The first step to attracting birds is food. Read part one of this blog to help you choose which seeds will work best for you.

It is important for birds to have a source of water in the winter. If you do not live near a flowing water source, it is recommended that a source be artificially made. A bird-bath heater, or product such as a “water-wiggler” will keep an open source available for the birds in the coldest temperatures. Place your birdbaths under cover, and near a food source if possible.

A water heater is a great investment for your winter birdbath. Water is essential for birds in the winter. Without it they may look elsewhere for a source and food.

The next step is shelter. Birds need cover in the landscape to protect them from predators and inclimate weather.  Choosing the correct landscaping plants can provide food, shelter and a nesting site,  all in one plant. Keep in mind that birds nest from the ground up, so it is important to have layered plants in the yard.

Shrubs, bramble fruits and small trees such as Chokecherry, Honeysuckle, Raspberry, Serviceberry, Sand cherry, Blackberry, Blueberry, Mulberry, Plum, and Elderberry provide summer fruits May-August. These are perfect for birds such as Brown thrashers, Catbirds, Robins, Thrushes, Waxwings, Woodpeckers, Orioles, Cardinals, Towhees, and Grosbeaks.

Consider planting bramble fruits in your yard. They are a great treat for both you and the birds!

Fall fruiting trees provide ample energy for migrating birds, and non-migrating birds who need to be in top physical health for the upcoming winter months. Fall-fruiting plants include Dogwoods, Mountain ash, Winterberries and Buffalo-berries.

Mountain Ash trees provide fruit well into the winter. They are a favorite of birds such as the Cedar Waxwing shown here.

Evergreens play a very important role throughout the year. In the summer they provide shelter for nesting, and cover from predators.  Important evergreens to use your yard include the Eastern white pine (used by over 48 spp. of birds!), Balsam fir, Eastern red cedar, spruces and the Eastern hemlock. Consider using evergreens at the corners of your yard to provide wind shelter and cover.

Evergreens are important year-round for shelter and nesting sites.

Grasses play an import role in your landscape for birds. In the winter they provide excellent cover, and many produce seeds. Grasses should be used near forest openings and around evergreens and yards edge. In the summer they provide cover for ground-nesting birds and their young.

Perennial grasses are important cover for ground-nesting birds and their young.

Orioles are another well sought-after bird in the yard. You can attract them by planting Hollyhock, Trumpet vines, Daylilies and Cherry, Plum, Apricot and Almond trees.

Together, with providing the right combination of trees and shrubs for shelter and food, you will find your yard to be a oasis for the birds!

Providing the correct amount of cover and food will keep birds in your yard year-round!

Introduction to the seeds:

Safflower

Safflower seeds are light in color, and have a bulbous end, and a pointed end.

Safflower is a member of the Thistle family. It has a high oil content that provides lots of energy that can be converted into body heat. Safflower is a favorite of Cardinals, also enjoyed by Tufted Titmouse, Chickadees and Nuthatches. Not a favorite of Blue Jays and Squirrels.

Safflower has long been used for its dyes and flavor. In more recent times,  the seeds have been used to extract a cooking oil similar to sunflower oil. Safflower is also used a cheap alternative to saffron in the kitchen. In the past couple of years, Safflower has been genetically modified to create insulin. Safflower-derived human insulin is currently being studied and developed for future use.

Safflower is a member of the thistle family. Traditionally the flowers are orange or yellow. Safflower has recently become an important plant for its potential as cooking oil and deriving human insulin. Those same oils help birds generate heat in cold weather.

Sunflower

Striped Sunflower Seed

These large seeds are essentially the same seeds that humans eat,  just on a small scale. These seeds are screened and sorted by size with the humans getting the larger, better quality seeds, and the birds getting the smaller seconds.

Striped Sunflowers are preferred by Blue Jays, Evening Grosbeaks, Tufted Titmice, Cardinals, Nuthatches, Chickadees and other songbirds. They are a great distraction food for large birds such as Grackles that can overwhelm small feeders and keep small songbirds away. They are also an inexpensive treat for squirrels. Use these seeds on an open platform feeder to keep large birds away from feeders.

Black Oil Sunflower

Black oil sunflower seeds are a highly nutritional food that will attract most songbirds to your yard. Use it is tube feeders and deck feeders. You should periodically clean up the empty shells from around the feeders to avoid the spread of disease.

