Feeding Preferences of Several Popular Birds

The Chart below shows the preferred feeder and feeding method for some of the more common birds and bird groups as noted by bird watchers across the country.

Table 2 - Feeding preferences of many popular birds

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Make Your Own Suet

Suet cakes are the result of melting (rendering) the hard fat called Suet that is commonly found in the area of the kidneys of cattle into a form of food cake that insect eating birds will eat for energy and nutrition. Suet is normally mixed with other ingredients to create a thicker, denser cake of multiple ingredients and normally fed in baskets or cages that are specifically designed to hold the cakes. Suet can be purchase at many meat shops and on many meat counter. For ease of use later, the meat shop may be willing to grind the suet for you at little or no cost. As anyone who has rendered fat before knows, rendering can be a somewhat smelly process. So, while this process is relatively simple, it is best done outdoors in an electric cooker or portable gas stove. Suet is better used only during cooler temperatures below 70° F and will turn rancid in warmer temperatures. For a better cake that will stand up better to warmer temperatures, the suet is "double melted". That is, it is rendered the first time to remove the liquid fat from the fiber, allowed to cool and then melted a second time. This process imparts a higher melting point into the resulting fat. As a suitable substitute for the suet fat, lard and peanut butter are often used and are a crucial part of some of the following recipes. Do not use cooking shortening as it does not have the same protein and energy abilities of true fat. Another good source of fat is the resulting drippings from cooking meats like hamburger and bacon, but it must be "unsalted" during cooking as the extra salt could be harmful to birds. However, the fats from cooking will lack the consistency and solidity of true suet, so they will not stand up under warm temperatures as well as beef suet.

Some of the dry ingredients that are commonly mixed with melted suet are:

• corn meal

• flour

• unsalted peanuts (chopped)

• unsalted nutmeats (chopped)

• rolled oats

• chopped fruits

Ingredients that are commonly used in conjunction with or in place of suet:

• lard (unsalted)

• crunchy peanut butter

To make suet

Due to the smell, most folks prefer to do this process outside. Chop several pounds of suet into small pieces of about 1" square. Grind it in a food grinder if you have one in order to decrease rendering tome. For rendering, it is somewhat easier with less chance of burning if you melt your suet in a double boiler, however it will take a longer than heating over direct heat. If you use direct heat to melt your suet, do so over medium to medium-high heat to prevent burning and use extreme caution. Once the fat has completely melted, strain through cheesecloth and squeeze out any remaining fat from the solids.

Caution - It is highly recommended that you wear rubber gloves and use extreme caution as serious burns can occur.

 Once strained, set aside and allow to cool. Once cooled to a semi-solid consistency return it to a double boiler and re-melt the fat. After the fat is completely melted and liquid, allow it to cool again. Once the fat has started to thicken and congeal, stir in corn meal, flour and any other ingredients you wish until a thin-paste consistency is reached. Pour into a wax paper lined cake pan to a depth of about 1 1/2 inch thick or fill a lined loaf pan, muffin pans or other suitable molds (Lined Tuna cans make great "ready-made" molds of about the right size) and place in the refrigerator or freezer to cool completely. Once cooled, the suet can be cut into cage-sized cakes and stored in the freezer for several months. In the case of muffin pans and other small "cake sized" molds, the step of cutting the "cake" is eliminated and the individual cakes are ready to use. For convenience, suet may be frozen after the first rendering for later use in a variety of recipes and mixes and then re-heated.

Making suet cakes and treats

The he following are a few of the possibilities for suet cakes, suet substitutes and other suet treats for birds. these also make great projects to do with the kids and they will enjoy watching the birds eat the treats they made.

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Fun feeder projects

Suet and suet substitute feeders are easy and fun projects for young and old alike. Simple suet feeder baskets can be made by cutting 1/2"  hardware cloth to an appropriate size and shape and folding it into the shape of a box. The exact size and shape is not critical, but the depth should be no more than 1 1/2 inch thick for easiest use by the birds. When you make your box, leave the top open to allow insertion of the cakes. Attach your feeders approximately 5 to 6 feet off the ground directly to the side of a convenient tree.

