Children's Garden Club
Queeny Park - Greensfelder Recreation Complex
January 5, 2002
Feeding The Birds

There is a growing concern and uniqueness about the depth and feeling towards the feeling the general public has become more observant toward the care for wildlife in their backyard. The obvious availability of wide decorative choices of birdhouses has been increasing to the point of offering butterfly, ladybug houses, and bat houses.

Today's garden community is more in swing with nature and understanding the needs of wildlife. Overall research now shows the public understanding the relation and its rewards and benefits of bird helpful control of harmful insects, example the purple Martens. Some more rural communities have some wild life concerns such as deer eating their vegetation, but as an overall concern, we will address toward butterflies, bees and mainly birds today. Butterflies and bees are our natural pollinators and with studies on the interaction between plant animal offer to all sciences and our lives are so enriched when we can enjoy/live/learn how to co-exist in the world as a whole.

While many environmental problems may seem beyond your ready action, there are things you can do for improving bird population in your own property. Enjoy the motion from the wildlife in your backyard. Now is the time to enjoy what millions of Americans discover in the pleasures of attracting birds to their landscape. In fact according to a survey by the United States District of Interior, the appreciation of birds ranks second only to gardening as America's favorite pastime.

A fun way to attract birds into your yard with the snow cover, is to provide them with an attractive invitation to a winter feast which we will be making later, along with, cover and nesting sites. Happily, if you think about it, a good environment for birds is also a good environment for people and now here are some suggestions of plants that have beauty and purpose. Our state flower, the flowering Dogwood is a good example. The flowers in spring are enjoyed by all and now its bright red fruits are both showy and are readily sought by birds. Our state bird, the Bluebird declared on March 30, 1927 early captured the affection of men through their beauty and melodious songs and because their habits are largely beneficial to us, their preferred feeder foods are raisins and fruits, but they also sample bread, peanuts and peanut butter. Among the insects, Bluebirds normally eat, are grasshoppers, beatles, caterpillars and crickets in addition to the seeds or fruit from poison Ivy and Sumac berries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Currants, Asparagus berries, Choke cherry, Huckleberry, Sunflowers, Thistle, Corn, Millet, Peanut, Safflower, and Cotton easter, Virginia Creeper, bittersweet, Mountain Ash and of course the Dogwood.

To attract Bluebirds to your backyard, the dogwood is a great beginning. Grapes, Rose hips, a platform feeder and some water softened raisins. Missouri Department of Conservation has drawings/layout of how to build a Bluebird House.

Plants, of course, are a major element/part of the garden to entice the continual visiting to your yard. They are also a priority of the birds. No matter what style of garden you have from the rigidly formal to the wildly naturalistic, your garden functions in many of the ways to provide natural habitats for birds.

Even though your garden may already be hospitable to many birds, by intensifying the resources that attract them, you can encourage a wider variety of birds to view and spend more of their time in your yard/garden.

Here are a couple of backyard wildlife tips from the American Association of Nurserymen (AAN):

Provide adequate food by planting trees, shrubs, and plants that enhance or attract the wildlife.


Ensure your feathered and furry visitors have enough to drink. If you already don't have a birdbath or fountain or pond, you need to consider these options.


Take advantage of opening already built into your landscape by planting margins with dense foliage and give them also a fly path.

Some of the best bird plantings are Honeysuckle, Juniper, Barberry, Crab Apple, Hawthorn, Dogwood, Pine, Spruce, Hemlock - cones - Maple, Ash, Elm, Birch, seeds - Cherry, Mulberry, Mountain Ash - berries and Oaks - nuts.

You now have provided the basic guidelines of food, water, and shelter from predators, wind/cold and places to raise their young.

The National Wildlife Federation suggests to include the native plants in your landscape. They are usually hardier and require fewer extra needs to keep them healthy. Cut your lawn in half. Lawns are high maintenance and low wildlife value. Some water by dripping water, soaking plants and mulching. Pitch your pesticides and let predication reign. Recycle clippings and lawn waste by composting. Use natural fertilizers and ration chemicals.

Another successful way to guarantee a better flock to your property is by placing a wide range of feeders; hanging or pole mounted with sunflower seed; multi-seed feeders; window feeders; a ground tray feeder usually with crack corn or mixed feed; suet feeders and water.

