Birding on a budget
How to attract feathered friends to your yard
4:08 p.m. Wednesday, August 27, 2008
For over fifteen years I have been feeding birds, and you can too! All you need is 10 bucks and a bag of seed!
And you don't even need a feeder. You can be innovative, like using a rock. Just pour your wild blend on the rock and watch the birds flock. Or you can use the base of a tree. The birds will feel safe being close to cover.
And here is a great way to get your kids involved. Collect a few pine cones, grab the seed and the peanut butter jar. Spread the peanut butter on the cone. Then, pour on the seed and place it where the birds will find it. It may take awhile, but that's all part of the fun.
Goldfinch (Photo courtesy Wikipedia)
Watch out for the real little ones too. They might find every bit of the pine cone feeder edible, like my neighbor Tate Cornum. And Tate's mom, Nicky, says it's good family fun and educational too.
"I think it's great fun for the family, just to get outside, get some fresh air and learn about nature," Nicky said.
And there will be one family member you do not want to let outside, the cat.
For less than 5 bucks you can get a finch feeder. Finches like "Nyger seed," which comes from thistles. Or, you can get the less expensive, "finch blend." Try to keep the finch feeder away from the rock or house feeder. The larger feeders will attract larger, more aggressive birds. While gold finches are not too timid, they do like their own space.
Chickadee (Photo courtesy Wikipedia)
Humming birds are easy to attract too. They like the color red. Even having some showy red, pink or purple flowers will attract these tiny birds. Most humming bird feeders can be bought for as little as $5 to $8, and the humming bird sugar is as cheap as a bottle of red food coloring. Believe it or not, these little guys can be quite aggressive towards other birds. Humming birds might even scare gold finches away, for a little bit, in order to drink their nectar.
Bird watching is an entertaining show that lasts from sunrise to sunset. Unlike a movie, the show lasts all day. You can be sure your kids are learning something too from an activity that lasts for weeks and even months.
Alex's Bird Seed Favorites:
Finches: I like to feed finches "Nyger seed." This seed is comes from thistles, and is black. You can find it for a good price at Wal-Mart for as cheap as $8 for a good-sized bag. You can spend a little more and go in-bulk -- once you have them attracted -- for $20 for a 20-lb. bag. This should last two months ($10/mo.).
Nuthatch (Photo courtesy Wikipedia)
You can also buy the cheaper version, usually called "Wild Finch Blend," for about three-fourths the price. This seed is a mix of thistle seed and various millet. I find that this will attract finches, no problem, but if your neighbor has an all-Nyger feeder, they will flock over there.
Keep the finch feeder about five feet from other feeders. Finches like the feeder to be more in the open and swinging. You might even see chickadee's come too!
Larger, more aggressive birds: This seed you can buy for real cheap. Just go to Wal-Mart and look for the good deals on "Wild Bird Blend/Mix." I have bought this mix for as cheap as $10 or $15 for a 50-lb. bag! This will last you at least two months ($7.50/mo). Put this seed on a rock, a table, or in your house feeder. You can expect to see sparrows, finches, chickadee's, nuthatches, woodpeckers, cardinals, blue jays, and the list goes on. A wild bird blend is the best way to start feeding birds. You will likely see the sparrows in a few days, and eventually you will see more exotic, and desired, birds.
Humming Birds: Once you buy a feeder, which is really cheap at Wal-Mart, you can make your own nectar to save money (mix of sugar, water and red food coloring). However, it is just as cheap to buy the pre-made nectar mix, as it is to buy a bottle of food coloring these days. Keep the feeder close to potted plants. Humming birds love vibrant-colored flowers. Ask Jackson's Greenhouse here in Topeka if they have any flowers that attract humming birds.
Hummingbird (Photo courtesy Wikipedia)
You won't see humming birds all year long. Humming birds come north from Central and South America each year. They fly as far north as Southern Canada by June and July, only to come back south by early fall. The best time to attract these guys here in Kansas would be in the early spring and the late summer and early fall.
Other tips: Now is the time to start feeding. Once you start, it is unfair to stop. Your new feathered friends will come to depend on you come late fall, winter and early spring. Feel free to stop feeding during the summer time, and don't be afraid to let the feeders go empty for a day during the winter. Make the birds eat the seeds they throw on the ground.
It is a good idea to keep feeders full, however, during harsh winter weather. Birds will even eat the scraps from your house. I find that they like dried-out bread, raisins, cherries, apples and oranges.
And put your feeders close to vegetation. Most birds like evergreens for year-round cover. Even better, put the feeders close to water: A bird bath, a creek, a down-spout or even a place where puddles form are great!
Woodpecker (Photo courtesy Wikipedia)
You should never have to spend more than $20-$30 on your birds per month. And while the amount may seem like a tank of gas these days, it offers a month's worth of educational entertainment that will bring your family together. It might even take you to another free activity, a trip to the public library. There, you can get tons of books on your new, loyal and appreciative buddies.
If you have any bird questions, submit them here.
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