Throw it to the birds: Three tips for what your flying friends want to eat

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology knows what it’s talking about when it comes to birds. Being an Ivy League school never hurts that characterization. For their Project FeederWatch they provided some great tips on what to do, and not do, when feeding birds near your home. Here’s a quick overview on some things they had to say:

3) In general, black-oil sunflower seed is going to be the best overall seed to attract different bird types. It has a thin shell and is small in size, making it easier for birds to open.

2) If you are trying to attract hummingbirds you will need to make nectar by adding one part sugar to four parts water that is at a boil and stir. Let the concoction cool before distribution and do not add red food coloring because it may be harmful to the birds. A red ribbon that you hang or the red food portals work just as well. They recommend that the nectar is changed every three to five days to prevent mold.

1) If you want to change it up a little bit from the sunflower seeds, try some reasonable combinations that will attract different birds. Cornell recommends popped popcorn (no salt or butter) or different types of fruit such as raisins, grapes, apples and oranges (an oriole favorite).

For more ideas about bird feeding including when to put in grit, take a look at the Project FeederWatch website.