Needs of Wildlife: Food

Food needs vary from species to species. Some of your first additions to your backyard wildlife refuge should be bird feeders, along with shrubs, trees and flowering plants that produce seeds, fruits, nuts, pollen and nectar for a variety of animals throughout the year.

Bird Feeders

photo: (c) Mike Green, CZS

More and more people are incorporating bird feeders of all shapes and sizes into their backyard landscapes. Any bird feeder enthusiast will tell you that feeders are one of the most rewarding elements in your backyard. Birds flock to these feeding sites throughout the year, especially when it's 10 degrees out. Place feeders in your yard where birds are protected from predators and weather. Feeding birds should have perching spots close by, but away from the house and near vegetation, for protection. To prevent the spread of disease, it's important to keep bird feeders clean. Use a solution of 1 part chlorine bleach to 10 parts water to disinfect feeders, especially areas birds may touch when they feed. Let the cleaning solution soak for 10 minutes then rinse thoroughly. Allow feeders to dry completely before refilling them. Clean feeders at least once a month.

Bird Delicacies

One single food is usually not adequate for all species of birds. Incorporating an experimental feeder with several trays of different food is a great way of letting the birds select their own menu options. Luring birds with bakery products is usually effective, but being a conscientious food supplier means offering a range of nutritionally rich food choices once the birds have found their perch. A variety of mixtures that include different nuts, seeds, berries and fruits are available for purchase or you can make them from your own backyard. You may also want to supply birds with grit or crushed eggshells which help them digest their food. The eggshells also provide birds with calcium that they need particularly in the spring when they are getting ready to lay their eggs. Wild bird feed specialty stores are a good source of information about which seed mixes attract which species of birds in your area.

Dinner Is Served

Begin feeding when the first snow or extreme cold temperatures are expected. Food should be available continuously until at least April as your feeding station will attract more birds than it can naturally support. Keep a close eye on the amount of food that you supply. If there is excessive spillage on the ground, even more then ground eating birds and other animals can keep up with, you will want to cut back. This will prevent the food from spoiling or freezing. Likewise, store feed in containers that are both weather and rodent proof. To discourage squirrels and other animals from confiscating bird feed install a squirrel guard or metal circle below the feeder.

Other Critters Need to Eat Too!

Planting a variety of trees, shrubs and flowering plants will attract an array of animals to your backyard and keep them coming back for more. You can also feed squirrels and other critters with feeders and treats of their own, but make sure to place them in different areas of your yard, away from bird feeders. Take care not to place food in areas where it might encourage problem wildlife to take up residence in your home. In the section Landscaping With Native Plants you will find a network of information on the different items you can plant in your backyard that will attract butterflies, hummingbirds, songbirds, insects and much more.

Very Important: Please thoroughly rinse chlorine bleach/water cleaning solution from feeders and let dry completely before filling with feed.

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