Other backyard birdwatchers?

Once I put out some food and a bird bath, how long will it take to attract some birds? Will they still visit during the winter? I have put out some suet, and a dripping bird bath within our covered patio (the only “yard” we have). I have sprinkled some bird seeds on top of my girls playhouse for now, since my husband has yet to make me some bird houses and feeders. But I was hoping that at least getting out the suet, some birds would come along and snack. I see birds in our front yard a lot, but never in the back (but there is no front window for us to watch them through).
I did order a used Backyard Bird Feeders Bible by Roth online (for only $2- I can’t wait to get it). And I do have the suet hanging on one of the wooden “poles” (for lack of a better word at the moment) in the corners of the covered patio..so at the edge. Where I plan to hang the bird feeders as well.

It will take a few days for birds to find your feeders. You also need to remember that birds have their own schedule for feeding and that may not be when you’re watching. Early morning is when you see the most activity, and in the 24 hours just before a storm. Food needs to be restocked regularly, if they can’t depend on the food being there they won’t come or won’t stay. It also needs to be fresh (suet can become rancid) and the feeders need to be cleaned occasionally. You also need to use feed the birds will eat–those supermarket mixes aren’t always the seed your native birds like. Millet (the round white seeds) is usually thrown off by birds, but Niger thistle, sunflower, and peanut hearts are eaten by most birds. Cracked corn is a favorite, too, as well as an occasional apple cut in quarters.

Feeding them in a covered area may also not be attracting them (sorry), especially if there is a lot of activity on your patio, and it isn’t the best place to want them (birds poop everywhere and can carry some nasty things you’d rather the kids didn’t get into). And if the neighborhood cats find that the birds are easy to get to there…..

BTW, if you want a simple feeder without waiting for hubby, take a plastic milk jug and cut windows in the four sides, leaving about a 2 inch deep bottom and put seed in that to hang. Scatter cracked corn around the edges of bushes for the ground feeders. An old cookie sheet on a log off the ground makes a tray feeder. A mesh onion bag (smaller mesh) will hold sunflower seed and a fine mesh bag is available for thistle seed that the little birds love. Hang suet cakes in an onion bag, too. If your Christmas tree is still kicking around, build a teepee of long sticks (6 foot bamboo garden stakes work well, or trash trees cut when clearing out brush, if available) and support the tree inside it. Hang feeders from cross braces on the teepee and in the tree. If you have an open area–no trees close by–birds are hesitant to fly in and feed, no cover from predators, including cats and hawks, and that old tree gives them a place to hide.

Come spring, plant bird friendly flowers in your yard, sunflowers, echinacea, hollyhocks, fucshia, monarda. Even in small spaces these will bring feathered friends in, even hummingbirds (monarda and fucshia attract them). You want to feed, even lightly, year round to keep them coming.

Remember, though, once you start, don’t stop, don’t forget the feeders for a week, or in bad weather. Your birds will come to depend on you as a source of food and they will abandon you quickly if you aren’t reliable.

Nancy Today: Making Birdfood oatmeal and peanut butter

House SPARROW – on on seeds, nut a suet feeder Photo Mugs WAT-5422 House SPARROW – on on seeds, nut a suet feeder Passer domesticus M. Watson Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way. contact details prints ardea tel and 44 (0) 20 8672 2067 ….

Red-breasted Nuthatch – eating suet Photo Mugs JZ-3418 Red-breasted Nuthatch – eating suet Maine – USA – February Sitta canadensis Jim Zipp Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way. contact details prints ardea tel and 44 (0) 20 8672 2067 ….

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