Spring Birds at Your Feeders

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Many folks stop feeding the birds as soon as it gets warmer out. I like to keep them going well into May, depending on when I run out of feed or just House Sparrows are coming. This morning I was rewarded for this practice as I had a Rose-breasted Grosbeak hanging around and eating Black Oil Sunflower seeds. As the weather warms and birds begin to bread their diets may change from mostly seeds to more insects. The Goldfinches may come all summer and I don’t mind keeping the thistle feeder full as they will begin to find more natural foods as summer goes on. Besides, who doesn’t mind being greeted by the bright males on summer mornings?

By early May you should have your hummingbird feeders out if you use them. My mother has already seen hummingbirds in Coloma, so they should be moving north. Orioles should also be coming in within the next week or so. I have already had White-throated Sparrows at my feeders and have seen them in the woods. Thrushes are here and the warblers should be moving through any day now if they haven’t already begun.

To attract the most birds this time of year you can put out Black Oil Sunflower seed, a mix for the sparrows and oranges for the Orioles. A good mixture of 3 parts water to 1 part white sugar is readily accepted by Ruby-throated Hummingbirds both now and in the fall as they prepare to move south again. Once the stress of migration is past a solution of 4 parts water to 1 part white sugar should be used for hummingbirds throughout the summer.  There are many flowers you can plant in your yard to provide food for hummingbirds and enjoyment for you. Look for long throated flowers with bright colors, especially red.

Just because the snow is gone and it is getting warmer, doesn’t mean we have to stop enjoying the beautiful birds at our feeders. By providing some supplemental food, some of these birds may stay around and nest in or near your yard.

If you are adding plants to the landscape consider those that provide food for a variety of birds. Many shrubs and flowers will do provide food both through the summer, fall and winter. Native species are always the best but some ornamentals are good also.