Any Season / General
Questions
Q.
How can I attract cardinals to my feeders?
A.
Cardinals have very specific feeding preferences. See us for the best seed and
feeders to attract them.
Q. The smaller birds scatter when the Blue Jays come to the feeders.
What can I do about it?
A. Get them their own peanut feeder. They love peanuts and will leave your other feeders alone.
Q. Where can I get more birding information?
A. Try our website, www.wildbirdfeeding.net We have lots of valuable
information that will help you draw more birds to your feeders.
Q. Is
all black oil sunflower the same?
A. Most
sunflower is small, dusty, and contains lots of weed seeds. Ours is the
cleanest, largest and best in the area. Guaranteed the best you’ve tried or
your money cheerfully refunded.
Q.
Does bird seed lose quality when it gets old?
A.
Absolutely. Seed from some stores may sit on the shelf for six months or more,
and is less desirable to the birds. We get our seed fresh weekly. Guaranteed
the best you’ve tried or your money cheerfully refunded.
Q.
Why don’t I have any birds at my feeder?
A. It
could be unattractive seed, a poorly designed feeder, lack of cover, or a
predator nearby. Give us a call or stop in and we will help you get those
birds you want!
Q.
Are all peanuts for birds the same?
A. Most
are rejects from candy factories. They are usually small, dark, or have skins
that birds don’t like. Ours are grown and roasted specifically for birds. Your
money cheerfully refunded if they’re not the best you’ve tried.
Q.
How many feeders can I have in one spot?
A. We
recommend no more than three on one pole. Too many feeders lead to too many
feces on the ground and the potential for disease. We sell a variety of pole
setups to fill all your needs.
Q.
How often should I clean my bird feeders?
A.
Whenever they appear dirty, but a minimum of once a month. It is safest to use
an enzyme based cleaner made specifically for bird feeders. We have it in
stock now.
Q. Do
I need to clean my bird houses out?
A. Now
is a good time to get rid of old nesting material that may harbor parasites.
You may want to take them down and scrub them out with an enzyme cleaner,
available at our store. Avoid harsh cleaners that can harm the birds.
Q.
What is the best food for house sparrows?
A. We
recommend that you do not feed house sparrows. They are an exotic species that
kills our native birds. They love low quality seed mixes. See us for the
foods that sparrows won't eat.
Q. I
have several bird song CD's but am looking for something different. What do
you suggest?
A. Try
the "Identiflyer". It's a fast, easy way to learn birds songs. We
carry several styles.
Q. I
have a very stylish feeder, but the birds don't like it. What can I do?
A. Most
decorative feeders do not work well. We carry only those that the birds like.
Try one of our beautiful copper and brass feeders- they really work!
Q.
Why do I keep getting squirrels at my squirrel proof feeder?
A. It
could be improper placement or just a poorly designed feeder. Give us a call
or stop in and we’ll see if we can solve your problem for you.
Q.
Birds keep hitting our window and dying. What can I do?
A. Try a
product called Window Alert. These are clings that reflect ultraviolet light,
which the birds can see but we can’t. They will nearly eliminate bird strikes.
Q.
Are all bird feeders alike?
A. No!
There are many feeders on the market, most of which do not work very well.
Stop in and we’ll show you the ones that really work!
Q. Is
cracked corn good to feed to birds?
A. Avoid
all cracked corn unless you are trying to attract squirrels or ducks. Corn in
your bird feeders will attract House Sparrows and European Starlings, which
kill our native birds.
Q. Will
wind chimes scare away birds?
A. Birds
adapt quite readily to the movement and sound of wind chimes.
Q. Is
there any way to keep my bird bath cleaner?
A. Add
Carefree Bird Bath Protector, a non-toxic enzyme, to your water. This will
keep the organic materials from adhering to your bath.
Summertime
Q. How
can I attract orioles?
A.
Orioles love oranges, nectar, and grape jelly. We have many specialty feeders
just for them.
Q. Do
I need red nectar to attract hummingbirds?
A. Red
dye could be harmful to hummingbirds. All you need is a little color on your
feeder to attract them.
Q.
How often should I change my hummingbird nectar?
A. Once
a week in cooler weather, every two days in the summer.
Q. Why
is there so much uneaten seed under my feeders?
A. Your
seed may have fillers that the birds don’t like. Try a higher quality seed.
Q: Can
I feed raw suet in the summer?
A: Suet
is the fat surrounding cow kidneys. It is fine to feed in cool weather, but
will spoil in the summer. Use a processed suet cake instead.
Fall
Q.
Will leaving my hummingbird feeder out prevent them from leaving for the
winter?
A.
