BIRD FEEDERS 
     
    
   
   
    
     ATTRACTING BIRDS TO WINTER PEEDERS by Geoff Hogan/Charlottetown 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Once again it is the time of year to begin thinking of setting up the winter 
     
     bird feeding station. Many of our summer residents have begun their southern 
     
     migration, with their northern counterparts close behind. Abundant food is especiall 
     
     important as the birds are putting on extra weight to prepare for their journey south 
     
     and handouts are always welcome. In addition, some of our winter residents, such as 
     
     Evening Grosbeaks, are coming in from their summer haunts and will soon establish a 
     
     winter feeding 'territory'. In the case of grosbeaks, the flocks appear to travel 
     
     among various feeders within an area so if you would like to be on the 'milk route' 
     
     it is always best to advertise early. This is true for many species and may be 
     
     especially important for persons setting up a feeding station for the first time. 
     
    

    
     Let the birds know early where food can be found and they will likely remain with you 
     
     for the winter or at least long enough for you to enjoy them. 
     
    

    
     Another very important matter is to be consistent. Once a feeding station is 
     
     begun and birds come to depend upon it for their food, it must be maintained daily. 
     
     First, a feeder not regularly attended to will not attract a resident flock of 
     
     visitors and, second and more important, if food is cut off unexpectedly it may mean. 
     
     life or death to birds with no other food source available. 
     
    

    
     Two questions often asked are, what kind of feeder should be used and where 
     
     should it be placed? There are many kinds of feeders available with everything from 
     
     elaborate multi—tiered structures to simple window sill trays. The majority of 
     
     these are acceptable providing that the birds are able to feed safely and there are 
     
     no unnecessary risks involved, such as compartments or mechanisms they may become 
     
     trapped or entangled in. However, there is no reason to'rely on traditional bird 
     
     feeders when it comes to supplying food. Any handy surface such as a flat roof or 
     
     rock, tree stump or even the ground (if weather permits) will suffice. Personally, 
     
    

    
     I have found the flat top of an old picnic table to be one of the best locations for 
     
     maximum results. i . 
     
    

    
     Ideally the feeding station will have a variety of sites where food is supplied. 
     
     Some birds prefer to feed high while others prefer low and, by making both levels 
     
     available, you are able to cater to the needs 
     
     of most species. Using only one feeder usually 
     
     results in attracting a mixed company with one 
     
     or two dominant species that crowd out the 
     
    
   
   
    
     others. 
     
     Most people prefer to place feeders close 
     
     bdfi§$&g«.;. to the house where the birds are easily seen. 
     
    
   
   
    
     However, if there are problem species such as 
     
     starlings, House Sparrows, grackles, etc., it 
     
     is often effective to place another feeder 
     
     further away, as many of these birds prefer to 
     
     feed at a greater distance. Another important 
     
     consideration is cover. If the feeder is too 
     
     close to cover, cats may conceal themselves and 
     
     be a threat to the birds' safety. On the other 
     
     hand, a feeder too far from cover may cause 
     
     some birds to feel insecure and they will be 
     
     hesitant to expose themselves. Generally, a 
     
     safe distance should not be much over five feet 
     
     from cover of some kind. Used Christmas trees, 
     
     with tinsel removed, provide good cover when 
     
    
   
   
    
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