Simply For The Birds

If nesting material is available Orioles will start building pendulous nests. Offering long strips of twine or horse hair will help encourage Orioles to nest near you.  It can take a female 5-8 days to build a nest that could measure up to 8 inches in length! Females lay 4-5 pale gray to bluish eggs that will hatch in 12-14 days after the mother has incubated them.  The father helps the mother feed them and in 12-14 days the babies will begin to leave the nest.  Look for the nests in branches that hang over open areas such as streams or open roads.

Having an Oriole bird feeder nearby will greatly increase your chances of getting the birds to nest near you.  Provide them with cut up oranges, jelly feeders or a bright orange nectar feeders.

You can look for Orioles to arrive early spring to May depending where you are located in the continental United States.  It is important to have Oriole feeders out before the Orioles come.  That way they won’t pass you by looking for better feeding places. Orioles begin their migration south, to Central and South America by the end of summer.  Be ready, so you don’t miss out on attracting these beautifully colored black and orange or yellow plumed backyard birds, since we don’t have them for long.

Orioles love cut up oranges, jelly and Oriole nectar.  There are many types of Oriole bird feeders that are available to help you provide just what the Orioles are looking for.  The commercial nectars that are available seem to attract and keep the Orioles at the feeder longer, but you can also mix sugar nectar like you do for hummingbirds.  Grape jelly seems to be the favorite choice, but don’t be afraid to try others.  If you use a jelly feeder, don’t be surprised to also see Woodpeckers, Robins and Warblers partaking of the sweet substance!

The key is to have your feeders out before they come or you will miss them…

Goldfinches eat seed almost exclusively.  Even the Goldfinch chicks are fed partially digested seed by their parents.  Nyjer seed is highly sought after by finches because of the high fat and protein content.  Keep in mind when refilling your tube bird feeders to alternate adding the seed from the top then the bottom.  If your tube feeder can only be filled from one end, empty the old seed into a container.  Add some fresh seed into it and then refill the feeder with the old and new combination.  This will prevent the feeder from becoming packed down and retaining moisture.

Did you know?

• The American Goldfinch molts twice a year-once in the spring and again just in time for breeding season.
• Goldfinches are one of the latest birds to breed-typically waiting until late June or early July.
• You can encourage Goldfinches to nest in your yard by providing nest material
• Don’t cut off the tops to your Marigolds, Zinnias, Cosmos or Coneflowers-Goldfinches love them

If you provide Cardinals with their favorite seed and a bird feeder with a perch that is a little distance from the seed, you should attract Cardinals to your backyard in no time.  Wood platform feeders, hoppers, fly through and open ground feeders all work well for Cardinals.

The seeds of choice for the Cardinal are: Black Oil Sunflower, Safflower or a mixture of both.  The Cardinal’s large bill enables him to crack open the larger sunflower seeds.

If you would like the Cardinals to nest in your backyard, provide them shrubs or viney tangles.  Junipers, dogwoods, honeysuckle and vibrums make great nesting options.  Cardinals will nest twice every summer!

You will attract more birds to your backyard by adding motion to a birdbath, barrel or pond.  The sound of water or motion on the surface will act as a magnet to birds. You can do just that with drippers, misters, pump driven fountains or a water wiggler. 

You will also receive the added benefit of keeping mosquito eggs from hatching by keeping the water moving in your bird bath.  A water wiggler is a great way to do that, because it uses batteries that will last 60-90 days and you won’t have to use an electrical cord.

Don’t forget to change the water in your bird baths every few days, to keep clean and fresh for the birds.

Birds need water in winter so they do not become dehydrated.  By cleaning and grooming themselves, natural oils are released which help keep our backyard friends insulated against the cold.

It is easy to provide a fresh source of water for birds, with the various heated birdbaths that are available on the market.  Already have a non heated bird bath?  There are bird bath heaters and de-icers that are obtainable for purchase- that can be easily added to your existing birdbath.  Be sure to use a good quality outdoor extension cord, to plug into the heater or de-icer for added safety.