How food is presented to birds is nearly as important as the type of food that is offered. Many styles and forms of feeders are commercially available, along with great project sheets and craft projects. The feeder should be easily seen. Criteria for placing a feeder and type from a tree, on a pole or attached to a window and distance from the house or/and traffic flow of humans and other animals. The feeder would disperse food as it is needed. The feeder should be protected from weather/moisture. Concern yourself for the feeding station aren't attractive just to the birds that you want to enjoy and feed. Unwelcome guests at the banquet may include squirrels and predatory cats waiting not so much the bird food but the bird itself.

Although the antics/play of the squirrels are fascinating to watch, they can be a nuisance in eating great deal of food away fear for the birds and I have had plastic tubes eaten out and large holes appear at the base and seed pours out uncontrollably. Squirrels can be very cleaver and unrelenting in their raids for bird feeders.

Feeders should be elevated at least five (5) feet off the ground, as squirrels seem to be able to climb/jump anywhere. The feeder should also be placed 8 to 10 feet away from nearest building, tree or overhang of house, branch or branches. Feeders mounted on poles/posts can be somewhat squirrel proofed by fastening smooth, metal, funnel-shaped collar or a round flat sheet-metal around the most that spans a distance of 18 inches. Some feeders you can buy that have a bar that closes down with weight of a squirrel vs. a bird is on it and shuts off the feed doors and feed supply.

If cats harass the birds in your garden be sure to place bird feeders well of the ground - at least 15 feet from shrubbery and other hiding places. A cat out in the open is rarely successful in catching a bird. Hanging a bell around the cat's neck will help alert birds to its presence.

If you feed the birds, you're in good company. A 1991 report from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services estimates that 63 million Americans provide food for wild birds.

Many people question when is the best time of the year to start feeding birds. Do you need to feed the birds all year long? Feeding birds all year long is your personal preference. A Wisconsin researcher noted Chickadees which used feeders had a month to month winter survival of 95% compared to 87% in wild birds with no access to feeders. If you enjoy watching the birds at the feeder(s) year round, feeding is okay. Their diet shifts with seasons and will dictate the frequency of use of the feeders. Late summer/autumn before winter has set in is most recommended in order for the birds to get into feeding routes. Continue well into spring - leaves are out and also the insects. In placing your feeder - remember reasonably sheltered from wind and rain. Will your feeder be easy to reach when there is lots of snow and wet ground? In good site from your kitchen or that special window(s). What is the best seed to get for the feeders - what birds do you wish to attract? Purchasing a mix or individual seeds - favorite choices are Safflower, striped sunflower, old-type sunflower, thistle, and peanut kernels.

A quote from Bob & Rita of Wild Birds Unlimited: "Suet is a high energy, pure fat. Fat substance which is invaluable in winter when insects are harder to find and the birds need many calories to keep their little bodies warm. Birds that eat suet will still feed on natural food sources such as insect, insect eggs and grubs to get a well rounded diet."

You can landscape for winter color by choosing plants that keep their berries or seeds well into the cold months. Two favorites of mine are the deciduous hollies that drop their leaves while the colorful red berries remain, the Winterberry, Hawthorn and Persimmon.

For those who like evergreen hollies, we all enjoy the American holly and the Blue hollies or Meserve hollies. A reminder hollies need both a male and a female plant present for good or any berry production. The Winter King Hawthorne has a long period of color fruit, as does the Washington Hawthorn. Among the crab apples, the Sargert, Zumi, Red Jewel and White Angel are enjoyed by the birds. The American Cranberry bush Viburnum Trilobum is ornamental and birds quickly eat its berries. These are a few good selections to landscape your yard for birdscaping.

For an extra enjoyment, a window feeder can provide an interesting clasp show. These can attach directly to most windows. The introduction of a bird feeder to your landscape can be done during any season. You can join the more than 1 ½ million Missourians who are involved in this leisure activity, according to a recent survey conducted by the Missouri Department of Conservation. It is noted that easy access for the birds and yourself is recommended. It is recommended to be aware of the wide variety of seed available and to note the different seeds different birds prefer, from the Black or Striped Sunflower, Millet, Cracked Corn, Peanut, wheat, oat, Niger "Thistle." I will hand out a copy of the Missouri Department of Conservation's brochure for "Backyard Bird Feeding" or stop by the Missouri Department of Conservation at Powder Valley. It may take a while for the birds to feel comfortable with the activity coming from inside your house but be patient and enjoy.

With the holiday just past, but think about for the holiday season 2002 is to make strings of cranberries, popcorn and cherries make garland for your outside trees. Peanut butter pinecone treats are what we are going to make now.

Douglas R. Wolter is a horticulturist with St. Louis County Department of Parks & Recreation.