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Courtesy: Zia Fukuda

Welcome to National Bird Feeding Month! We’ve put together some tips to support the birds in your backyard and some fun family actives!

February marks the time of year where natural food sources dip very low for wild birds. Bird Feeding Month started back in 1994 in with a US Representative from Illinois. Of course, there is a lot more snow and frigid temps in Midwest, Plain States, and Northeast than in our neck of the woods, but birds in Southern Oregon still struggle through winter months.

 

Ready? Let’s make a difference!

Courtesy: Zia Fukuda

  • Put a feeder in your yard (lots more on this below!)
    If you haven’t already, put different feeders in your yard to attract different kinds of birds. Foods you can leave out include birdseed mixture, lard, and beef suet, meaty canned pet food, brown or white rice, crumbled bread, mildly grated cheese, and so much more.
  • Add a place with water
    Birds struggle to get non-frozen water in the winter. If possible, adding a heated birdbath, fountain or even a large bowl of warm water would help greatly. Birds often gather in places where food, shelter, and water are reliable, so try to be consistent and generous.
  • Do some bird watching (more below!)
    Keep an eye on the birds that make a pit stop in your yard. Maybe the one that stops to use your water, the one who feeds, or the one that sings on your fence. Either way, try and spot the pattern and identify their species.

Source: National Today

Cardinal Rules:

1. Once you begin feeding the birds, it is important to do so consistently, as they will rely on it for survival. Birds, like so many other animals are creatures of habit. 

 

 

2. Keeping things clean is vital. Birds can carry some very contagious diseases which are most often spread through feeders. These diseases can decimate local populations. Here are some recommendations to keeping your feeders clean.

 

 

3. Cats stay inside. In the U.S., domestic cats kill an estimated 3.2 billion (yes, BILLION) song birds a year. Consider using a CATIO to ensure you have Happy Cats and Safe Wildlife. You can learn more and get free plans here.

 

 

Courtesy: Zia Fukuda

5 Feather Feeding Facts

  1. Backyard banter
    One-third of the U.S. adult population feeds wild birds in their backyards
  2. Got milk? No thanks.
    Birds guts are not able to digest milk.
  3. Salty much?
    Garden birds are unable to metabolize salt.
  4. Oh, swell.
    Don’t feed birds desiccated coconut as it can swell inside their stomachs.
  5. What’s for lunch?
    Dead or discolored mealworms could cause problems for birds

Source: National Today

 

Here at Wildlife Images we LOVE making homemade bird feeders!
Here are a couple of our favorites. Just click the link to see the video tutorial!

Here’s 15 more beautiful handmade bird feeders from Easy Homemade!
Not into DYI? We have some beautiful bird feeders for sale in our gift shop and during the month of February you get EMPLOYEE PRICING! That’s 25% off!

 

But wait there’s more!!! 

In our clinic we treat hundreds of song birds every year! In fact, since 2015 we seen 2,228 songbirds! That’s a lot of mouths to feed and nests to build. Song birds come in for three major reasons: cat caught, orphaned chicks, and disease. Learn more by watching the videos below on Baby Bird Rehabilitation and Cat Caught Victims – just click the link! 

 

Become a Birder!

There are many advantages to becoming a birder! People don’t often realize just how many birds live right along side of us. It is quite an adventure to learn what birds frequent your backyard, neighborhood parks and even the places you visit on vacation. It also provides exercise, fresh air and a quiet time of reflection. It’s easy to get started at any age and great family activity! Learn more at how to become a beginning birder!

Acorn woodpecker guards it’s stored acorns on a chilly January morning!

 

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