For the Birds

October 22, 2012

It is that time of year again, isn’t it? The roses are cut back. The leaves are turning colors, and soon we will be raking and bagging the falling ones. The grass seed and last dose of fertilizer has been put on the yard, and an extra layer of mulch is around the flowers and bushes. The hummingbirds have flown south (hopefully), and now it is time to take down their feeders and put up the bird feeders. 

When the snow flies and the weather turns cold, our little feathered friends get hungry. In the past, I have gone to my local store and purchased a large bag of generic mixed seed. After all, if I was a bird and I was cold and hungry, wouldn’t I eat just about any kind of seed? Well, apparently I do not think like the average bird. It seems like more seed ends up on the ground than what is eaten. Those birds certainly are picky! So I checked out a book at the Library called North American Birdfeeder Guide. Apparently, I was putting out the wrong food and using the wrong kind of feeder. This book has beautiful colored pictures of birds and ideas on which bird feeder to use. It also shows how to build your own. This book also has helpful advice on the kind of plants that certain birds like to use for cover and for food.

During the cold winter months ahead, have some fun and feed the birds! It is so much fun to watch them flock to your feeder. You will be amazed how many different kinds of birds you will see. Your local MCPL branch has many good books on bird species and feeding ideas. There is also a magazine that most branches carry called Birds and Blooms, which I personally have found to be very helpful. 

Rexanne A.
Edgerton Branch