If you are a bird feeder on a budget or if you are feeding hoards of birds  feeding  corn is one way to keep your birds happy and your cost down.

Whole ears of corn offered on spike feeders or on hangers will make the  woodpeckers and squirrels very happy. It’s great fun to watch a squirrel trying  to figure out a revolving corn wheel. Place your squirrel feeders as far as  possible from your other bird feeders.

fun squirrel feeder

Shelled corn in hopper bird feeder or hanging tray feeders will attract  cardinals, jays, ravens, crows, and grosbeaks.

Cracked corn in ground feeder trays will attract quails, grouse, pheasants,  ducks, dove, starlings blackbirds, house sparrows, jays, and cowbirds.

cracked corn

Corn has a couple of serious problems: First, it is the bird food that has  the highest risk of becoming contaminated with aflatoxins, which is harmful to  birds. Second, it is a favorite of bears, raccoons, and deer-none of which we  need to be feeding.

To decrease the chance of contamination don’t buy corn in plastic bags, do  not let it get wet (I keep mine in metal trash cans and only keep 50 pounds on  hand), and in very humid or wet weather only put out what will be eaten in a  day. Make sure you clean up the old corn and dispose of it, the compost pile is  a good place.

It is best to have all of your corn feeders away from your other bird feeders  so the less aggressive birds will not be scared off. If you can, separate them  with a screen of shrubs or trees.

Never use any corn that has any type of die on it because it is probably a  poison. Do not feed any popped corn it spoils too easily.

If you have a snow or an ice storm cracked corn is a good way to feed a lot  of birds quickly. Feed smaller amounts several times during the day to reduce  waste and spoilage

Suet

Suet is now considered to be most kinds of beef fat and is safe to feed to  birds. Suet is very attractive to insect eating birds, including woodpeckers,  jays, nuthatches, chickadees, and starlings. Occasionally cardinals, wrens,  thrashers, kinglets, creepers, goldfinch, and even some warblers will visit suet feeders.  Suet is a high calorie energy source, that is easy for many birds to digest and  metabolize, and is very important to birds in cold weather.

double suet feeder

Raw suet goes bad quickly when the temperature is above freezing for any  extended time. It is recommended that you use rendered suet, which has been  melted and has had the impurities removed. Rendered suet can still get soft in  the summer and coat the belly feathers of birds. If the bird is nesting the suet can clog the pores of the  eggs preventing the embryo from getting enough oxygen.

Most of the suet cakes you can buy have a mixture of corn meal, cracked corn,  peanuts, fruits or dried insects. Corn and peanuts can provide a medium for  bacteria growth. Therefore, you may want to make your own suet cakes or make  sure you are buying a high quality product. Always check the contents and the  expiration date.  I keep my suet cakes in the refrigerator until I use them.

If you are making your own suet cakes you can use used cooking oil. There is some evidence that this is easier for the birds to digest.

I use several types of suet feeders including upside down feeders and  feeders with long tail props.

upside down suet feeder

I hope this article will help you in choosing bird food/seed and let you know  what birds you; can expect to attract with different food.

Male cardinal

Here in the Piedmont of North Carolina they are at my back yard feeders all year. This time of year they are much more willing to share than they are in spring and summer when they are protecting nesting territories.

The male is vibrant red with a black face mask extending to the upper chest. The red color is duller on the back and wings. The female is more fawn colored with grayish-brown tones, with a reddish tint to the wings and tail feathers. Her mask is gray to black and less defined. Both sexes have a distinctive crest, a bright coral colored beak, legs and feet that are dark pink-brown.

Cardinals are 8.5 to 8.75 inches in length, with a wingspan of 12 inches. They weigh 1 7/16 to 1 3/4 oz. (40-50g).

The cardinals range covers parts of southeastern Canada, the eastern US, parts of the Southwest, Mexico, and northern Guatemala and northern Belize. It has also been introduced into southern California and Hawaii. They are so popular that they are the state bird of seven states.

