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Frequently Asked Questions1. What is the best feeder for small birds? 1. What is the best feeder for small birds? Small birds will use almost any type of feeder, but if you want to minimize the number of large birds, then use a tube feeder without a tray. Tube feeders are very popular, and have perches that make it difficult for large birds to use. The Droll Yankees A-6 or B-7 is an ideal tube feeder and each has a life-time warranty, even against squirrel damage. 2. How do you eliminate grackles and starlings from feeders? Grackles and starlings can sometimes be a nuisance at bird feeders. They flock in large numbers and invade backyard-feeding stations to the exclusion of many more attractive songbirds. There are two main ways to minimize grackle and starling invasions: choice of an appropriate seed and choice of the correct feeders. Try using safflower seed. Do not mix this seed with anything else. Use it straight. Grackles and starlings will normally not eat this; yet, cardinals, finches, chickadees, titmice and jays readily eat it. I have also seen wrens, downy woodpeckers and nuthatches eating this seed at my feeders. Choose a feeder that excludes grackles and starlings. These feeders have cages around them that exclude large birds, but permit the smaller songbirds to enter the cage and eat from the tube feeder. Not all feeders with cages surrounding them will deter these large blackbirds. Three of the more successful feeders are the Duncraft selective, the Varicraft Furstrator and Varicraft AV-1M. Both starlings and grackles love suet; but so do the woodpeckers, wrens, nuthatches, chickadees and titmice. The Duncraft suet selective feeder and the Avian Aquatics suet sandwich both work well to deter grackles and starlings. The bottom suet feeders by Wildwood Farms and Woodlink work on the principle that grackles and starlings find it very difficult to hang upside-down while eating. 3. What is the best way to attract cardinals? Cardinals are generally considered to be ground feeders. They love sunflower and safflower seeds as well as split peanuts. These foods should be served in a platform feeder (feeders with large landing areas for cardinals). These feeders should be placed on the ground or on top of a pole. Cardinals shy away from hanging and swinging feeders. The pole-mounted platform feeder can be protected from squirrels with the use of a baffle mounted on the pole beneath the feeder. Open tray or hopper feeders from Woodlink are good choices for cardinals. Squirrel proof feeders that close under the weight of a squirrel are also great choices for feeding cardinals while keeping the squirrels at bay. 4. What are the basic elements of a backyard bird sanctuary? Three elements are essential for a backyard bird sanctuary: water, food and shelter. All of these items can be natural or one or more of them can be introduced. Shelter is provided naturally by vegetation. If you are designing a backyard bird sanctuary, think about planting a variety of plants – some low growing, dense shrubs, intermediate sized pants such as dogwoods and some dense larger evergreens. You may want to consider nesting boxes to provide additional sources of cover for cavity nesters such as wrens, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and woodpeckers. Unless they are a danger, do not remove dead trees or snags. These often provide ideal homesites for woodpeckers and owls. If water is not available, provide birdbaths. Birdbaths should be shallow, the water changed regularly and cleaned frequently to prevent algal growth. Most birds prefer ground baths or baths on pedestals. Hanging baths are the least favorite of the birds. Your plantings can provide many sources of food for the birds. Seed and fruit producing plants should be included in the sanctuary. Of course, you can supplement these natural foods with bird feeders filled with food they most prefer: a platform feeder filled with a good mixed seed (Wild Bird Marketplace Deluxe), a tube feeder filled with sunflower seed, a Niger (thistle) feeder for the finches, a nut or suet feeder for woodpeckers and small clinging birds, a ground feeder with mixed seed for doves, cardinals, towhees, white throated sparrows and juncos, a nectar feeder for hummingbirds and a fruit feeder for robins and orioles. 5. Should I feed the birds in the summer? Some people do not feed the birds in the summer. Actually it’s a lot of fun to feed the birds in the summer because the parents often bring their babies to the feeder and show them how to eat. Naturally occurring seed can become quite scarce in early summer because the plants have no yet flowered and produced seeds. The birds are still relying on the seeds produced by last year’s flowers. Birds do not lose their ability to forage. Even during the dead of winter, most birds still obtain 70% of their nutritional needs from foraging. It’s ok to stop feeding birds for a period of time, but it may take several weeks to attract them back once you start feeding again. Suet is a high-energy food that is often eaten by birds, which normally consume large quantities of insects. When insects become scarce, these birds will frequently turn to suet. Woodpeckers, wrens, nuthatches, titmice, chickadees and starlings are particularly fond of suet. Suets can be fed year round. No-melt suets are best for hot summer feeding, while the year-round suets are better for fall, winter and spring feeding. Visit our on-line store for pre-packaged suets. 7. Can I feed suet in the summer? Suets can be fed year-round. Special, no-melt suets, are best for summer and hot weather feeding. The year-round suets may melt or drip in direct sun, so it is best to use these in the non-summer months. 