For a fun project to do with the kids, try making pine cone feeders and feeding logs.

Pine cone feeder

Pine cone feeders are fun, easy to make and are favored by many small birds. They are commonly used with dough-type foods but work equally well with suet cake food as long as it is applied while the material is still hot. To make a pine cone feeder, simply tie a sturdy string to the top of the pine cone and then press it full of the dough. the feeders may be hung from a convenient limb or frozen for later use.

Feeding log

Feeding logs are fun, easy and also work best with dough-type foods. Adults should do the work of drilling the holes in the log, but the rest of the project is fun for kids of all ages. To make a log feeder, cut a piece of tree branch approximately 18 inches long and 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Drill several 1 inch diameter holes in the log approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep. Caution: Securely clamp the log to a bench or other suitable surface before drilling to avoid injury. A good choice of drill bits is a spade or paddle-type drill bit, as these have a pointed end that limits the bit from "walking" and causing injury. After the holes are drilled, screw a sturdy eyelet into one end of the log for attaching a wire or small chain for hanging. Press the holes full of dough food, hang and enjoy the show!

When we speak of nectar in the case of Hummingbirds, we are not speaking of any fruit juice product or a derivative of flowers. Nectar in this case is nothing more than a sugar water solution that serves the purpose of providing energy for the high metabolism of Hummingbirds. Nectar as a food source is easy to make by combining one part granulated sugar with four parts of water and bringing to a boil for a few minutes to dissolve all of the sugar. After the solution is cool, fill your feeders and refrigerator any remaining solution. Prepared solution will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator. It was once believed that red food coloring added to the nectar helped attract "Hummers". It is now know that this is not the case and adding food coloring to the solution has proved to be toxic to the birds in some cases. If you feel that an added enticement is needed, try attaching small pieces of red fabric or yarn to the top and bottom of the feeder. The naturally inquisitive nature of the birds will do the rest. But be patient, as it may take a few weeks before the birds find your offering. Once they do, you will be blessed with a steady stream of "jewels in flight" and be sure to keep your feeders filled to keep the procession coming back.

Never add honey to the nectar solution as Hummers can not digest it and the honey will provide an ideal environment for the growth of harmful bacteria. Hummers are sensitive to many forms of bacteria so cleanliness is imperative and the feeders must be removed and cleaned with a 10% bleach solution and rinsed thoroughly every few days in order to stop the growth of harmful bacteria. Bees and wasps can also be a problem as they are attracted to the sugar in the solution. Hummers will not compete with bees and wasps and will go elsewhere if they are present. So either purchase your feeders with bee guards or install them yourself. Additionally, never use artificial sweeteners in your solution. The chemicals in some sweeteners can be deadly to Hummers and the lack of calories if of no benefit to the birds who drink it solely for the energy that is derived from nectar.

A note on feeding Hummers. Hummers can be highly territorial and a male Hummer will defend his territory fiercely, driving off all other Hummers that come near. So place several feeders around the area and preferably not within eyesight of each other. In most areas of the country, feeders should be put out in March or April just as the Hummers start arriving back from their winter range and should be left out until the Hummers quit visiting in the fall. Then the feeders should be removed, cleaned and stored until the next spring. Contrary to some popular myths, leaving feeders out into late fall does not delay Hummers from their normal migration practices. The urge to migrate is driven by the amount of daylight or photoperiod and is not effected by the availability of food. In fact, leaving a ready supply of food available until the last of the stragglers leaves, helps to provide the energy needed for a long migration.

