It has been extremely cold this year in North Carolina. In the past, January has been a good time to plant and prune trees. Winter sow native seeds. Mulch around garden beds to keep plant roots nice and warm. Mulch also creates hiding places for hibernating creatures. It is also a great time of year to feed the birds. Without foliage on the plants birds become more visible. They are looking for food, which is scarce for them this time of year. There has however been a rise in bird illnesses, which is something to consider when filling up your feeders. I want to recommend some tips to help the birds, while being able to feed and view them.
Bird feeders in general make a mess. Discarded shells from seeds and bird droppings. This is the most important aspect of bird illness that we don’t think about. We need to be diligent about cleaning up droppings and shell fragments. Birds like people are susceptible to multiple diseases and it is important to mention that if we feed them we need to consider approximation to other birds that frequent bird feeders.
Birds eat from feeders differently. Some are perch feeders, some are ground feeders, some prefer suet feeders. It’s beneficial to offer multiple feeders, as bird species tend to prefer one or the other. Woodpeckers for example prefer suet feeders so offering this will limit their proximity to other species. Wren’s like a flat surface with shelter, cardinals are perch feeders. Giving them some space will help mitigate the spread of diseases.
Another useful tip is cleaning feeders before refilling. While time consuming, you will be doing a great service to our feathers friends. Never use harsh chemicals such as bleach or disinfectant on feeders, as it will make the birds sick. Stick with a mild dish detergent and vinegar to clean and disinfect. Dissembling the feeder will help get out old seed. Using a wire brush will help get hard to reach crevices. Drying throughly will prevent mold. Using this method before refilling will help the spread of bird illness.
I hope this article helps bird enthusiasts like myself. I get so much joy from watching them at my feeders, however with this comes the responsibility to ensure their health is my top priority. It is safe to say that if you are not doing the above mentioned it is best to take your feeders down for now. Not giving them an option to conjugate is the better alternative.
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