8. What is the best seed to use? There is really no one best seed to use. It depends on the feeder you use and the type of bird you are trying to attract. Sunflower seed is the most universally preferred seed of backyard birds. We generally recommend putting sunflower in tube feeders. Small birds like chickadees and titmice will take one seed at a time and fly to a perch and crack open the seed by pecking at it. The finches, which have much stronger beaks, are able to stay at the feeder and crack open the sunflower seeds with their beaks. Mixed seed is frequently offered in platform and hopper feeders. These feeders accommodate a wide variety of birds of different sizes and a good mix offers something for everyone. Niger (thistle) seed is offered in a special niger feeder and is used to attract finches, especially the goldfinch. 9. Which birds prefer platform feeders? The platform feeder accommodates the greatest variety of birds from the small chickadees to the ground feeding doves. If you want the greatest variety of birds at one feeder, your choice should be a platform feeder filled with a good quality birdseed mix. 10. When do Hummingbirds arrive? For those east of the Mississippi, a frequent question is, "When do the hummingbirds arrive?" In the Philadelphia, PA region, the hummingbirds are welcomed back each year about May 1st. Depending on weather conditions, especially the passage of strong fronts, the hummingbirds may arrive sooner or later. The return trip from Mexico of the ruby throated hummingbirds reaches the Gulf States about March 1st and Nova Scotia about June 1st. 11. How do I make up the sugar solution for hummingbirds? Hummingbird nectar can be prepared by adding one part table sugar to four parts of hot tap water. There is no need to boil the water, but this sugar solution should be changed about every 3 - 5 days during the hot summer months. Keep your feeders clean and your hummingbirds happy. 12. How do I keep squirrels from my feeder? This is the number one question from all people who feed the birds. There are four ways to minimize squirrel activity at bird feeders. The first way is to use birdseed that squirrels do not like. Both safflower and niger seed fall into this category although I have been getting some reports recently that extremely hungry squirrels will attack niger seed feeders. There are also a few squirrels that have acquired a taste for safflower seed. The second method is to provide squirrels with a feeder of their own and fill it with corn, peanuts and sunflower seeds. It can be fun to watch the squirrels at their own feeding table. The third and most effective method to deter squirrels is the use of a baffle. Pole mounted baffles like the Erva cylindrical baffle and the Woodlink conical shaped baffle are extremely effective in preventing squirrels on the ground from accessing the feeders. Squirrels can jump about eight feet horizontally, so these feeders must be placed at least this distance from launching structures such as railings, bird baths, trees, etc. Hanging tube feeders can be protected quite effectively by using a hanging baffle paced between the tree limb and the feeder. It is almost impossible to protect a hanging wooden feeder by use of a baffle, because as the squirrels fall off of the baffle, they can get a claw on the wood. The fourth method is to use squirrel proof feeders. Many feeders on the market appear to be squirrel proof, but only a few are really effective. Those that are the best include: the Heritage Farms Absolute, Absolute II and Birds First Choice, Homestead’s Super Stop a Squirrel, Droll Yankee’s Big Top, Arundale’s Mandarin and Sky Café, Noel’s 310 Squirreless feeder, Duncraft’s Squirrel-proof Selective, Varicraft’s AV-3M and AV-1M, and of course SDI’s solar powered electrified feeder. While none of these feeders is probably 100% effective, they are the best on the market and have made feeding the birds much less frustrating. 13. Does adding hot pepper to the seed deter the squirrels? Hot pepper sold under the trade name, Squirrel-Away, can be somewhat effective in deterring squirrels. It is not fool proof and many of my customers claim that it does not really work. The birds are unaffected by the pepper. We believe, however, that there are much better ways of controlling squirrels such as using baffles and squirrel-proof feeders. 14. I have seen electrified feeders. Do they hurt the birds? There are a few electrified feeders being marketed. None of them injure the birds. Birds do not have sweat glands in their feet and the cartilage of the birds’ feet is non-conductive. We carry two different types: a solar powered feeder manufactured by SDI and the new Droll Yankees Flipper. The SDI (squirrel defense initiative) feeder is a platform feeder that holds over eight pounds of seed. The solar cell on the copper roof the feeder converts light energy into electrical energy, which gives the squirrels negative reinforcement when they try to rob the feeders. A single D-size flashlight battery provides back up for cloudy days. The Droll Yankees Flipper is brand new this year and like all Droll Yankees products, is exceptionally well made and comes with a lifetime warranty. 15. Is water necessary for attracting birds? Birds need water for drinking and for grooming. Generally, they can find naturally occurring sources of water. But during droughts, in dry climates and when water is frozen, it is important to provide a water source for attracting birds. Birdbaths should be cleaned regularly and the water changed frequently. Birdbath heaters or birdbaths with built-in heaters are especially popular in the northern states. An unfrozen water source can be as effective as food in for attracting birds to your backyard. 