Add some grit to their life

It is a well known fact that birds do not have teeth to chew their food, but their food must be "chewed" none the less in order to digest it. Birds accomplish this by way of a specialized muscle called a "Gizzard". The birds swallow small gravels, sand, glass, metal, etc. to act as teeth within the gizzard. As the gizzard contracts, the food is mashed and squeezed between the grit, effectively "chewing" it. Often birds will consume egg shells to act both as grit and to provide calcium in their diet, especially in the spring during nesting season. You can help put some teeth and calcium in your feathered friends lives by providing some grit along with your food offerings. To do this you can purchase commercially available grit or make your own.

To make your own grit:

Sterilize egg shells by either boiling them for 10 minutes or baking them for 20 minutes at 250° F. Let the shells cool and then crush them into small pieces about the size of a hulled sunflower seed. These can be offered in a dish alongside or near your feeders. I find a mixture of different grits that small gravel, ground oyster shell and egg shells in equal proportions works well. Often, in the spring I will increase the ratio to 2 parts egg shell, 1 part oyster shell and 1 part commercial sand grit to help the birds during their "high calcium need" period. I prefer to offer grit on a small platform feeder to reduce waste and keep it cleaner and dryer. You might want to try offering a grit mixture on a raised platform feeder and egg shell only, in a ground level feeder for your ground feeders. The reason for this is that ground feeders are normally going to pickup all of the grit they normally need naturally, but they will still need additional calcium, especially at nesting season.

Give them a drink

There are three things every bird needs at all stages of their life - food, cover and water. Water is something that every bird lover should provide constantly, regardless of whether or not we supply a source of food. How often do well-meaning bird lovers provide a veritable smorgasbord of food for our feathered friends, but never give a second thought to water? This is not the best approach because birds will normally always find enough food. During spring and fall there is normally enough rain that this is not a big issue and birds can normally find this staple somewhere. But what about during the dry times of summer and the cold of winter when water is frozen solid? Additionally, with so many parts of the country experiencing drought, the normal rains that would provide this staple are not there. Wouldn't it be nice to give your visitors a reason to stay around all the time? For most of the year (at least for the folks who experience freezing weather), providing water can be as simple as a shallow pan filled with water in a protected area out in the open. But what about those times when the thermometer dips to below freezing?

Birds rely on water for both drinking and bathing all year round. You can provide this by placing water in dishes and shallow pans at various locations around your yard. There is no need to purchase expensive custom bird baths unless you wish to do so. The birds will be just as happy drinking from an upturned pan lid in a good location as they will a fancy copper birdbath. Many folks find it desirable though to integrate an artistic value along with a purely functional one when it comes to birdbaths and this is quite alright.

For best results, it is highly advisable to follow a few simple guidelines:

• Provide multiple birdbaths to reduce competition.

• Provide birdbaths at varying heights to satisfy the birds natural instincts. Place at least one directly on the ground and others at varying heights on stands and pedestals.

• Place at least one near to your feeding station or stations, but far enough away to prevent contamination from food.

• Birdbaths should be somewhat shallow and never over 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep.

• Provide birdbaths that do not have a slick bottom so the bird can get at least some traction to stand.

• Provide stones or limbs in the birdbath so that birds can drink without getting their feet wet.

• Change the water daily.

• Clean the birdbath at least weekly to remove algae and harmful bacteria. Use a 10% bleach solution and rinse well.

• Locate birdbaths in open areas away from bushes and other obstructions where predators can hide. Birds are most vulnerable while bathing.

• Provide at least one birdbath that is free of ice in the winter by either installing a heated birdbath or birdbath heater.

Caution - Always make sure to plug outdoor cords into properly installed GFCI plugs for outdoor use for your protection. Always use cords labeled for outdoor use and inspect them regularly for damage. Protect the plugs from moisture.

Helpful hint - Protect your plugs from moisture by placing the plug on a block or brick and then placing a weighted bucket over it that is slightly elevated to allow air to circulate inside. Never wrap your plugs in plastic! Moisture will accumulate in the plastic and may cause electrocution.

• Make your birdbaths more inviting by adding dripping water

• NEVER ADD ANTIFREEZE TO BIRDBATHS! It is toxic to birds and other wildlife.

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