If you follow a few simple rules, learning to feed birds is relatively easy. One reason is that they can be satisfied with a variety of different foods. In fact, they can easily eat many of the same foods that we do. Given a preference most would probably choose to dine on insects. In many cases, however, insects are scarce and they have to find alternative sources of food. This is especially true in winter when insects have either died out or burrowed deep into the ground or trees to hibernate.
As you go about setting up feeder stations in your back yard or garden, you can easily put together a menu that will attract birds to your garden throughout the year.
One of the best foods of all to feed birds is peanuts. That is, as long as you avoid the roasted and salted peanuts that you find at most stores. Buy raw and uncooked peanuts. In addition, you will probably find peanuts in a variety of sizes - from jumbo to small. Get the smallest size that you can.
Done this way, they'll be appropriate for birds of all sizes - big and little. Also, when you purchase them, get a few bags or more so you won't have to keep going back to the feed store. When you get them home, store them in a cool, dry place and they will last through the season. Now, other nuts are good as well. But there are hardly any birds that won't find peanuts appetizing.
Birds also love sunflower seeds as a nutritional staple. And, just like with peanuts, sunflower seeds are best left raw and unsalted. Sunflower seeds are extremely nutritious. Not only for birds, but for humans as well. Interestingly, if you order seeds from a supplier, you'll find that some of them make a distinction between sunflower seeds used for winter feeding versus those that are better for summer feeding. Other suppliers, make no distinction. It's not a big deal so simply go with the flow of whatever supplier from whom you are ordering the seeds. Birds are very forgiving.
Birds love many of the same foods that we do as anyone observing bird behavior can attest to. Just take a look at city parks around the nation. You'll see them filled with retirees sitting on park benches and feeding bread crumbs, cereal, snacks, and so on to birds. Surprisingly, as well as bread, birds seem have a love for dog food as well.
Buy a bag of good quality dry dog food, set it out on one of your feeders, and you will be surprised at how fast it disappears. And, birds love fruits as well. If you have a fruit tree or bush in your yard, you have a natural food source that will attract birds from all around. But, even if you do not have a fruit tree, you can cut up an apple or peach, or lay out some berries on the feeder, and the birds will love it.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://article2008.com/images/feed-icon.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://article2008.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites