Strategies for Providing Food for Birds from Your Backyard

In the heart of your garden, a vibrant symphony of chirps and tweets fills the air as a variety of birds flock to your feeders. However, these avian visitors may have some unwanted companions - squirrels and rats, eager to share in the feast. Here's a guide to squirrel-proofing your garden, ensuring that wild birds can feed undisturbed.

Firstly, consider the type of bird feeders you use. Smaller hole bird feeders can reduce spillages, while seed-catching trays can be attached to bird-feeder poles to catch excess food. For a nutritious option, sunflower hearts are a great source of vitamins, fat, protein, and fiber, particularly loved by finches. Valley Farms Sunflower Hearts, high-quality and baker's grade, are a popular choice, with no dust, shells, or waste seeds.

Mealworms, high in protein, are ideal to offer during breeding season, but it's advised to soak them first to prevent baby birds from choking. Mealworms are enjoyed by a variety of birds, including robins, blue tits, blackbirds, and song thrushes. However, be cautious as leftover mealworms can cause salmonellosis, so it's essential to buy high-quality, dried mealworms.

When it comes to seed mixes, the best contain sunflower seeds, maize, rolled oats, pinhead oatmeal, millet, kibbled peanuts, and niger seed. Quality bird seed mixes, such as the Kaytee Wild Bird Food Basic Seed Blend, are highly nutritious and attract various bird species. On the other hand, poor quality seed mixes may contain mainly wheat and maize, which are 'bulking' ingredients or 'fillers' with no nutritional value.

To prevent attracting pests, only leave out a small amount of bird food, sweep up any leftovers, and empty water from bird baths regularly. Fresh water should be provided daily for birds to keep hydrated, using a large dish or upturned bin lid if no bird bath is available.

Now, let's discuss squirrel-proofing. Strategically placing bird feeders away from branches, fences, or poles that squirrels and rats can use to climb can help keep unwanted visitors away. On colder days, it's best to use lukewarm water in bird baths to prevent the water from freezing.

Feeders like the Perky-Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone, combined with squirrel baffles and properly placed poles, create the most effective squirrel-proof feeding stations for gardens. The Perky-Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone features an all-metal, weight-activated cage that closes the feeding ports when a squirrel lands on it but remains open for birds. Squirrel Buster Pole and Caged Bird Feeder Poles, made of powder-coated steel, are rust-resistant and durable against squirrel chewing. Squirrel baffles, such as the Woodlink Audubon Wrap Around, block squirrels from climbing or jumping onto feeders.

Key tips to optimize squirrel-proofing include placing feeders and poles at least 8-10 feet away from trees, fences, or structures squirrels can jump from, mounting poles 4-6 feet off the ground for maximum protection, choosing feeders and accessories made of powder-coated steel or durable metal to prevent chewing damage, and combining weight-activated feeders or cage systems with baffles for the best defense against persistent squirrels.

Lastly, remember that fruits from the garden, such as apples, pears, and berries, are favored by various bird species but can be harmful to cats and dogs. Raisins, a good energy source for birds, especially loved by robins and thrushes, are toxic to dogs and cats. Soaking raisins overnight makes them soft and adds additional moisture, which is important during the breeding season.

By implementing these strategies, you can create a thriving bird-friendly garden while keeping pests at bay, ensuring a harmonious coexistence between wildlife and your garden.

Cats and dogs may find fruits from the garden, such as apples, pears, and berries, harmful to their health, so it's important to be mindful of this when cultivating a bird-friendly garden.
For a pet cat or dog, raisins can be toxic, particularly during the breeding season, so soaking them overnight and making them soft is advised.
By using sunflower hearts, a nutritious option rich in vitamins, fat, protein, and fiber, you can provide a healthy diet for your backyard birds, especially finches.
To prevent attracting pests like squirrels and rats, sweep up any leftover food from bird feeders, empty water from bird baths regularly, and only leave out a small amount of bird food.
To squirrel-proof your garden feeding station, consider using feeders with features like weight-activated cages, squirrel baffles, and strategically placing feeders away from branches, fences, or poles that squirrels can use to climb.