Helping the Wild Birds at My Farm
During this time of year, the bird feeders at my farm are filled with chirping hungry wildlife.
Winter is a difficult time for wild birds, especially here in North America - days are short, nights are often cold and long, and natural food supplies are scarce or hidden by snow. I have a number of bird feeders at my farm, and all the birds love to come by and feast on the seed I provide. I also set out fresh water and cut holes in the burlap covers over the boxwood, so birds are able to take shelter during inclement weather. Helping the wild birds is important to sustain local wild bird populations, but it is also one of the easiest and most beautiful ways to observe and appreciate wildlife and to understand the types of birds that frequent the neighborhood.
Enjoy these photos. And remember, Daylight Saving Time returns this weekend, so be sure to “spring forward” one hour before you go to bed tonight.
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- Behind my carport I keep a long row of bird feeders for visiting avian friends. During winter, I hang 20-feeders under the eaves – in spring and summer, about half that amount. They are checked and refilled every morning around 7am. It’s important that I feed the birds all year long – they depend on it.
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- Feeders should be set up where they are easy to see and convenient to fill. They should be placed where seed-hungry squirrels and bird-hungry cats cannot reach them, and if near a window, no more than three feet from the glass to prevent possible collisions.
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- All my wild bird seed is stored in galvanized metal cans and kept inside my generator room next to the carport.
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- This is a wild bird seed mix. This includes white millet, black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds and cracked corn. The birds love this seed.
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- When filling the feeders, we use a pole with a hook on one end. Each feeder is carefully removed from its hanging location and refilled on the ground.
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- Here is a closer look at the pole with the handy hook at the top – it works very well and makes filling these feeders very easy.
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- Phurba fills every feeder to the top – depending on the time of year, these feeders can quickly empty.
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- These tube feeders allow the seed to flow only when birds peck at it, which helps keep any spillage to a minimum.
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- My bird feeders are refilled every morning – sometimes midday as well, if the birds are extra hungry. Each tube feeder holds about three quart-sized containers of seed. This is a black-capped chickadee. These birds are highly curious about everything, including humans. Its black cap and bib, white cheeks and gray back, wings and tail make it an easy bird to distinguish and identify.
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- This bird is at a feeder filled with nyjer. Nyjer is a great seed to offer birds, especially in winter because it contains more oil, and a higher calorie content, so birds can store fat to survive the season.
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- Some of the birds perch patiently in nearby trees until they’re ready to feast.
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- Others sit on the branches of the apple espalier.
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- Many birds prefer tube feeders – hollow cylinders with multiple feeding ports and perches. Tube feeders attract small perching birds such as finches, goldfinches, titmice, and chickadees.
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- Here’s a downy woodpecker – the smallest woodpecker in North America. Even if your bird visitors are not entirely dependent on your food supply, try not to leave them without food. If you plan to be away, fill extra feeders, or ask a willing neighbor to continue feeding your birds until you return.
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- On the other side of the carriage road, under my clematis pergola, are several more feeders that need refilling. This is my Martha Stewart Copper Bird Feeder available on Martha.com. This handsome feeder attracts many avian visitors through the day. The birds love to perch on the copper lip and watch the activities around the farm. You can also find wild bird seed on my web site at Martha.com.
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- Phurba begins at one end and brings down each bird feeder. Here, he stops for a quick photo.
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- This feeder has four feeding ports and the lipped tray to catch any fallen seeds.
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- Phurba uses the long pole to return the feeder to its hook – always careful not to step in the garden bed below, especially at this time as many of the precious bulbs are just beginning to emerge.
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- It won’t take long before the birds come flying – the birds love this location.
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- Phurba also puts seeds in a couple metal trays on the ground. My peafowl love to come up to my terrace parterre for afternoon snacks.
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- I also feel it is important to make sure all the wild birds have access to fresh water. I use one of these double wall metal chicken waterers on top of a heater to prevent freezing. Made of galvanized steel, these waterers are clean, durable and can hold a couple gallons of water.
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- Pet bowls of water are also left out. Night temperatures are still freezing here in the Northeast, so every morning, Phurba removes the ice and replenishes the supply.
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- Some of you may have seen the holes cut out of the burlap here at the farm. I purposely create these holes for the visiting birds. They love to go in and out, especially when it is windy.
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- The feeders are visible from my Winter House steps – it’s always so nice to see what bird come to eat at my feeders. Look closely – this feeder was filled to top shortly before the photo was taken. The wild birds are hungry!
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- When starting to feed birds, it may take time for new feeders to be discovered. Don’t be surprised if the feeding station doesn’t get birds right away. As long as feeders are clean and filled with fresh seed, the birds will find them. According to our Audubon Society, more than 125 bird species visit my farm – and in summer, guess what? They take care of all the bugs – I never see any pesky flying bugs near my home. Helping the wild birds – it’s a Good Thing!
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