Northern Cardinal Range

During courtship you may see the male bringing food to the female and feeding her. If the mating is successful this may continue during incubation. The male may also bring nesting material to the female but she does most of the nest-building. She builds the nest in four layers from coarse twigs, leaves, bark, grasses, stems, rootlets, and pine needles. It is normally place 3-10 foot above ground level in a thicket or honeysuckle.

Three or four eggs are laid in each clutch, with the female doing most of the incubation. One to four broods may be raised in a year. The male feeds and takes care of the brood while the female incubates the next clutch. However, they seldom use the same nest twice.

Female cardinal on nest

Northern Cardinals are mainly seed eaters, I have them at my feeders all year but they are more evident in fall and winter when natural foods are harder to find. They will also eat insects and feed their young almost entirely on insects. I have seen them coming to my suet feeders and feeding the young the suet.

Cardinal at fly through feeder

They seem to prefer the ground tray feeders, but also use the fly through feeders, hanging tray feeders, tube feeders, and suet feeders. Their favorite food is black oil sunflower seed, safflower seed, fruit and stripped sunflower seed.

One thing you can do to help them is keep your garden bird baths clean and full. We have had several dry periods this year and they have been at the bird baths constantly.

Cardinal enjoying bird bath

Keep your feeders and bird baths full and enjoy your cardinals all year.

Carolina Wren singing

Tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle, plus a variety of loud chirping or scolding sounds announce that the Carolina Wrens are in the back yard or garage or up on the deck. On occasion they will also vocalize with teacher, teacher, teacher. The Carolina wren has the loudest song per size of any bird . The males are the only ones that sing, and they will, any time and any place all year.

It is mainly a southern bird, the state bird of South Carolina, but has been expanding it’s range north and west. They are usually found in pairs and stay on their home territory all year-long and do not migrate. They cannot stand extreme cold so you will see a marked decrease in northern populations after a severe winter.

Carolina Wren Range Map

The Carolina Wren sexes look-alike and are  normally 5-6 inches long, with a wing span of 7.5 inches. They weigh from 19 to 21 grams (less than an ounce). They have a striking white eyebrow bordered by black above, the upperparts are rufous, with white spots on the wings.They have bright buffy underparts, pinkish legs and toes, and a powerful looking bluish bill. The tail is rufous and has thin black barring.

Carolina Wren at suet feeder

Breeding pairs may stay together for life. They both work to build the nest which is constructed of leaves, twigs, grasses, pine needles, feathers, string, trash, and lined with soft fine material. The nest is cup-shaped with a dome and an entrance near the top. They may build several nest but will only use one. The nest will have 4-8 eggs and they may have 2-3 broods from April through July. The male brings the female food for the two-week incubation period. Both parents feed the chicks for two more weeks until they fly.

They will nest in nest boxes (place 5-10 feet above the ground close to good cover)  or almost anywhere. I had a friend who had mowed his lawn and put his lawnmower back in the garage and hung his long sleeve shirt on it. When he came out the next day there was a wren nest down one of the sleeves. He did not get the use of his mower or shirt for over 4 weeks.

Carolina Wren house

The Carolina Wren like brushy woodland habitats such as thickets, yards with dense low trees or bushes, parks with shrubs and gardens. They  forage for insects in shrubs, on the ground, around  windows, gutters, potted plants and lawn furniture. In winter they will also eat from suet feeders and peanut butter feeders. They also come to my tray feeders, probably for seed pieces and looking for insects.

Caroline Wren at feeder

This summer a pair built a nest in a fern we had on a bakers rack on our back deck. They finally got used to our coming and going as the nest was close to the door. They raised three chicks from this nest and the male was always close by singing.

This the second in a series of post to help you select what to feed wild birds and to help you attract certain birds to your feeders.

White proso millet

White proso millet is a favorite of almost all ground feeding birds,  including doves, cardinals, juncos, towhees, native sparrows, thrashers, and  quail. However it is also a favorite of house sparrows, cowbirds and many types  of blackbirds. When a large number of these species are present I would not use  millet because they will scare off the more desirable birds. Sometimes feeding  at a different time of day will reduce the number of these species at your  feeders. The other ground feeding birds like black oil sunflower seed as well as  they like millet so use that for a few days to reduce the number of unwanted  species.

Many people scatter the millet on the ground which is okay as long as you  don’t put out more than what the birds will eat in a day and move your feeding  locations frequently. Low tray feeders with good drainage is a better choice for  feeding white millet. If you use a hanging tray feeder you may also attract  buntings, creepers, wren, finch, and mockingbirds.

white proso millet

Peanuts

Peanuts are well liked by woodpeckers, titmice, jays, crows, chickadees, and  many other birds. They are also a favorite of raccoons, bears, squirrels, and  other animals we should not feed. Peanuts need to be kept dry and used up  quickly because if they become wet they have a strong chance of harboring  aflatoxins. The aflatoxins are extremely toxic to birds at very low levels.

Peanuts in the shell work well in tray feeders, peanut feeders, or in window feeders. If you  put peanuts or mixtures with peanuts in tube feeders make sure to change the  seed frequently and empty the feeder and clean it each time.

raw peanuts

peanuts in shell

Milo or sorghum

For many of the Western ground feeding birds, like Gambel’s Quail, Steller’s  Jay, some thrashers, and cowbirds milo is a favorite food. House sparrows don’t  seem to like milo. In my area the birds won’t eat milo if there is other food  for them to eat.

If you are going to feed milo use ground or low tray feeders, If you are  overrun by cowbirds stop using it for a time.

milo or sorghum

I hope this article is useful to you in knowing what birds you can expect to  attract with the different bird seed or bird food.

feral cat with dead bird

This information is taken from a study done at The University of Nebraska, Lincoln by Aaron M. Hildreth, Stephen M. Vantassel, and Scott E. Hygnstrom. The complete study can be found at http://extension.unl.edu/publications.

Feral cats are domestic cats that have gone wild or the offspring of existing feral cats. They cause great losses of native birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. They can also transmit diseases like rabies and toxoplasmosis, and carry ticks and fleas that could transmit other diseases.

feral cat eating wild bird

Feral cats live throughout the United States in both rural and urban areas. They live any where they can find food, water, and suitable habitat. Feral cats can produce up to five litters per year, with two to ten kittens per litter. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that a pair of breeding cats and their offspring could produce over 400,000 cats in seven years.

There is an estimated 60 million feral cats in the U.S. alone. They are effective hunters and pose a serious threat to native wildlife, especially birds. Cats have been responsible for the extinction of at least 33 species of birds worldwide. Feral cats kill an estimated 480 million birds per year in th U.S.

Feral cats feeding on birds cost over $17 billion per year. A this cost is spread among bird watchers, hunters, and bird rearers. They will also kill free range chickens and other domestic birds. Even if well-fed they still prey on native species. A study in Sweden showed that well-fed house-based cats diet was 15 to 90 percent native prey.

cat stalking bird

Many people feel feral cats should not be managed. However, most scientist, wildlife managers, and public health officials believe their impact on wildlife and the risk of disease transmission, justifies their management.

The best management tool is proper pet ownership. Keep only as many cats as you can care for and keep them in the house. If you feel you must let them out have them neutered. If you have unwanted cats give them to animal control or the humane society, do not release unwanted cats in rural areas, vacant lots or alleys.

An addition way to address the problem is integrated pest management. This includes habitat modification, exclusion, frightening devices, repellents, trapping, shooting, and fertility control.

Habitat modification is reducing the availability of food, water, and shelter.

Exclusion is the use of fencing and netting to keep cats from habitat and food sources.

Frightening devices. The only two that have proven effective with cats are motion-activated sprinklers and dogs.

Repellents for cats include anise oil, methyl nonyl ketone, thymol, benzyldiethy, and methyl ammonium saccharide.

Trapping can be used to remove cats from a specific area. Feral cats should only be handled by trained individuals or professionals.

shooting is an efficient method to reduce populations fo cats in certain area. Shooting is normally not allowed within city limits.

