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Add Fruit Bird Feeders in Summer
Summer time is when migrating, tropical songbirds with vibrant colors head our way to North America. These gorgeous birds with sweet songs will grace your backyard if offerings are right. A birdbath is a must, as a fresh water source will attract more species any time of year. Most fruit bird feeders are versatile enough to use year round, by placing suet balls on them in winter. Nectar feeders, sans the lid may be filled with seed mixes, suet or mealworms in winter too. Some fruit feeders accommodate nectar and jelly, or nectar and fruit to entice a wider variety of birds.
And Orioles aren’t the only birds who enjoy fruit. Woodpeckers are attracted to apples and melon, while hummingbirds covet their nectar feeders. You’ll also attract Catbirds, Flickers, Cactus Wrens and even Chickadees by having fruit or jelly feeders in your yard. Butterflies enjoy fruit as well, a bit over ripe-but definitely not moldy. Try bananas, oranges, berries and melon to entice butterflies too. Many of the new fruit bird feeders are made of recycled plastics, with a much longer lifespan, they’re guaranteed to never crack, split or fade. So, before summer passes you by, place one of these versatile feeders in the garden and see who comes around to visit!
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Only the Nyjer Bird Feeder is Safe from These Starlings
The backyard and wonderful wildlife habitat is under attack from the worst spell of starlings right now. They eat EVERYTHING in site and bully the songbirds. The mess they leave is not nice either. Starlings are non-native birds, I wish they’d go back from where they came!It is the thistle feeder and hummingbird feeders that are safe, that’s it. Of about 15 assorted feeders, the nyjer bird feeder is the only seed feeder they’ll leave alone. Three hummingbird feeders are starling-free as well. They just about empty the birdbaths everyday too with their splashing around. I even witnessed one trying to stuff himself inside the bluebird feeder, reaching for worms and grabbing a few with his body half in and half out of the feeder!
Thistle or nyjer seed is wonderful with its many benefits. Squirrels don’t like it either, and tend to leave feeders alone. This seed is non-germinating and won’t cause weeds to pop up below the feeder.
And I’m not just ranting because of them in my yard, these birds wreak havoc with air traffic control towers and the airline industry, causing thousands of dollars (if not more) in damages every year. They’re even responsible for a few plane crashes.
Non-native birds go home!
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Finch Feeders Feed More Than Just Finches
Now say that five times real fast!Goldfinches aren’t the only birds who will feast on thistle seed or finch mixes. You’re likely to see House and Purple Finches, Eastern Towhees, Juncos, Pine Siskins and Indigo Buntings at finch feeders if they’re native to the area.
With warmer months upon us, the payoff for keeping our finch feeders out year round shows. The brightest lemon yellow birds ever, grace the yards of those who offer thistle or nyjer seed to these sweet-natured birds.
They’re also the one of the latest birds to breed, so if you haven’t gotten any nesting material up yet, there’s still plenty of time. When other birds are finished their breeding season, Goldfinches start – late June to early July.
As always, offering a daily fresh water source will greatly increase the number of birds, as well as species seen in your yard. Birdbaths are an excellent attractor for any birds!
Birding Tips, Information & News