue, but our smaller birds, ducks and mammals
have
been decimated. I cannot help but wonder, as an interested long time
observer of species and habitat and particularly the incredibly growing
numbers of hawks falcons kestrels etc what the future of our pressured
smaller creatures will be down the road.
The predator birds have nothing to fear, they do not flee human
presence.
If those who care for the survival of lesser birdlife are not concerned
this soon will be evidenced elsewhere, for once species here have gone
they will move on as the bird virus, destroying everywhere at the same
time
creatures are struggling to survive.
I share your concern. There is a
faulty balance of nature. Rehabilitation of raptors and placing them in
the city to check the population of pigeons and no predator to keep
them in check. My observation is that when an animal is dying out of an
area it isn't suitable to live in anymore. Same concern in wilderness
areas over hunting and then the safe areas for animals are out of
control. West Nile Virus in mosquitos is threating to all. Pollution
another factor. You've heard of the story of using the canary in the
coal mines to alert the miners of gas or no air danger. The tiny bird
gave its life to save the worker and sometimes not saving them in time.
The EPA and National Wildlife Federation have to keep up on it as much
as possible. The everyday citizen only can help keep the environment as
safe as they can to protect the creatures on the planet. Deb of Bird
Feeding Greetings
