Backyard Bird Center: FAQ




	THE NORTHLAND'S LARGEST SELECTION OF FEEDERS, SEED MIXES & BINOCULARS

White-breasted Nuthatch
Photo by Mary Nemecek

Why is a cardinal/robin/bluebird banging repeatedly against my windows?

Each year certain species of birds see their reflection in windows and they just can't live with the potential rival in their territory. Generally it is made possible due to the sun angle on your windows causing a nice mirror effect. If you are lucky, the sun angle changes and the "rival" bird goes away and it doesn't last for a very long time. Remember that the mirror image of themselves and your yard also prevents them from seeing anything inside. Visual deterrents such as rubber snakes and owls must be placed on the outside of the windows. You may find that covering the window for a few weeks with a screen, paper or even spray on frost is your only way to stop the banging. Covering side mirrors on your cars with old socks works well for the same problem there.

Why can't I get the hummingbirds I see in the spring to stick around for the summer?

In the spring it is all about the set up of territories and finding a suitable place for a nest. if you have birds at your feeders in the spring but not during the early summer it usually means the females didn't find nesting conditions she wanted in your "yard". Don't feel bad, most of us do not have nesting hummers. The good new is the easiest time to attract them to your yard in the late summer. The more dedicated you are to your flowers and landscaping in the spring will pay dividends later.

Do birds really need seed now?
If you think about what is happening in the plant world during the spring, you quickly realize this is probably the most important time to provide seed for the birds. The natural seeds and berries that birds have been feeding on all winter are gone and freshly growing plants will not be producing any seed for quite a while. When you factor in the number of returning species like Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings, there is a good reason to feed birds for them and for us.

Northern Cardinal love sunflower and safflower Photo by Pat White

I read that you should save up your dryer lint and put it out for the birds for nesting material?
No. Do not place dryer lint out for the birds. I know that several publications a few years ago put this out as a way to help the birds and Ornithologists have been trying to undo this damage ever since. The fear is that the small dust that is present in lint will be dangerous for the hachling's lung. We have many good alternatives here at the store. Nesting material wreaths, bells and cages can be filled over and over again with various refill packs that contain a mixture of strings, feathers, cotton etc.

FROM SUMMER 2010…

Early Spring Male
American Goldfinch
Photo by Teresa Havens

Why do birds gather in flocks?

In short, there is safety in numbers. Many if the flocks we see this time of year are gathering to "fatten" up before their journey south for the winter. If one of the group finds food, they all find food. If one of them spots a hawk, the rest of them benefit from the early detection. if a predator tries to catch a memeber of the flock, the greater the number of individuals in the flock the more options for evasion there are.

When will my hummingbirds be leaving? Should I take my feeders down to make them leave?

Hummingbirds like other birds are triggered by day length to start their migrations. Because flying is so costly on a bird's body, they have to fatten up to survive their nightly flights (one reason they defend feeders so vigorously this tome of year). By keeping your feeders out and filled late into the fall, you may help a late migration bird that is coming through when natural food is scarce. In the past few years, we have consistently gotten reports of hummingbirds at feeders through the first week of October.

Where do our orioles go in the winter?

While I have see Baltimore Oriole in costal North America in winter, I believe most of our birds spend the bulk of their winters in various habitats in Central America. I have read that they take advantage of the trees left in shade coffee plantations.

Cedar Waxwings eating berries from a dish
photo courtesy of Diana

I keep seeing commercials for a bird seed that is supposed to attract pretty birds. Is their's any different than your blend?

Summer Tanager photo courtesy of Rick Jordahl

other than being twice as expensive as our house blend, there is very little difference. I always say that a sunflower is a sunflower no matter what color the bag is. A customer brought in one of these expensive bags of seed recently and here is what I found. They include four seeds that I would never use in my premium general seeds (white millet, red millet and canary seed nyjer). I do not use at all and nyjer is a finch seed that should be limited to use in finch feeders. Trying to put too many kinds of seed in the same bag, more often than not, leads to problems with less desirable birds.

2 0 0 9…find out the answers!

Fall of 2009 What kind of a affect do you think this cool, wet summer will have on the birds? Can I use an extension cord with my bird bath de-icer? Will my birds freeze to something metal if they bathe in the winter? My dads is convinced the cheap bag of bird seed he gets at the grocery store is perfectly fine for his birds. He is on a limited budget, what can I tell him?	Winter of 2009 Why didn't the robins fly south this winter? The plastic Purple Martin house I had last year has fallen apart but the pole is still good. What can I do? I am hearing a lot of birds singing right now. Who sings, the males or females? I see lots of finch mixes in the stores. What do the goldfinches like the best?
Summer of 2009 How do I keep the deer out of my feeders? I have been seeing a cardinal with no feathers on his head. Is he going to be OK? Could I have seen an albino sparrow at my feeder? I love the little Red-Breasted Nuthatches. Will we be seeing them this year?

2 0 0 8…find out the answers!

