Conservation

Bird feeders are beneficial in so many ways! They can aid in survival during migration and harsh weather, they bring more local or migrating birds to your garden, and they assist in increasing pollination, which in turn promotes a healthy natural environment.

With so many bird food and feeder options, how do you decide what’s right for your yard? It depends on what types of birds you’d most like to attract! Different species of birds have different food requirements and preferences and can be drawn to different styles of feeders. To attract a large variety of bird species, use several different feeder types and food options. Keep in mind that regular cleaning is a must, regardless of feeder type, and that birds are often drawn to areas that have both clean water and shelter as well as food.

Types of feeders
Tube feeders are versatile – they come in many different sizes and can hold a variety of different types of foods. These feeders are designed to keep food relatively clean and dry. Types of birds drawn to these feeders largely depend on the size of the feeder and the type of food used.

Nyjer feeders are specialized feeders for nyjer (also called thistle seed). They generally come in two designs – a tube feeder with very small holes, or a fine-mesh bag (also called a “thistle sock”). These feeders are specifically made to attract finches. Because they are so specialized, they may not get as much use as other types of feeders. The fine-mesh style will not keep seed clean and dry and will need to be changed out more often.

Hopper feeders look like a platform with walls and a roof that form a “hopper” for seed to be stored in. Similar to tube feeders, the type of birds attracted to these feeders largely depends on the type of food provided, though the platform element allows larger birds such as cardinals, jays, and grackles to land. They do come in a variety of sizes, and you can choose a smaller hopper if you prefer smaller birds at your feeder. These feeders protect against the weather to some extent.

Platform feeders are any raised, flat surface on which food can be spread. They attract the widest variety of birds due to openness and ease of landing, but don’t have a cover to protect seed from getting wet and can easily and quickly get soiled with bird droppings.

Suet feeders usually look like logs with large holes or square-shaped cages. They are designed to hold suet, a “cake” made of fat and often mixed with seeds or fruits. Suet primarily attracts insect-eating birds such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees. These feeders are more commonly used in the winter, as warm temperatures can cause suet to go rancid.

Nectar feeders are also called hummingbird feeders, as these feeders are exclusively used to attract hummingbirds. These feeders hold a liquid sugar water, or nectar. Because nectar spoils quickly, these feeders need to be cleaned more regularly than other feeders.

Types of food
Specialized food such as nyjer, suet, and nectar need special feeders, but most other types of food can be offered in your preference of feeder.

Black-oil sunflower seeds are one of the most common types of food offered in North American feeders. This is a preferred food item for many types of birds, including cardinals, finches, and sparrows. Hulled sunflower seeds are the same type of seed, but with the shell removed, which reduces waste. Any bird that eats sunflower seeds in the shell will also eat them hulled, and some birds prefer the seeds without the shell, as they are easier to eat.

Safflower seeds are similar to sunflower seeds, but slightly smaller and white in color. Birds that eat sunflower seeds often also enjoy safflower seeds. Birds with larger bills, such as cardinals, seem to eat these seeds better than birds with smaller bills.

Cracked corn and oats are fairly inexpensive compared to seeds. They can be mixed in with seeds to provide some added variety. They are generally preferred by ground-feeding birds such as mourning doves and sparrows.

Millet is a small, round grain and is a favorite of small, ground foraging birds such as juncos and sparrows.

Peanuts are a favorite of a number of birds, and can be provided with or without the shell, though should only be purchased raw – no salt or other seasonings. Larger birds such as jays may take a number of whole peanuts at a time, while smaller birds such as chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice enjoy smaller, shelled peanuts.

Mealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle and are favored by many species of insect-eating bird. They can come live or dried, and are a high-protein treat for birds like chickadees, wrens, and bluebirds.

Fresh or dried fruits are also an option! Fresh oranges can attract orioles, while grapes and other fruits can draw robins, waxwings, and catbirds. Seeds from fruits such as pumpkins may also appeal to some species. Uneaten fruit goes moldy fast, and should not be left out for long periods of time.

Two of the biggest threats North American songbirds currently face are predation by domestic cats and collisions with window glass. You can help protect songbirds by keeping your cats indoors (or on leashes when outside), and by applying anti-collision stickers or decals to your windows.

Since the 1970s, the North American bird population has dropped by nearly 3 billion birds, with “common” birds such as sparrows, warblers, and finches representing nearly 90% of the losses.

Domestic cats
Predation by outdoor domestic cats accounts for more than 2.4 billion bird deaths annually in the United States alone, making it the largest direct source of human-caused mortality to birds. Not only do cats instinctively hunt birds, even when well-fed, but they also spread diseases and disrupt ecosystems.

Keeping cats indoors benefits both birds and the cats themselves, as indoor cats live longer, healthier lives. There are options for cat owners who want to enjoy supervised outdoor time with their cats, including “catios” and other outdoor enclosures, harnesses, backpacks, and strollers. The American Bird Conservancy has some great resources to help keep both pet cats and wild birds safe: https://abcbirds.org/catio-solutions-cats/.

Collisions
In the United States, more than 1 billion birds are killed or injured every year from window strikes. Birds cannot recognize glass; they perceive the reflections in windows as a part of the habitat, and will try to fly through, not realizing there is a barrier. Additionally, birds that migrate after dark are often drawn to the lights from inside buildings.