16. How do I keep cats from killing the birds at my feeder? Cats are a difficult problem – especially when they are not your own. I have a cat who is strictly an indoor cat and who enjoys watching the birds at my window feeders. If your cat goes outside, tie a bell on it so the birds can hear it coming. Also keep feeders and birdbaths away from the immediate areas where cats are likely to hide. If your neighbor’s cat is the problem, the best policy is diplomacy. 17. What is the best way to attract goldfinch? Without a question, the best way to attract goldfinch is with the Perky Pet upside-down finch feeder. This feeder should be filled with fresh niger (thistle) seed. Goldfinch are timid and do not like to approach feeders with other species of birds on them. The Perky Pet upside-down feeder has the feeding ports below the perches. Goldfinch and pine siskins are about the only birds that like niger seed and can hang upside-down while eating. The design of this feeder, therefore, effectively eliminates competition. This is a great feeder at a great price. Truly a goldfinch magnet. 18. Who eats niger (thistle) seed? Many birds eat niger (thistle) seed. Niger (occasionally spelled nyjer) is imported into the United States from the Middle East and is sterilized before being sold as birdseed. Although many ground-feeding birds such as doves, and juncos readily eat niger seed, this seed is generally offered in special niger seed feeders designed for finches. Niger seed is expensive and by offering it in specialized feeders, the birds cannot scatter and waste it. Goldfinch, house finch and pine siskins love niger seed and each of these birds is able to eat from a niger tube feeder. So, although, many birds will eat niger, this expensive seed is usually reserved for the finch family and is dispensed in a niger or thistle tube feeder. 19. What is the best way to attract woodpeckers? Do not cut down old trees or snags unless they are a danger. Woodpeckers nest in these trees and eat the insects that infest dead trees. Woodpeckers also like suet and nuts. Suet is offered in wire cages that woodpeckers can cling to. Special no-melt suet is available for summer feeding. Nuts are also a favorite of woodpeckers. Peanut splits or Lyric woodpecker mix can be put into peanut feeders that are cylindrical wire mesh tubes that woodpeckers cling to and peck out the nuts. Droll Yankees peanut feeders are especially popular with the woodpeckers and these feeders are sold with lifetime warranties. 20. How do I keep woodpeckers from pecking on my house? Woodpeckers can sometimes be a problem for homeowners. They will sometimes drill into wooden siding or tap on the drain spouts causing them to resonate and wake up everyone in the house. Most of the time the tapping is just annoying to the homeowner, but at times, the drilling can cause damage to the siding. If the woodpecker is making a large hole, it is probably trying to find a suitable nest site. The best thing to do in this case is to put a piece of sheet metal over the hole. If the bird is making smaller holes, it is probably looking for insects. Try hanging an inflatable owl near the area where the woodpecker is working. Peanut feeders are wire mesh cylinders which hold shelled peanut splits or woodpecker mix. These feeders are a great addition to your backyard feeding station. When filled with nuts or woodpecker mix, these feeders attract woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, wrens and nuthatches. They will also attract blue jays and starlings which also love nuts. 22. Are there really squirrel-proof feeders? Many feeders on the market appear to be squirrel-proof, but only a few are really effective. Those that are best include: Heritage Farms’ Absolute, Absolute II and Birds First Choice feeders; Homestead’s Super Stop-a-Squirrel; Droll Yankees’ Big Top, Arundale’s Mandarin and Sky Café; Noel’s 301 Squirreless feeder, Duncraft’s Squirrel-proof Selective and Varicraft’s AV-3M and AV-1M feeders. SDI (Squirrel Defense Initiative) manufactures a solar powered electrified feeder and Droll Yankees has just introduced the Yankee Flipper, a battery-powered feeder that provides the squirrels with negative reinforcement. While none of these feeders is probably 100% effective, they are the best on the market and have made feeding the birds much less frustrating. 23. Are there grackle and starling proof feeders? Choose a feeder that excludes grackles and starlings. These feeders have cages around them that exclude large birds but permit the smaller songbirds to enter the cage and eat from the tube feeder inside. Not all feeders with cages surrounding them will deter these large blackbirds. Three of the most successful feeders are the Duncraft Selective and Varicraft’s AV-1M and AV-3M. 24. Which birds will nest in a nesting box? Cavity nesters are the birds that will use nest boxes. It is important to use the correct sized box with an appropriate hole size for the bird you are trying to attract. Wrens, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and woodpeckers readily use nest boxes. Owls can also be encouraged to use pre-fabricated houses. A real success story has been the increase in the number of bluebirds due to the interest in bluebird trails lined with bluebird nesting boxes. Wood ducks and purple martins also use specially built nest boxes. All nesting boxes should be placed in appropriate locations for the species you are trying to attract. Purple martin houses are multi-unit structures mounted at least 16 feet above the ground in an open area. Bluebirds nest in boxes 3’ – 5’ above the ground and placed in open meadows. Most of the clinging birds prefer nest sites in wooded areas. 