CALLING ALL BIRDS

When I moved to my farm in Bedford, I noticed that the bird population was not what I had expected it to be. I saw jays, robins, red-tailed hawks, a random woodpecker, and lots of crows, but no finches, nuthatches, chickadees, or juncos. I soon made up my mind that I would try to increase the bird population on the farm, and I started a program to entice all types of feathered friends. We used a variety of seeds in feeders placed under the eaves of my garage. I also installed bluebird houses here and there on the property, owl houses high in the trees, and large feeders for birds near wetlands, in old apple trees, and next to carriage roads for easy visibility.

And it worked! After just three months, a check of the bluebird houses revealed that each one had inhabitants. Two owl houses had attracted new tenants, and all the feeders were visited with increasing regularity by many different birds. It appeared to my unpracticed eye (I was not a trained birdwatcher) that each type had a specific feeding time and would arrive en masse to devour vast quantities of seeds. I became a major purchaser of bird food—safflower seeds, black-oil sunflower seeds, thistle, and nyjer, to name a few.

To make my birdwatching even more exciting, I have installed a couple of bird cameras which are motion-activated, and I have been rewarded with some spectacular photos. A pair of powerful binoculars and a digital camera, as well as bird guides, are also good to have on hand.

I look for sturdy, well-built bird feeders that are easy to fill and easy to clean. When purchasing, keep in mind that certain seeds need specific feeders so that birds can extract the seeds.

As for feeding birds, I start the moment the weather turns cold, when there are fewer seeds and berries available. I keep feeding until early summer, when nature once again sustains these voracious eaters.

This year I am looking forward to welcoming even more types of birds to the yard and the fields. What fun this all is—both for me and the birds.

Barn swallows above, nestled in a corner inside my garage. All but one seemed to be saying “cheese” in unison for this photo.

During the fall migration, be sure to keep your feeders clean and well-stocked. To attract a variety of birds, I use a few mixes that include flock-pleasing black-oil sunflower seeds, which have a higher fat content than the striped variety; cracked corn (note that it spoils easily and needs to be stored in a breathable container); and white proso millet, for ground-feeders, such as sparrows and juncos.

Tube feeders with small holes are filled with oil-rich niger seeds for finches, buntings, and red polls.