Black oil is one of the most popular seeds in the backyard feeder. The shell of the seed is thin and easily broken by small birds. Inside the seed is one of the most nutrient-rich seeds, and has a high nutmeat to shell ratio. The high oil and fat content provide instant energy for birds, which is crucial in the winter.  It is recommended by the US Fish and Wildlife Service that black oil seeds be used year-round to promote healthy weight and energy in songbirds.

Black oil seeds are the most preferred seed, to the largest number of species. It seems that the only two species that do not prefer them are the Starling and  Tree sparrows.  Chickadees and nuthatches have been known to store Black oil  seeds for later consumption in the winter months, and remember where, and how many they have stored.

Black-capped Chickadees are social birds, and can be fed from your hand with some patience. They love black oil sunflowers and will store them for use during harsh weather and extreme temperatures.

Sunflower Hearts

These are  also known as hulled sunflower, chips and kernels.  Hulled sunflowers are usually sold as chips, but can also be found whole.  The benefit to a hulled sunflower is that birds waste no energy extracting the seed from the shell. Even birds that aren’t equipped to eat shelled seeds seem to dine on sunflower hearts.

Birds such as Robins, Bluebirds and Thrushes will dine on pieces from the ground. You may also choose to use a ground screen to place them on in the spring. This will keep the seed from getting lost and allow them to completely dry after rainfall.  Using the seed in moderation will prevent spoiling. Also use them in a feeder that is protected from the elements, such as a baffled feeder to further prevent rotting.

Sunflower hearts are a favorite of goldfinches. Be sure to keep the feed dry as its spoils quickly without a shell.

Nyjer “Thistle” Seed

Nyjer seed is cultivated in India and Ethiopia, as it has been for thousands of years. The Early-bird variety is grown here in the United States. Nyjer, is in fact, not thistle seed at all, nor is it related to a thistle. To prevent misunderstanding, the Wild Bird Feeding Industry trademarked the name Nyjer in 1998.

Nyjer seed is not thistle. It is often thought that Nyjer comes from Canadian Thistle (Cirsium arvense), an invasive weed.

All imported Nyjer is sterilized to prevent the accidental introduction of the noxious seed of the Dodder plant. The Dodder is a serious pest because it can parasitically attach itself to a host plant.

Nyjer seed is small, and quite costly, but birds really get the the bang from your buck. The seeds have high calorie content, and are high in fats and carbohydrates. It is a favorite feed of Goldfinches, Juncos and Redpols. I have even seen Carolina Wrens feeding from my Nyjer feeders this winter.

Nyjer seed is quite small and often misunderstood. It is a definite way to attract finches to your yard!

It is best to use a feeder specifically designed for Nyjer feeds. Nyjer socks are a quick, inexpensive and fun way to feed finches, and I have not had any trouble with the squirrels bothering them. Tube Nyjer feeders are another great option!

If your skeptical of sock feeders, try a small size out first. Then you can graduate to a larger size!

Peanuts

Peanuts are a must-have if you love squirrels and large birds. Even if you don’t love them, peanuts are a great distraction to keep them off of your songbird feeders! Peanuts and peanut pieces are a great alternative to sunflowers for Mourning doves and Blue jays and Woodpeckers of all kinds.

Flowerland offers both bulk and bagged peanuts.

The best place to display peanuts in the shell for birds, is a platform feeder. Here many birds can access them at once. It is not uncommon for smaller birds such as Chickadees to sneak in and steal the smaller peanuts. Peanuts will get moldy if not consumed fast enough, so put out accordingly.  Make sure to never feed birds salted peanuts!

A platform and peanut feeder are two examples of how you can present peanuts shelled, and not, to your birds.

There are feeders made specifically to keep squirrels away from peanut pieces. You can also use poles and baffles to keep them away from this special treat!

Corn

Cracked corn

Cracked corn is an excellent feed for ground birds and squirrels. It is preferred by Mourning doves, Blue jays, Juncos, Juncos and Woodpeckers. In the evening, depending on where you live, you may even see Pheasants feeding on it. Corn is high in carbohydrates and vitamin A.

Whole corn

A great choice for backyard critters, large birds, and woodpeckers! Corn is also available on the cob for feeding squirrels and deer and adventurous birds!

White Millet

White millet is a low-cost feed that is a favorite to doves, juncos, sparrows, towhees, quail, bobwhite and Indigo buntings. For other birds, it is their second choice after Black-oil Sunflower. Millet is best enjoyed by its fans, straight off the ground. It is also a very common seed to mix and blend with other seeds.

