Bird Feeding Basics
Feeding the birds can be as simple as placing a feeder full of seed in your yard and waiting for them to find it.

Feeders come in a wide variety of materials and styles. There are hopper feeders, tray feeders, suet feeders, tube feeders and specialty feeders designed to supply bird food to birds.

There are several ways in which birds feed. The three basic niches for feeding preferences of birds covers the variety of birds that backyard bird feeders will attract across North America.

Birds Feeding on the Ground
If you are interested in feeding birds on the ground level, you should use a seed blend high in millet, which is designed to attract ground-feeding birds such as doves, sparrows and juncos.

Birds Feeding at the Feeder
If you are interested in feeding birds at elevated levels, use a seed blend that contains little or no millet, and contains seeds such as oil sunflower, striped sunflower, and safflower. These types of seed blends are designed to attract birds such as chickadees, nuthatches and titmice that feed at elevated levels.

Birds Feeding at the Feeder and on the Ground
If you are interested in feeding birds at both ground and elevated levels, use a seed blend designed to attract a variety of birds that feed at both levels and which contains a moderate amount of millet and other seeds attractive to birds. This blend should attract the greatest variety of birds to any one feeding station including cardinals, chickadees, finches and juncos.

Things to remember when getting started
If you have not yet been feeding birds in your backyard, it may take from one day to several months before the birds in your area discover your new feeder. Be patient and consider the following:

It is important that you use a seed type or seed blend based on the birds in your area.
Birds generally find their food by sight. Placing your feeder where it will be visible to them should decrease the time it takes for birds to start feeding.
Sometimes sprinkling some seed on the ground or on top of the feeder will let the birds know that you are open for business.
Remember to keep your feeders clean and change the seed at least once per month if the birds have not begun eating.
Birds tend to choose their food by preference.
It is good to understand what kind of backyard habitat you have and what birds you might attract depending on the season. There are also situations that exist (squirrels, starlings, sparrows, pigeons etc.) that may increase or decrease the enjoyment you receive from bird watching. Birds may be challenged by problems (house cats and birds of prey) while trying to feed at feeders.

Bird Feeding Habitat Strategy
If birds find a relatively safe habitat with fresh food and water, chances are they will come back – frequently. The best way to attract a variety of birds is by providing the following four elements to create a habitat that will attract them:

Food: Provide different types of bird feeders, offering a variety of foods and placing the bird feeders where birds prefer to feed. Birds that prefer to feed on the ground are referred to as ground-feeding birds. Other birds that like to cling or hang while feeding prefer to feed from elevated feeders.

There are many varieties of specialized bird feeders available, but most fall into three basic categories:

• Ground-feeding trays or platform feeders.
• Elevated feeders such as hopper feeders and tube feeders.
• Suet feeders.

By providing bird feeders that recreate the natural feeding preference of birds, you will attract a greater variety of birds to your backyard throughout the year. You can provide fruit and nectar feeders for nectar eating birds. You can add suet feeders for insect eating birds. Peanut feeders will attract a variety of birds such as titmice, nuthatches and woodpeckers.

Shelter: Birds need protective cover just like people need the shelter of a house. Cover can be provided in many forms such as special plantings, hollow logs, and brush piles. Plants that bear a fruit for food are the best. The ideal bird habitat would include plants ranging in size and density from small evergreen shrubs to tall, full-grown trees. This variety will provide birds a choice for feeding, hiding, courting and nesting.

Water: Water is important for the survival of birds in the summer and the winter. Birds need a dependable year-round water source for drinking and bathing. Water can be supplied in a bird bath, small pool, recirculating waterfall, shallow dish or from a dripping hose.

Places To Raise Young: With more and more destruction of the natural habitat, many birds are having trouble finding places to nest. By providing nesting boxes, you will encourage birds to raise their young in your backyard and stay in your area all year. You’ll enjoy watching the family life of birds while providing the badly needed shelter.