What is the best feeder food for blue jays and woodpeckers?

mmoxam — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:24:13 -0400

Sunflower seeds are the best all-round seeds for the greatest variety of winter birds (both blue jays and woodpeckers will eat them). Suet is another good choice â€” woodpeckers love it. If you put out both suet and sunflower seeds, you should be able to keep these birds happy. Get more information on attracting birds.

I would like to cover pine cones with peanut butter and roll them in birdseed to provide a treat for the birds. Is peanut butter safe for them to eat?

mmoxam — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:22:41 -0400

Birds love peanut butter but unfortunately peanut butter is so sticky it may cause problems for them. To reduce its stickiness, mix it with cornmeal, rolled oats, and/or cracked corn to absorb the oil before putting it on pine cones.

Is the red dye used in commercial hummingbird food dangerous for birds? If so, how can we make our own hummingbird food?

mmoxam — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:21:52 -0400

Itâ€™s better not to add any colouring, including food colouring, to hummingbird food. Colouring is unnecessary and only serves to introduce chemicals into the birdâ€™s diet. Itâ€™s actually the red dispenser of the feeder that attracts hummingbirds. Once hummingbirds know where the feeder is, theyâ€™ll have no problem finding it.

How do you make suet?

mmoxam — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:21:09 -0400

Suet is a great treat for birds. You can either buy commercially made suet or make your own. Garden Gate Magazine describes a method you can use to prepare a lavish meal for your feathered friends. One point to remember is not to add pan drippings to your suet. The drippings contain salt and other substances that are harmful to birds.

Is bird feeding safe?

mmoxam — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:19:21 -0400

With a bit of effort, people can easily provide safe and healthy feeding stations for their feathered friends.

CWF promotes the creation of habitat for wildlife, including birds, through the planting of native vegetation. Native trees and shrubs provide shelter for birds in addition to a source of natural food. Birds tend to prefer natural food sources to feeder foods.

Can you recommend a quality pair of birding binoculars?

mmoxam — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:18:37 -0400

In buying binoculars for birding, there are several things to consider, such as power, weight, and quality.

Many really serious birders will opt for spotting scopes. These give great power (the ability to see birds in detail at greater distances) but are heavy and cumbersome and require a good tripod.

I saw a bird in my backyard and would like to know what it is.

mmoxam — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:17:34 -0400

Bird-watching has become a very popular pastime. Below are some guides that will help you identify your mystery guest. Try to remember its colour, any markings, and size; if its bill was long, short, thick, thin, curved, or straight; and any other noticeable characteristics. These features will help when you try to identify your unknown bird.

I have a bat in my house. What should I do?

mmoxam — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:11:38 -0400

This is not an unusual situation. Bats will often accidentally find their way into our homes. For tips on handling this situation, click here to learn how to safely get the bat outside.

We would like to support the deer population in our area and were wondering what plants we could incorporate into our garden to provide a food source for them.

mmoxam — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:56:41 -0400

Deer are not particularly fussy eaters, so you may find attracting them isnâ€™t all that difficult. In winter, deer tend to live on the buds and twigs of shrubs and saplings. They prefer edge habitat (the area at the edge of a forest that leads to meadow), since these areas contain a lot of young trees and shrubs for them to eat. Deer like forest clearings for the same reason. Mature forests donâ€™t have enough small trees or shrubs to sustain them.

We noticed a wild rabbit in our yard and would like to put out carrots and fruit for him but wonder if thatâ€™s the right thing to do.

mmoxam — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:55:47 -0400

We generally do not recommend feeding wild mammals. It can often lead to problems for them as they very quickly adapt to humans and become reliant on your hospitality.

Putting out vegetables and fruits could also attract other less desirable animals, thereby creating problems for you. The best way to entice rabbits and other wildlife to your garden is to create a welcoming environment by including aspects of their natural habitat in your yard.