Millets are in the grass family Poaceae. They have a thin shell, that is easily broken by most birds, but prevents it from weather damage so it may be used on the ground.

Take some time to feed your feathered friends their favorites! It is always best to use a variety of seeds and feeders to attract the greatest amounts of species to your yard. A buffet for the birds will keep you coming back to your feeders for winter bird-watching enjoyment!

Happy Birding

I am going to use our special holiday blend to make my wreaths, but you can use any seed you wish. If you use a bigger seed (i.e. sunflower) you may need to slightly increase dissolved gelatin levels used.

Making a birdseed wreath is an easy and fun project to do with kids, or on your own. Not to mention, if your wreaths don’t work out we have an easy way for you to cheat!

Materials:

• (4) Cups of Holiday Bird Seed (or seed of your choice).

Our Holiday Bird Seed is fun and colorful and is on sale for only $2.99 a bag!

• One Box of Clear Gelatin (1 oz total)

Gelatine can be found in baking isle in your local grocery store for around $1.29 a box.

• (2) approx. 6″ Bunt pans (your choice of size and shape)

No bunt pan-no problem! I purchased these at a local thrift store for .99 cents each.

• (3/4) Cup Water
• Small mixing bowl
• Small Saucepan and Large pot for mixing seed

The mixture cleans up really easy-so no worries for your pans!

• Raffia ribbon ($2.99 for a large bag found at all of our stores)
• Cookie Sheet

Step 1: Mix 1/4 cup water and two .25 oz packets of gelatin into the small mixing bowl. Mix with a spoon and let set for one minute.

It is very important to mix the gelatin well and to let it sit for one minute before moving on-otherwise your seed will not set properly.

Step 2: Boil 1/2 cup water. Pour into setting gelatin and stir until dissolved.

Dissolve the gelatin into boiling water fully as you stir.

Step 3: Pour dissolved gelatin water into large mixing pan. Immediately begin to pour and stir in 4 cups of measured birdseed.

Poor seed slowing into dissolved gelatin mixing as you go.

Step 4: Continue to turn seed into gelatin, making sure all seeds have been coated.

Stir seed until it has been fully covered in dissolved gelatin.

Step 5: Spoon mixture into bunt pans. This recipe makes about 2, 6″ wreaths. Use wax paper to push and compact seed.

Compact seed into mold by presing firmly with wax paper. Smooth out bumps and holes on back as well.

Step 6: Place in refrigerator for 4 hours.

Your seed will be firm yet slightly maluable. Be sure not to pick them up before they go through the drying process.

Step 7: Remove from pans onto cookie sheet. Turn upside down and use a bit of force when placeing on cookie sheet-they should pop out easily. If you used metal bunt pans you may need to soak bottoms in hot water for 1 minute to release the wreath.

If you have used metal bunt pans, you may need to soak your wreaths in hot water for one minute to help them release from the mold.

Step 8: Set in a cool/cold location for 24 hrs to dry (I set mine outside and it worked fine). Note: The refrigerator is too damp to allow complete drying, choose an area such as your garage, basement or outside instead.

It takes about 24hrs for your wreaths to set. Don't try to move them as you will cause the gelatin to pull apart.

Step 9: Tie raffia ribbon around top half of wreath. Try to spread ribbon out so it is not just pulling on one spot.

You can make your raffia as simple or complex as you wish. Try tying a bow, or using red raffia for extra color. I choose raffia because it will decompose naturally and birds can use it to make nests in the spring.

Step 10: Enjoy watching birds eat from your creations!

The birds were camera shy...but love the wreath. It has even held up through our recent rain and bad weather!

Note: You don’t have to use a bunt pan if your don’t want to make a wreath. You can also use small cake pans, bread pans to make bird seed blocks.

Setting a block of seed in an area that is protected will make birds feel at ease when feeding.

If all goes well: I have seen so may birds eating off the wreaths I put up last week including Chickadees, Nuthatches (Rose-breasted too!), Titmouse, Downy/Hairy Woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens and even finches.

If all dosn’t go well: We still have our Holiday Birdseed Wreaths for sale, and they are on special for only $9.99!

Lets face it... sometimes buying is easier than making!

Happy Holidays, and have a safe and Happy New Year!