Fertility control is Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release. TNVR is  a humane and nonlethal method to reduce populations of feral cats. However, studies have shown that more than 70% of a population of feral cats must be spayed or neutered before the population will decline. There may be some charges from vets for this service. In my area some vets will do this free of charge on a limited basis.

Feral cats are invasive and pose a threat to wildlife and public health. An integrated approach to control of feral cat populations is best.

Make sure you manage your pets and are not part of the problem.

Window feeders

These are great for getting close up views of the cardinals and work well if  you are limited on space. Make sure to put them on a window that is difficult  for cats and other predators to reach. With these it is easy to see when you  need more seed and you should buy a widow feeder that is easy to clean and is  large enough for cardinals.

cardinal window feeder

Fly Through Feeders

Fly through feeders are probably the cardinal favorite type of feeder because  they are easy to fly into and they offer some protection from predators. They  also offer plenty of room so several birds can feed at once. You can offer  several types of food at one time to the cardinals with a fly through  feeder.

cardinals at fly through feeder

Tray Feeders

These come in two varieties: hanging and ground type. The hanging tray  feeders come in different sizes so you can find one to fit almost any location.  They also offer you the ability to feed different foods and many birds at one  time. The ground tray feeders need to be located away from bushes and other  areas where predators can hide. Keep the area around your ground feeder clean of  hulls or discarded seed and move it occasionally.

cardinal at recycled tray feeder

Hopper Feeders

Hopper feeders probably come in the most variety of styles, shapes, and  sizes.  You can use most foods in a hopper feeder. When choosing one make sure  the perches or platform is large enough for the cardinals. With hopper feeders  you can choose the capacity and monitor seed levels from a distance. This type  of feeder offers more protection to the seed from the weather.

hopper feeder for cardinals

Squirrel proof feeders

If you have problems with squirrels you may need to buy a squirrel proof  feeder or baffles for your feeders. There are a wide variety of this type of  feeder to choose from, and it is always a challenge to outsmart the squirrels.

squirrel proof feeder

Tube Feeders

Cardinals will also come to tube feeders. This may be their least favorite feeder unless the perches are long enough or you have a seed tray attached, They do like the tube feeders that have the spiral around the feeder for them to perch on.

spiral tube feeder with tray

What to feed

The cardinals favorite feeder food is black oil sunflower seed. This is also  loved by chickadees, finch, grosbecks, nuthatches, titmice, goldfinch, and  native sparrows. They also like to eat safflower seed.

Remember to clean the feeders frequently. I usually empty them or brush them  out each time I refill them and clean them with a water and bleach solution  (9:1) every two months.  Keep the area around your feeders cleaned, a compost  pile is a great place for the hulls or cover them with mulch. If you live where  it is difficult to keep the hulls cleaned up use shelled sunflower seed and  chips.

If you just starting to feed cardinals a window feeder would be a great  starting feeder. They are easy to fill and clean and you get close up views of  the birds. For a second feeder probably a tray feeder because you can offer a  wide variety of food and it is easy to watch the birds.

Enjoy feeding your cardinals and remember they need water as much as they need food so provide at least one garden bird bath for their needs.

Tray feeders are an investment, the price of a well-built one may seem high,  but good construction and solid materials are worth the money because the feeder  will last for years. I have had one of mine for over 14 years. When buying a  wooden one make sure it is constructed with screws, glue and solid lumber. If  you prefer a plastic one, which are easier to clean, make sure it is made of  strong solid material. I like the recycled plastic ones, that you can  purchase

Hanging Tray Feeder:

If you are going to have only one tray feeder a hanging tray feeder would be the  best. They can be hung from a pole or a tree limb and are easy to move if you  want to put them in another area of your yard. Don’t forget a dome or some type  of squirrel guard.

hanging tray feeder, recycled material

Post Mount Feeder:

If you have an area where you can place a permanent tray feeder I would use a  post mount feeder with a squirrel baffle. The post mounts are more stable, for attracting larger birds, and you can use a larger feeder.