Hummingbirds rely on the length of daylight to tell them when to leave. You
can leave your feeders out through mid October, until freezing becomes a
problem.
Q. Do
I need to get my bluebird houses out now (fall) to be in time for the first
hatch?
A. No.
There will be plenty of time in the spring, as long as you have them out by
April 15th
Q. If
I don’t get a pole system in before freezeup, will I still be able to attract
birds?
A.
Absolutely. There are plenty of great deck hangers and hanging bird feeders
that can be put out in the winter. It’s never too late!
Q.
Help! All I am getting at my feeders are starlings and sparrows. How do I get
rid of them?
A. Try
our Mobi nyjer feeder. Starlings and sparrows can’t feed at it. Exclusively
at the Wild Bird Center.
Q. I
see some native sparrows passing through as they migrate. How can I attract
them to my feeders?
A. They
will be around for a few weeks during migration. Sprinkle some white millet or
hulled sunflower on the ground or place some in a ground feeder. They love it!
Q.
What are those little gray birds with white bellies that I see all over the
ground under my feeders? What do they like to eat?
A. What
you are seeing are juncos. They spend their summers in the boreal forest up
north and spend their winters here. They love white millet or hulled sunflower
sprinkled on the ground or in a ground feeder.
Q. Is
there anything I can do to help provide shelter for the birds in winter?
A. You
can place a roosting box in your yard. It provides a warm place for the birds
to spend the night. Try our Convertible Cottage-it works as a roosting box in
winter and converts to a bluebird house in the spring. Exclusively at the Wild Bird Center.
Winter
Q.
How do birds get water in the winter when everything is frozen?
A. They
eat snow, which depletes their body heat. You can help them by offering a
heated birdbath. We have many styles in stock.
Q.
Will bird's feet stick to metal perches in winter?
A. No,
even after getting them wet in the heated bird bath, they will not stick. They
have very dry, cold feet in the winter that lack sweat glands.
Q. Can
birds freeze to death if they bathe in a heated bird bath in winter?
A. Our
native birds know to stay out of the water when it is extremely cold.
Occasionally starlings, an exotic species that kills our native species, will
bathe and freeze to death. You are helping the native birds greatly by
offering water in the winter.
Q.
Can I leave my glass and ceramic birdbaths out in the winter?
A. Glass
and ceramic may break if water freezes in them. We recommend plastic baths for
winter. We have bird bath heaters that will keep the water open even in the
coldest weather.
Q. I
have noticed robins around this winter. How can I help them?
A. Offer
them water in a heated bath and waxworms or raisins to eat. We carry a great
selection of baths and canned waxworms.
Q.
Where have all goldfinches gone?
A. They
are still here, they have just changed to their olive green winter coat. They
will prefer our finch blend over straight nyjer (thistle) seed in the winter.
Try it-your money cheerfully refunded if not satisfied.
Q. I
understand that birds are especially fond of suet in the cooler weather. Can I
put it in an onion bag?
A.
Bird’s legs can become entangled in the netting and they can freeze to death.
Use a feeder specifically designed for suet instead.
Q. I
leave for Florida after Christmas. If I feed the birds until then, will they
become dependent on my feeders?
A.
Studies show that any one feeder is, at most, 20% of a bird’s food supply in
the winter. They will be just fine after you leave. Go ahead and feed them.
Christmas Time
Q. My
dad really enjoys seeing how weather affects the birds. Do you have any
suggestions for a Christmas present for him?
A. How
about a weather station that shows changes in barometric pressure? He will
enjoy seeing the increase in bird feeding as a storm approaches.
Q. My
mom worries about the birds on these cold winter nights. Is there anything I
get her for Christmas to help the birds?
A. A
roosting box will provide a warm place for the birds to spend the night. She
will sleep better knowing her birds are warm.
Q. My
dad resides at an assisted living apartment. We’d like to get him a bird
feeder for Christmas. Is there one he could stick on his window?
A. We
have many window feeders that will bring the birds close to your dad. Fill
them with hulled sunflower and he will have mess free feeding.
Q. I
want to teach my children about birds. Do you have any ideas for Christmas?
A. We have several good children’s books, bird house and bird feeder
kits, plush birds that sing, and other great Christmas gifts for kids.
Q. My
mom feeds suet from the grocery store. Do you have any Christmas ideas for
her?
A. How
about a suet feeder and a case of quality Wild Bird Center peanut suet? Our
suet contains nuts to attract many more birds than grocery store suet.
Q. I
want to get my mom some premium seed for Christmas. Do you have any
suggestions that work well for winter feeding?
A. It’s
hard to beat hulled sunflower. Just about every bird loves it and it supplies
much needed fat for winter survival.
