That depends on who you want to invite. Here's a list that will help you prepare the menu for your feathered guests.
First of all, no matter who your guests are, birds need fresh water. Very cold or dry weather may be when water is needed the most. Birds love to bathe and people love to watch them. Even the sound of running water will attract birds. And bathing birds attract people!
What to put on the plate - so to speak...
Sunflower seeds are a favorite for Finches, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Scrub Jays, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Titmice, Mourning Doves, Buntings, Grosbeaks, Juncos and Sparrows. Black oil sunflower seeds are a high quality feed for them since these seeds are a high energy and nutritious food source packed with protein and fat and leave less waste than some other seeds.
Another highly nutritious seed rich in protein and fat are the thistle seeds or Nyjer. Goldfinches, House Finches, Purple Finches, Redpolls, Siskins, Juncos, and even Mourning Doves eat thistle seeds. Nyjer Feeders with tiny openings limit which birds can feed and it seems that squirrels don't like thistle (nyjer).
Suet (animal fat) and Peanut Butter, rich in proteins and fat, provide needed energy for wintering birds like Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Chickadees and Titmice. To this list, add Mourning Doves, Sparrows and House Finches that will eat peanut butter. Most birds will eat some suet. You can make your own by mixing animal fat or vegetable oil with bird feed, peanut butter and fruit. Since the fat tends to become rancid in warm weather, feed it in winter. For warmer weather, skip the fat and oil and just use peanut butter.
Shelled Peanuts and Whole Peanuts in the shell are highly nutritious for the birds that can eat them. **Always use unsalted nuts. Bluejays, Scrub Jays, House Finches, Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Magpies, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Titmice, White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows eat peanuts. Take note that squirrels love peanuts too.
Cardinals, Mourning Doves, Finches, Grosbeaks, Jays, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Titmice, Song Sparrows, and White-throated Sparrows enjoy Safflower seeds, also rich in protein and fat.
Another popular mixed blend filler is Millet. The white variety is prefered by House Finches, Mourning Doves, Cardinals, Buntings, Juncos, Towhees, Blackbirds, Pigeons, Song Sparrows, White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows, as well as English Sparrows.
Corn is enjoyed by Bluejays, Mourning Doves, Juncos, Blackbirds and Sparrows. It is a particular favorite for Pheasants, Turkeys, Partridge and Grouse. *Take note that Pigeons, Starlings, cowbirds and squirrels also like corn.
Migrating birds and early arrivals regularly encounter shortages of their usual feeding sources so make sure fruit is made available for them. Add dried blueberries and dried cranberries to increase the variety of birds in your yard. Cardinals, robins, orioles, thrashers, catbirds, waxwings, warblers, tanagers, and flickers will eat these dried fruit. Oranges are also enjoyed by some, especially the Orioles.
Let's not forget our beautiful friends, the hummingbirds. There are many Nectar producing plants for hummingbirds. Here are a few: Trumpet Honeysuckle, Trumpet Vines, Honeysuckle, Monarda, Coral Bells, Salvia, Fuchsia, Petunia, Corydalis, Impatiens, Firecracker, Lillies, Belladonnas, Hibiscus, Lantanna, Snapdragon, Ivy Geraniums, Cigar Plant, Quince...and the list goes on. Though red seems to be the color that attracts them the most, try other colored flowers too. Plant large, thick gardens or simply plant nectar producing flowers in window boxes and view them from up close. Keep in mind that hummingbirds visit a lot of flowers to get a little nectar. Here's an interesting fact: Hummingbirds also eat insects visiting and living in the plants and even make nests from spider webs.
If you're lucky, you may even get birds to eat from your hand. If you place feed in a cup formed by your palm upturned and fingers pointing up for a perch, you may see Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, White-breasted Nuthatches, Tufted Titmice, Bluebirds, Evening Grosbeaks, Redpolls, Jays, and Chipping Sparrows. Since birds see well from a distance, they will easily notice you are holding feed.
Enjoy planning the menu and watch the birds enjoy their meal!!
Posted by snackshackforbirds.com
Information taken from www.50birds.com
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