Invite happiness into your backyard with bird feeders
October 12, 2021
Shared by Laura Cook
Bird Research Coordinator
Birds make us happy!
While some of us have known this for a long time, science agrees. Recent studies link birds with happiness and boosting our sense of well-being.
Feeding birds adds joy to your life and you can also help some birds by supplementing their food. Cornell University analyzed 30-years of Project FeederWatch data and found bird feeders do benefit some bird species such as Northern Cardinals. Warner Park Nature Center has participated in Project FeederWatch for 25 years!
Please be a good host.
The most important aspect of putting out bird feeders is to keep the feeders clean. Bird feeders and the debris below the feeders must be cleaned regularly. This can help prevent the spread of diseases such as conjunctivitis and Salmonella which was quite prevalent during last winter’s irruption year when we had so many Pine Siskins visit us.
Pine Siskin - Photo by Charlie Curry
This summer, an unknown illness killed numerous birds in the Mid-Atlantic region (no confirmed deaths in Tennessee) – this just emphasizes the importance of keeping your feeders and the area beneath the feeders clean.
How to clean feeders
- Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned and refilled several times a week during our warm summers. You should clean feeders regularly with warm water and some small scrub tools to get those hard-to-reach spots.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Photo by Charlie Curry
- Given the recent unknown illness this summer, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency recommends seed feeders should be cleaned once per week. I disassemble my bird feeders first and then use a large bucket with a solution of 1:9 water:bleach solution and scrub away any dirt and debris. I then let them air dry before filling the feeders up with seeds.
- Additionally, you should remove the debris and seed husks from below the feeders as this an area of high disease transmission. I use a small shovel to do this and dispose of the waste in a garbage bag.
- Bird baths should also be cleaned regularly. I give mine a quick scrub and hose mine daily. This daily cleaning makes it quick and easy to clean, but the birds in my yard seem to know when I have added fresh water and come down right away for a drink or bath.
Types of feeders & seeds
Given the importance of regularly cleaning feeders, I plan to have just a few bird feeders placed strategically in my yard so I can view them easily. Here are some of my favorites:
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Photo by Charlie Curry
- Seed feeders: I like black oil sunflower seeds that are whole, husked, or cracked in squirrel-proof tube feeders or on a pole and baffle system.
- Suet feeders: While Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers love my suet feeders, I am always surprised at the variety of birds that use these feeders. I hang one in the front and back yard at my house. I like to mix up the types of suet (peanut, berry, etc) to see which bird prefer which types of suet.
- Thistle (Nyger) feeders: American Goldfinches love these seeds. Whether you use a fine mesh ‘sock’ or metal tube, for me the key is to only put a small amount of thistle seed in at a time. If the seed get wets, it can quickly spoil. Cracked sunflower seeds can also be used in these feeders.
- Hummingbird feeders: While I put out 6-8 hummingbird feeders during peak migration from early July through mid/late September, I also leave up 1 hummingbird feeder throughout the winter in hopes of getting one of our wintering hummingbirds. Personally, I use saucer feeders because they are easier for me to keep clean. But many are convinced hummingbirds prefer inverted saucers. Either way – keep them clean and do not use red dye just a simple 1:4 sugar: water solution. It’s also nice to use an ant trap just above the feeder - they keep ants from getting inside your feeder and many birds such as American Goldfinches and Carolina Chickadees seem to prefer drinking from these.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird and American Gold Finch - Photo by Charlie Curry
A note about squirrels
Squirrels are amazing creatures and always seem to find a way to get to the food in your feeders!
Squirrel on Feeder - Charlie Curry
- Place the feeder on a tall shepherd’s hook that is at least 5’ off the ground and 8’ from a tree or fence where they can jump – this may deter them.
- Attach a squirrel baffle to the shepherd’s hook below the feeder.
Be an even better host
Inviting these beautiful animals into our yard is a gift. In addition to having clean feeders, you can do even more by following these simple tips to help birds:
- Provide a water source such as a bird bath
- Plant native trees, shrubs, and annuals that can provide food and shelter
- Ensure your windows are bird friendly to avoid deadly window strikes
- Keep your cats indoors or in a catio.
My cat, Cooper, is a happy indoor cat - Photo by Laura Cook
Get inspired at the Sandy Bivens Bird Garden at the Warner Park Nature Center.
Sandy Bivens Bird Garden - Photo by Laura Cook
Thanks to a generous donation, Warner Park Nature Center has installed a beautiful garden designed for birds. We use native plants, a beautiful water feature, bird feeders, and have bird-friendly window treatments.
The BIRD Program is funded by Friends of Warner Parks, in collaboration with Warner Park Nature Center and Nashville Metro Parks and Recreation. This year marks the 40th year of the WPNC Bird Banding Station thanks to our dedicated volunteers, staff, and partners!
Please support our legacy bird research and public engagement programs with a donation, become a member, and volunteer with Warner Parks. #ProtectTheBirds #ProtectWarnerParks.
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