GARDENING
Put the cat inside and the feeder out
By Carol Stocker, Globe Staff, 12/25/2003
Birds dine out every day and it takes only a little seed money to get their business. Here's a look at some of the fine points of running an avian restaurant. How can I keep squirrels from eating my birdseed? To deflect these freeloaders, "Hand-feeding Backyard Birds" author Hugh Wiburg of Wilmington uses two baffles, one immediately above his hanging feeder, the other spaced at least 15 inches above that. "A high-IQ squirrel can figure out how to get around one, but not two," he said. "They slide down the top baffle and bounce off the second," he said. Squirrels are not high jumpers, so the feeder need only be 4 feet above the ground, but make sure it is at least 10 feet from tree trunks and other launching pads.
The shop at the Massachusetts Audubon Society at Drumlin Farm, 208 South Great Road (Route 117), Lincoln (781-259-2214 and massaudubon.org), sells several kinds of "squirrel resistant" feeders. Droll Yankee of Rhode Island has the best names. The battery-driven Yankee Flipper gently sends the squirrels spinning off, while the Yankee Dipper and Yankee Whipper have collapsible perches, and the Yankee Tipper has a collapsible feeding tray. Starting tomorrow, many items at the shop, including birdfeeders, will go on sale.
Most "squirrel resistant" designs have feeder doors that shut when a squirrel lands on the perch. Wiberg says that his mother described seeing two squirrels holding down the counter weight while a third squirrel perched and ate. They reportedly took turns at this. "I hate the little buggers, but I admire them," he said.
What type feeder is best? Use several models and hang or post them at various heights to attract the widest variety of birds. Seeds should be sheltered from rain and snow.
What kinds of birds come to feeders? Black-capped chickadees, tufted titmice, mourning doves, goldfinches, cardinals, and house finches are common feeding-station frequenters. Suet feeders attract insect eaters such as Carolina wrens and woodpeckers. You can buy commercial suet cakes, but it's cheaper to buy chunks of beef suet from the butcher. What about the racoons who steal my suet feeder? Raccoons also love suet and will take the whole feeder home to the kids if it isn't bolted or wired securely to a tree or building. What birdseed will attract the most kinds of birds? Black oil sunflower seed is the favorite of most birds. "I don't recommend people using a seed mix," Wiberg said, "because there is so little sunflower seed in it, and that's what the birds are looking for, so they just pick through and spill it." How can I get cardinals? Cardinals are the only birds that eat safflower seed, but like most birds they prefer black oil sunflower seed. What seed do I use to get just cute little birds, not pigeons and starlings? Niger or thistle seed does the trick. Will the birds starve if I go away on vacation? No. Birds get most of their food from wild sources, and there are probably plenty of other backyard feeders on their rounds. Should I feed birds if I have a cat? Not unless it's an indoor cat, says Mass. Audubon naturalist Chris Leahy. Why do birds bang into my windows? Glass is invisible to them in certain lights, so paste decals on large windows that are near feeders or that have claimed bird casualties. How can I stop hawks from hunting the birds at my feeder? Hawks have to eat, too, but laying your old Christmas tree about 10 feet from the feeder will give the birds somewhere to scoot. Putting it closer, however, could hide pouncing cats. Do I have to clean my feeder? Don't let it get filthy or it can spread diseases among birds. What else can I do to help birds? Keep your cats indoors and join a land protection organization such as the Massachusetts Audubon Society. An introductory membership of $30 includes free admission to all sanctuaries and discounts on programs and items at Mass. Audubon gift shops. Visit massaudubon.org, or call 800-283-8266.
© Copyright 2003 Globe Newspaper Company.