25. What kind of birdhouse do bluebirds use? Bluebirds use bluebird houses. These nest boxes usually have a floor size of about 5" x 5" and a 1.5" entrance hole about 8" above the floor. The bluebird house should be constructed of at least ¾ inch wood to insure proper insulation. They are mounted on 3’ – 5’ stakes placed in open areas. Although the literature frequently recommends placement of these boxes at 100’ intervals, new research has shown that boxes placed in pairs five feet from each other are also successful. Tree swallows often compete with bluebirds for these nest boxes, but the same species will not occupy both nest boxes of a pair. If tree swallows occupy one house, they will defend a surrounding area against other swallows, but will permit bluebirds to nest in the nearby box. Both tree swallows and bluebirds eat lots of insects and both species are desirable birds. Enjoy the two different species. If the boxes were place 100’ apart, it might be possible that every box would be occupied by tree swallows and you would not get any bluebirds. A wren house is a small birdhouse with a 1" or 11/8" entrance hole. Wren houses can be hung from tree limbs or they can be mounted against tree trunks. The small entrance hole excludes all other birds except an occasional chickadee that can squeeze into a small entrance hole. The male wren builds a nest of twigs. In fact he will often build two or three nests and the female gets to choose which one she wants for her brood. 27. How should purple martin houses be mounted? Purple martins are desirable birds because they eat many flying insects. The purple martins live in colonies and, therefore, purple martin houses are multi-unit structures with usually 6 – 24 separate rooms. These houses should be located within ¼ mile of water and should be mounted about 16’ above the ground in a relatively open field. 28. Are your deliveries really free? Our deliveries are indeed free if you live in zip codes 19000 – 19500. Your order will generally be delivered by one of our employees; but we will occasionally use UPS to deliver certain feeders and accessories. 29. How much are your shipping charges outside of your free delivery area? If you do not live in our free ship area (zip codes 19000 – 19500) you will be charged 50% of the UPS rate schedule from Southeastern, PA. Your shipping charges will be based on weight and UPS zone and they will be calculated automatically at checkout. 30. May I order products that are not shown in your on-line store? We carry some of the best quality and most popular products in the bird feeding industry. Although we do not show all bird feeding products in our on-line catalog, we can generally obtain just about any bird feeding related product and welcome your special requests. Delivery times for special requests may be two to three weeks. We will always quote you a price and wait for your approval before filling the order. 31. How do I keep a bird bath clean? The best way to keep a birdbath clean is to keep a whisker brush (short handled scrub brush) near the birdbath. Water should be changed every day or two, and the bath scrubbed with the whisker brush when it begins to first show signs of algal growth. If you let the bath go too long, add a little Clorox and scrub with the whisker. Rinse well and fill with fresh water. 32. How do seed accounts work? Our customers have used seed accounts for four years at our store in Springhouse P. The concept is simple. Prepay for seed and save 10%. Deposit a minimum of $100 into the seed account. Then, every time you buy seed, your account will be charged for your purchase, less the 10% discount. You can view the status of your account at any time. You can also add to your account or close your account at any time. 33. How do gift certificates work? Gift certificates are purchased in $5 increments. They will be sent to you or to the recipient. A catalog will also be enclosed for those who wish to order by phone. Upon checkout, the gift certificate number will be entered and the amount of the certificate will be credited toward the purchase. Small balances will be either credited to your account or refunded at your request. 34. Is there an expiration date on gift certificates? All gift certificates will have an expiration date of one year from the date of purchase. If you need an extension of time please contact us and we will be happy to accommodate your request. 35. Do sunflower shells kill my plants and lawn? Sunflower shells can kill grass or other plants growing under a feeder. To prevent this, frequently rake up the shells that accumulate under the feeder. An alternative is to use hulled sunflower seed. This seed is called sunflower kernels or sunflower chips and it has no shell, will not cause weeds and will be waste-free. We also carry a no-mess, no-weed seed mix. Lyric Delite mix is a superior quality mix that leaves no mess. Milo is a filler. It is often a major component of economy seed mixes. Almost no bird eats milo. Even the squirrels don’t eat it. WE DO NOT SELL ANY SEED CONTAINING MILO. Window feeders are great sources of entertainment. Both regular seed feeders and hummingbird feeders can be suction cupped to a window. My cat loves to sit on the inside windowsill and watch the birds eat from these feeders. Birds will approach these feeders even with people in the room. Quick movements will sometimes scare the birds, but they will return quickly once the quick movements settle down. |
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