post mounted tray feeder

Fly Through Feeder:

This type of feeder is usually post mounted because of its size. The  advantages of the fly through are that the roof keeps the seed drier in wet  weather and the birds feel more protected. You will see some birds here you  won’t see at the open feeders. There are even squirrel resistant types of these  feeders.

cardinal at fly through feeder

Ground Tray Feeders:

These are usually open feeders with short legs. I use these for ground  feeding birds (dove, quail, grouse, native sparrows, juncos, towhees, ducks) and  for offering specific foods, grit, or salt. I have one with cracked corn that I  place behind some shrubs as far from my other feeders as possible. This is to  distract the squirrels, grackles, and blackbirds.

ground tray feeder

One of the nice things about tray feeders is that you can offer such a wide  variety of foods. A high quality mix of black oil sunflower, safflower, white  millet, peanut parts, and canary seed is a good place to start for the hanging  or post mount feeders. You can also try dried cherries, grapes, raisins, chopped  suet or suet treats. Keep a check on what the birds in your area like the best  and stop feeding what they don’t like or what attracts birds you don’t want to  feed.

Tray feeders are the best way to attract lots of birds and a lot of different  birds. They are also the best way to offer a greater variety of food. You will  like how easy they are to use. I enjoy all the wild birds that tray feeders attract to my back yard and am sure you will also.

As you can tell from that statement Blue Jay migration is somewhat of a mystery. Lets look at the different subspecies and their range map and see the reason for some of the answers.

There are four subspecies that are generally accepted, though some of the variations are subtle and hard to determine with a casual observation.

• The northern Blue Jay, the largest subspecies has fairly dull plumage. Blue is rather pale. Found in Canada and the northern USA.
• The coastal Blue Jay, mid-sized and vivid blue. They are found in the coastal USA from North Carolina to Texas, except south Florida.
• Interior Blue Jay, mid-sized, very dark blue on mantel contrasting cleanly with very white undersides. Found in inland USA and overlapping with northern Blue Jay in far northern part of range.
• Florida Blue Jay is the smallest of the subspecies, they are fairly dull with pale blue. They are found in southern Florida.

BlueJay range map

As you can see from the map the northern Blue Jays may have to do  some type of migration due to weather and food supply. This may be a very short migration or the may be a much longer migrations as can be observed by the large flocks moving up and down the east coast.

Blue Jays migrate during the daytime in loose flocks of from five to many hundred birds. You will normally find them in mixed woodlands with oaks and beeches. They adapt well to human activity and are often found in parks and residential areas.

They feed both in trees and on the ground eating acorns, beech mast, weed seeds, grain, fruits and berries, small invertebrates, peanuts, bread, meat, and anything I put in my bird feeders. They seem to like the tray feeders best. They also make full use of my garden bird baths.

enjoying a garden bird bath

As we said their migration is not fully understood. Some birds winter in all parts of the Blue Jay’s range, and some birds may migrate one year and not the next. Some times whole families will migrate other times it may be only individuals. Young Blue Jays are more likely to migrate than older ones.

Here at my back yard in North Carolina I have Blue Jays all year. In winter it seems there are more than in summer, which may be because there is less natural food or it may be that some migrates have arrived.

Blue Jay at tray feeder

Carolina Chickadee

This is another bird I get to enjoy in my yard all year. They are very  active, acrobatic, and vocal. Their normal call is a chick-a-dee-dee-dee which  is fast and high-pitched.

I often see them clinging to branches or leaves upside down looking for  katydids, caterpillars, spiders, and ants. They also eat berries and seeds,  their favorite at my bird feeders is black oil sunflower seed. They also cache  seeds coming back within an hour to a few days to retrieve them.

The Carolina Chickadee is a small bird, 4 3/4 to 5 inches long and weighing  about 1/3 of an ounce. They have a black cap and throat, white cheeks and belly,  and a gray back. The flanks may be tinged gray/brown, the bill is short and  black, legs gray, and eyes dark.

