Budget-Friendly Bird Feeding
Inflation! Gas prices are high. Food costs a small fortune. And bird seed? It has about doubled in just a few years. This makes it hard for us to help out our bird friends.
Can you feed your bird friends on a budget?
Some people say the most important meal of the day is breakfast. That may be fine for you and me, but if you are a foraging bird, the most important meal of the day is a bedtime snack.
The time of day you put out seed and how much you put out can have as much of an effect on your wallet as the price per pound of seed. Two hours before sunset is the best time to put out your seed or other goodies for your songbirds. This gives them a full tummy to get through the long, cold nights of winter. Don’t worry that no one shows up for a day or two. Birds are smart. They will figure out what time of day the buffet is put out. Pretty soon you will just barely walk away and they will be swooping down to eat their fill.
Next, how much. This may take a bit of experimentation to figure out just the right amount. You want to provide enough for all the birds to fill their tummies with not much leftover for the mice and rats to find overnight. So put out a measured amount and see how long it lasts and adjust accordingly. If weather is bad, like when we received our annual rainfall in just over three months this year, the birds might appreciate a bit more if you can afford it. Even though you see dozens of birds at your feeder, your seed comprises only about 30% of their diet and natural resources provide the rest. When weather is bad, the seed you put out gives them an extra boost that helps them through the cold winter.
And finally…what to feed. Don’t rely on cheap birdseed. The price per pound may look attractive but the waste negates any savings. The bargain bags of seed include lots of “filler” seeds that do not get eaten and end up on the ground to attract mice and rats. Sunflower seeds are the favorite of most songbirds. If you don’t like the mess of the shells, buy without shells. No-waste seed mixes are ideal. They have all the favorite goodies (hulled sunflower seeds, millet, peanuts, cracked corn or safflower seeds) to attract a wide variety of songbirds while leaving no mess of shells on the ground.
Can you feed your bird friends on a budget? The answer is yes!
Tri County Wildlife Care, a local nonprofit started in 1994, is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of our native wildlife and helping our community live in balance with wildlife. They envision a world where wildlife and people thrive together. For more information call (209) 283-3245, or visit pawspartners.org.
Photo courtesy of Wally Gallagher.
Can you feed your bird friends on a budget?
Some people say the most important meal of the day is breakfast. That may be fine for you and me, but if you are a foraging bird, the most important meal of the day is a bedtime snack.
The time of day you put out seed and how much you put out can have as much of an effect on your wallet as the price per pound of seed. Two hours before sunset is the best time to put out your seed or other goodies for your songbirds. This gives them a full tummy to get through the long, cold nights of winter. Don’t worry that no one shows up for a day or two. Birds are smart. They will figure out what time of day the buffet is put out. Pretty soon you will just barely walk away and they will be swooping down to eat their fill.
Next, how much. This may take a bit of experimentation to figure out just the right amount. You want to provide enough for all the birds to fill their tummies with not much leftover for the mice and rats to find overnight. So put out a measured amount and see how long it lasts and adjust accordingly. If weather is bad, like when we received our annual rainfall in just over three months this year, the birds might appreciate a bit more if you can afford it. Even though you see dozens of birds at your feeder, your seed comprises only about 30% of their diet and natural resources provide the rest. When weather is bad, the seed you put out gives them an extra boost that helps them through the cold winter.
And finally…what to feed. Don’t rely on cheap birdseed. The price per pound may look attractive but the waste negates any savings. The bargain bags of seed include lots of “filler” seeds that do not get eaten and end up on the ground to attract mice and rats. Sunflower seeds are the favorite of most songbirds. If you don’t like the mess of the shells, buy without shells. No-waste seed mixes are ideal. They have all the favorite goodies (hulled sunflower seeds, millet, peanuts, cracked corn or safflower seeds) to attract a wide variety of songbirds while leaving no mess of shells on the ground.
Can you feed your bird friends on a budget? The answer is yes!
Tri County Wildlife Care, a local nonprofit started in 1994, is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of our native wildlife and helping our community live in balance with wildlife. They envision a world where wildlife and people thrive together. For more information call (209) 283-3245, or visit pawspartners.org.
Photo courtesy of Wally Gallagher.