Fall of 2008 Where have all of my woodpeckers gone? Are bird seed prices going to ever come back down? What are the big hawks I see sitting along the highways these days? I just love the little White-throated Sparrows and Juncos. What do they like to eat?	Winter of 2008 I haven’t seen nearly as many robins or bluebirds this winter. Where are they? I have had a neighborhood cat killing the birds in my backyard. What can I do? Why can’t I get anything to use my birdbath? When do the grackle return?
Spring of 2008 Where did my goldfinches go this spring? How do I keep the birds from building a nest on my porch light? Is there anything I can place out that will help the hummingbirds with their nesting? Has everyone been seeing lots of different birds at their oriole feeders this year?

2 0 0 7…find out the answers!

Fall of 2007 Where do our hummingbirds go in winter? Could I have seen a Red-breasted Nuthatch already? I’ve seen a hawk hanging around my feeder. Is that why I have fewer birds right now? I live in an apartment and my feeders can’t make a big mess. What seed do you recommend?	Summer of 2007 Why have the squirrels been so bad at the feeders this summer? My bluebirds started nesting so late this year, do you think they will try a third nesting? How long will my orioles and hummingbirds stick around? I saw a cute cat shaped bird feeder at another store. Why don’t you carry those? I’ve notice bird seed prices have gone up. Why?
Spring of 2007 What affect will the April “Freeze” have on our birds?? The male cardinal has started banging at my window again. Is there anything new to keep him from waking us up at sunrise? If I cut back feeding during the summer, what feeders should I leave out?	Winter of 2007 Ever since the cold weather settled in, the starlings are driving me crazy. What can I do? I had a raccoon get into my bluebird house last year. What can I do to protect them? When do I stop feeding suet? Is it too late to put out a heated bird bath? When will the Birding Software you sell be available for my Apple?

2 0 0 6…find out the answers!

Fall of 2006 Do we have any of those huge Pileated Woodpeckers in our area? When will my birds be back? I have the smallest bird I have ever seen eating on my suet. It seems to move around a lot, any idea what it is? What is the best way to keep the seed in my feeders dry? Why do the starlings have white spots on them now?	Summer of 2006 Have there been more Indigo Buntings than usual around this summer? As hot and dry as this summer season has been, do you think bluebirds will try to nest three times like they normally do? How do I keep the ants and bees out of my hummingbird feeders? Is there anything I can do to keep the raccoons out of my feeders?
Spring of 2006 Is it OK to lower my martin house and clean out sparrows’ nests while the martins have eggs? Should I add anything to my hummingbird nectar to make it better? Where are my goldfinches that I had all winter? Why can’t I get bluebirds to nest in my yard?	Winter of 2006 I love chickadees. What is the best food and feeder for them? Why has my peanut feeder been so slow this winter? Isn’t it about time for the blackbirds to show up? What can I do to battle them? What is the latest on the Ivory-billed Woodpecker? I don’t always remember to fill my bird bath as often as I should. Are there any alternatives?

2 0 0 5…find out the answers!

Fall of 2005

Where have all of my birds been?

Is there anything new in the battle against squirrels?

Is there a difference in suets?

I have been hearing a lot about the Bird Flu. Should I stop feeding birds?

Summer of 2005

How do I attract Gray Catbirds?

Would it do me any good to put up a Purple Martin house this late?

Some of the bird names in my field guide are wrong. Who decides on bird names and why do they change them?

Should I store my birdseed inside or outside?

Spring of 2005

Do you ever hear from Dale of the old Dale’s For The Birds store?

What is your favorite bird song CD?

I know that orioles like grape jelly. What other birds can I expect to see feeding from it?

How many times do birds nest during a year?

How often should I change my hummingbird nectar?

Winter of 2005

I hear the cage feeders are great at keeping out squirrels and starlings. Is there a way to easily make a cage feeder out of one of my tube feeders I already have?

I have seen a hawk hanging around my backyard. What kind is it and what can I do to protect my birds?

I have so many house finches at my feeders, my goldfinches can’t seem to get a turn at the feeders. What can I do?

I love Blue Jays. What should I be feeding them?

2 0 0 4…find out the answers!

Fall of 2004 I heard that this could be a severe winter. What can I do to help the birds? I love Snowy Owls but have never seen one. Do we ever get them here in Missouri? My parents have been feeding birds for years and seem to have everything. Is there a “new” feeder you would recommend? I saw the Shade Grown Coffee display in your store the other day. Do birds eat coffee?	Summer of 2004 I get so frustrated by the grackles flinging all of the bird seed out of my feeders. Why do they do this and how can I stop it? The bees are running off my orioles and hummingbirds, what can I do?
Spring of 2004 Last spring I had a cardinal repeatedly banging into one of my windows. What is that all about and will he return? I found a baby bird in my yard. What should I do? Where do Hummingbirds nest? I never got orioles to come to my feeder last year. What can I do different?	Winter of 2004 Where are all of the birds this winter? When is the best time to try feeding mealworms? What was the flicker you had pictured in the last issue eating? How can birds walk around or stand in the icy cold water?

2 0 0 3…find out the answers!

Fall of 2003

When will my finches come back?

How can I keep birds from striking my windows?

What are the best binoculars for my kids?

I have been seeing lots of bluebirds lately. Don't they leave?


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