Non-Fiction Nature Writing

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Non-Fiction Nature Writing

Dee Walmsley

Keeping Backyard Birds Healthy

Weather-wise, this can be a bad time of year for birds as well as people. Rainy days find most humans warm and cozy in their homes, while birds, come rain or shine, must puff up their feathers and forage for food and water.

Feeders are often left empty by vacationing folks seeking sunnier locales, or forgotten in the rain where they become soaked and moldy. These wet feeders are breeding grounds for fungus spores that kill thousands of birds each year.

Wooden feeders, unless hung in a dry location, are the worst offenders. When wet, seed mildews and rots, causing salmonella which infects the birds.

By following a few prevention tips you can control the disease, and continue to enjoy feeding the birds.

Keep wooden feeders dry, [try hanging under eaves]. In wet weather change the feeders often, bringing them in the house to dry thoroughly. Use duroid shingles on feeder roofs and trays. The shingles will not absorb the water.

Use plastic feeders.

Observe how much the birds consume daily; then ration seed. This will keep the seed dry and fresh and leave no extra food available for rats.

Clean area under feeders daily. Some species will not use feeders, preferring to eat beneath the feeder on the ground. Sweep up any leftovers before they rot or take root.

Bleach all feeders with a 10% solution each week. Rinse well and dry completely before refilling.

Do not mix seed. Use separate feeders. This will eliminate the birds chucking out the seeds they don’t want.

Make your own suet mixture. To 1 lb. melted lard add 1 cup of crunchy peanut butter, 1 cup wheat germ and stiffen with mixed seed. Place the mixture in log feeders, onion bags, or yogurt cups and hang in a tree or near a window. This mixture attracts all species of woodpeckers, chickadees, and bushtits.

Decorate a backyard tree with cranberries, suet mix-filled pine cones and bits of orange and apple.

Keep a supply of fresh water for drinking and bathing near a bush or tree. Any flat container will do, just fill with two inches of water.

Be consistent. The birds will rely on you, so keep those feeders clean and full. Feed the birds and they will reward you with their songs and antics, adding a little life to those dull winter days.

HAPPY BIRDING