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We spend so much time in the summer encouraging the birds to visit our garden and eat as many of the pest as they can, but now it is time for us to give back.
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In the fall, I move my bird feeders to a spot in the garden where I can see them from my office window and by moving them closer it makes it easier to fill them with feed.
I am sure I am not the only one who has a love-hate relationship with squirrels. I have found a few tricks that allow me to feed the birds more than the squirrels.
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I start with what is supposed to be a squirrel-proof bird feeder. There are many different styles, but most work with some sort of spring- loaded door and when the squirrel’s weight is on the perch, the door closes and no seed with come out. But trust me, squirrels figure out a way to get the seed out.
You can also buy bird seed that has red pepper flakes in it. The squirrels do not like the smell or the taste of the red pepper and tend to leave the seed alone. I have been known to mix about a teaspoon of red pepper flakes to four cups of seed and make my own as it is often hard to fine the premixed seed.
I have three feeders in my yard. One is full of black oil sunflower seed which is a favourite for blue jays but is popular with most birds as the shells are easily opened.
I also have a feeder with a mix of seeds such as sunflower seed, cracked corn, millet, and perhaps some shelled peanuts. I make sure the seed has been crushed into small pieces, remembering the size of a bird’s beak. Niger or thistle seed is good, too, but needs a special feeder with slits instead of holes so all the seed does not fall out. And then, there is suet cakes which are high in fat to help maintain weight for the winter.
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