There are simple ways to make your window glass safer for birds. Products such as tape or decals can be added to existing windows; UV-reflecting or etched glass can be used in windows that need to be replaced. The American Bird Conservancy offers recommendations for products that can reduce collisions here: https://abcbirds.org/solutions/prevent-home-collisions/. At night, reducing artificial light, closing curtains or blinds, and switching to downward-facing light fixtures can also help.

If you witness a bird strike a window, or find a bird dazed from a window strike, bringing it to a wildlife rehabilitation center is a priority. Many birds that appear unharmed after colliding with a window later succumb to their injuries. There are a number of rehabbers in the Chicagoland area that can treat victims of window strikes, including the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and the DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center.

Other ways to help
There are additional things you can do to help wild birds, right from your house! If you are a coffee drinker, one option is to purchase coffee with the Smithsonian’s Bird Friendly certification. This certification is only given to coffee growers that meet strict conservation standards. According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, for coffee growers “to be certified by the Bird Friendly program, producers must maintain a minimum of 40 percent shade coverage over their crop, have at least 11 tree species on their land with 60 percent of the species being native to the region, and maintain a minimum tree canopy height of 12 meters. All Bird Friendly farms must also be certified organic, ensuring no hazardous pesticides or chemicals are ever used in production.” These standards ensure that Bird Friendly habitat is protected and high-quality for birds and other wildlife. You can buy Bird Friendly coffee in the Wild Side Gift Shop at Cosley Zoo, or online via the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institution’s website.

If you enjoy gardening, or even if you just have a yard, you can make it more accommodating for birds by reducing lawn and planting more native species. Gardens made of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers offer food and shelter for wildlife, including birds. Plus, native plants grow more easily and require less maintenance, meaning you can also reduce the amount of harmful insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers you use.

Finally, you can put your bird-watching skills to good use by joining a community science project, such as Project Feederwatch or the Great Backyard Bird Count. Data collected by community members like you are incredibly important for scientists to understand the current state of ecosystems throughout the world.

You may not think of birds as pollinators; however, birds pollinate over 60 flower families by transferring pollen from one flower to another via their bills. Two species of pollinators you may know are orioles and hummingbirds.

While bees and other insects are the most prolific pollinators, especially for food crops, there are about 2000 species of bird throughout the world that contribute to pollination as well. Bird pollination, also called “ornithophily,” is most common in tropical regions. Here in North America, birds primarily pollinate wildflowers, and there are about 129 known species of plants that have evolved to be pollinated by birds.

Birds pollinate flowers in much the same way bees do: as they feed on a flower’s nectar, a sweet liquid used as a source of food, pollen from the flower sticks to their beaks and bodies. When they move onto the next flower, some of that pollen is transferred, allowing the plant to reproduce.

The most common bird pollinators found in Illinois are hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are especially attracted to native flowers that are tubular-shaped and red or orange in color. Many of the same flowers that attract butterflies also attract hummingbirds. If you want to attract hummingbirds to your garden, consider planting things like beebalm, columbine, and lobelia.

Help keep the birds and your yard healthy by properly maintaining your feeders. Here are a few simple tips:

• Clean Feeders Every Few Weeks: Regular cleaning ensures your feeders stay healthy and inviting for birds.
• Rake Under Feeders Regularly: Remove bird droppings and discarded food from the ground to maintain a clean environment.
• Use Multiple Feeders: This helps keep seed fresh and provides more feeding spots for birds.

Cleaning feeders
Improperly maintained bird feeders can be more harmful than good. There are numerous diseases known to spread through contact from feeders, such as conjunctivitis, aspergillosis, avian pox, and avian influenza. Old bird seed that has gotten wet and moldy can also make birds sick. To prevent contamination, feeders should be cleaned regularly, about every two weeks. Feeders should be taken apart and scrubbed to remove feces and other debris (some models are dishwasher-safe!), then soaked in a 10% bleach solution for 10 minutes; they should be rinsed thoroughly and dried completely before refilling. Feeders should be cleaned more frequently, or taken down entirely, if you see sick birds in your yard or if there has been a disease outbreak in your area.

Old food should be discarded when cleaning feeders and may need to be discarded more frequently in wet weather conditions or during times of heavy use. For birds, like people, fresh food is the healthiest option! Feeders with seeds should be refilled every few days. Hummingbird feeders need to be refilled more often, every three to five days, and should be cleaned before each refill.

Cleaning under feeders
It’s not just the feeders themselves that need to be maintained, but the ground underneath them as well! Waste such as bird feces, uneaten or moldy seeds, and seed hulls can accumulate below feeders and contribute to disease spread. This is not only harmful to birds, but can also be harmful to other wildlife, or even pets. In addition, seed waste can attract pests such as rodents. If possible, feeders should be moved periodically to prevent waste from accumulating in one spot.

Using multiple feeders
Having multiple feeders with plenty of space between them reduces crowding and can prevent competition or aggression between birds, ensuring their feeding experience is stress-free. Because disease can spread more easily when lots of birds are concentrated into a confined space, spreading feeders out can reduce the chance for sick birds to come into contact with each other. This is especially important in the winter, when natural food sources are scarce, and birds are more heavily relying on feeders.