Carolina Chickadee at nest box

They live in multi layered forest, shrubs along the edge of fields, marshes  and swamps. You will also find them in urban areas at parks, wooded areas,  gardens, and bird feeders.

Carolina Chickadee Range Map

After mating they will build a nest in a cavity, an old woodpecker nest or a  hole they excavate in soft wood. They will also use nesting tubes or bird  houses. They don’t mind humans and often use chickadee houses in my back yard.  It is recommended the nest boxes face north toward an open area. They need to be  in the shade especially in the afternoon. They like the bird houses better if  they are 8 to 14 feet off the ground.

They make a cup nest from grass, feathers, fur (especially rabbit), moss, and  insect cocoons. Only the female incubate the eggs and the male brings her food.  Pairs may remain mated over two or more nesting seasons. Both parents care for  the young which may number from 5 to 9.

eating black oil sunflower seeds

In fall and winter they often form feeding flocks with other birds, including  Downy Woodpeckers, kinglets, nuthatch, and Tufted Titmouse. They usually come  through my yard early morning and again mid afternoon. They enjoy window feeders, tube feeders, and my tray feeders. Black oil sunflower seed is one of their favorite foods.

Working in flocks makes  it easier to find food and provides protection from predators, especially  hawks. If the flock is only made up of chickadees there is a strict hierarchy as to  who eats when and who keeps watch. Next time you have a flock at your feeder see  if you can determine who’s dominate in the flock.

Chickadee at bird bath

I get to enjoy the Carolina Chickadee all year and they often sit in a nearby  tree or shrub and scold me when I am filling the feeders. I guess I’m too slow.

Remember your back yard birds need water as much as they need food so provide  them with at least one garden bird bath.

Map from Wikipedia.

cardinal eating black oil sunflower seed

The seed that attracts the greatest variety of birds, therefore the best choice  to start with, is sunflower. An inexpensive seed mixture is the worst choice.  These mixes usually contain red millet, oats, and other fillers that the birds  will toss aside and not eat. This tossed aside seed is a waste of your money  and provides a breeding ground for mold and bacteria that can harm the birds.

Sunflower

There are two types of sunflower seeds: striped and black oil. The black oil  sunflower seed has twice the calories per pound as the striped; this is  extremely valuable to the birds, especially in cold weather. Black oil seeds  have a thinner shell and are smaller making them easier for some birds to open.  If you are overrun with house sparrows and blackbirds try switching to striped  sunflower seed. Black oil sunflower is a favorite of cardinals, chickadees,  purple finch, house finch, goldfinch, grosbeaks, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and  titmouse.

black oil sunflower seed

striped sunflower seed

If you live where it is difficult to clean up the seed shells use shelled  sunflower. Don’t offer any more than can be eaten in a day or two. Without the  shell the sunflower hearts and chips can quickly spoil and harbor dangerous  bacteria. Sunflower seeds are loved by squirrels, so use baffles or squirrel  proof feeders. Sunflower seeds in the shell can be used in a wide variety of  feeders, including window feeders, tray feeders, fly through feeders, tube  feeders, and hoppers.

birds enjoying black oil sunflower seeds

Safflower

The cardinals, grosbeaks, and titmice will do well with fly through, hopper,  and hanging tray feeders. For the dove and native sparrows a ground tray feeder  will work best.

safflower seed

Nyjer (thistle)

Nyjer seed, also called niger or thistle, is a very small high oil content  seed. It is grown in India, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Myanamar. It is the only bird  seed imported into the United States and is heat treated so it cannot  sprout. Nyjer seed attracts goldfinch, purple finch, dove, juncos, siskins,  White-Throated Sparrows, and Song Sparrows.

nyjer (thistle) seed

Mesh finch feeders and tube finch feeders are good to feed Nyjer seed to the  perching birds. A ground tray feeder with a fine mesh bottom is an excellent  choice for ground feeding birds.

I hope this will help you in selecting seed for the wild birds you are wanting to feed.