Jeannie (Kihei, HI): What's a safe way to prevent the stray cats from killing the birds at our backyard bird bath and feeders? Live catch traps don't work, more does feeding them cat food, which brings more hungry strays.

Dr. Horn:One suggestion that I have is to move your feeders away from vegetation that cats may hide in. This will give birds more time to escape a cat attack. Hanging your feeders or mounting feeders from a pole (as opposed to offering seed on the ground) may reduce a cat's ability to reach feeding birds. Finally, putting out feeders with trays that catch falling seed preventing it from reaching the ground may reduce the number of birds feeding on the ground, and subsequently the number of bird kills.

Karen (Portsmouth, OH): I am a member of the National Wildlife Backyard Project. I thought I knew my birds until a 'stranger' came today and took a leisurely bath in the bird bath. It was the size of a cardinal, but all gray (kinda dark gray). It had a small tuft like crown that was darker, nearly black. When it got out of the 'tub' I noticed that it was banded. As I got the camera and binocs, it then flew off.........not to be seen again. Any idea? And, why was it banded?

Dr. Horn: The bird you describe sounds similar to the Tufted Titmouse. However, Tufted Titmice are smaller than Northern Cardinals. I recommend visiting a website such as percevia.com to assist you in your bird identification.

Linda (Denton, TX): Do you have any suggestions on how to deter racoons from invading my bird feeders, bird baths, garden, etc. I would prefer to use something organic but am desperate for something to deter these critters!

Dr. Horn:Deterring raccoons can be a challenge, but there are some ways to discourage them from using your feeders and baths. In particular, if you have a pole mounted feeder, I would recommend placing a raccoon baffle on the pole. A raccoon baffle is a long, cylindrical metal tube that prevents raccoons from climbing up. In order to discourage raccoons from a bird bath, you might consider a bird bath that has limited accessibility for a larger animal. For example, a small hanging birdbath may not be stable enough for a larger animal like a raccoon.

A J (Waikoloc, HI): Java Sparrows have been nesting in the vents under my eaves. There are 42 holes I am covering with wire. I would like to build them a bird house(s) as a replacement. Could you recommend a type of birdhouse they might use instead?

Dr. Horn: It sounds as though you have quite the colony of Java Sparrows at your home. Offering them housing may be a way to reduce the number that are nesting under your eaves. There are many breeders of Java Sparrows, and I would recommend contacting them for information about box dimensions specific to the sparrows.

Felecia (Dyersburg, TN): I have a inside white dove as a pet. I found her in my back yard and have had her for 4 years. I know she's a female due to her laying a egg twice. My question is what is the proper nutritional diet to feed this bird. I have been feeding her finch food and water with vitamin drops for 4 yrs but I\'m not sure this is what she needs to be healthy, although she looks healthy.

Dr. Horn: The fact that you have had the bird for four years is a sign that you have been providing the bird with the care that it needs. Many birds have life spans of 3-5 years. I recommend talking to a veterinarian or a reputable pet store about your care regimen and whether changes need to be made. Enjoy your pet bird, and the backyard birds as well!

Susan (Bowling Green, KY): Thank you so much for making this available and your assistance in educating the general public...humanity becomes better because of people like you, you are a gem!
Our youth group at church is interested in making the homemade birdseed recipes into molded designs as a money making project for their account. How should these items be stored until we can have the sale and is there a need to include information regarding these items and bird safety.

Dr. Horn: I would recommend that after you have made the molded designs that you place the food in the freezer before use. If you would like to handout information to individuals about bird safety, I would recommend printing off copies of the brochure "6 steps to turn your yard into a santuary for birds" (www.backyardbirdcare.org/6ways.pdf). It makes some excellent recommendations for enhancing your bird feeding experience.

Pamela (Scottsdale, AZ): I am moving (just 2.5 miles away) but am concerned about taking the feeder away at this time (early October). I've grown attached to my hummer this past year. I have only seen one other feeder in the area, but there are lots of trees and flowers around. I have heard that if there are hummingbirds around that there are plenty of food sources without the feeders. I was wondering if that was true.

Dr. Horn: Hummingbird feeders are but one source of energy that birds use to meet their energetic requirements. Thus, while removal of your feeder will mean the loss of an energy source, it will be replaced by another that the hummingbird finds to replace it. Of course, the hummingbirds 2.5 miles away will be gaining an energy source next spring when the hummingbirds return from the wintering grounds.

Jean (Tulsa, OK): I have recently mover to OK from England and I am interested in finding out about a bird I see everyday. It is approx 6 - 8" of a blk/wht striped body and tail, it flies straight at the trunk of the conifers trees and proceeds to climb up picking off bits of bark to find insects. Please could you tell me what it is!

Dr. Horn: Based on your description, there are a number of possibilities, but it sounds like a woodpecker such as a Downy Woodpecker. My suggestion is that you visit a bird identification site such as www.percevia.com to assist you. Percevia allows you to enter characteristics of the bird such as size, color, etc. and then narrow it down until you find the bird you are looking for.

Frieda (Chester, SC): Dr. Horn, This past summer we found a baby dove that had fallen from it's nest. There was two but our cat got one and we raised one. It is now a full grown dove and I wanted to know if we let it go now to the wild , do you think it would be able to servive. We have a lot of doves in the yard and they are always coming around and watching it in it's cage.

Dr. Horn: Congratulations on successfully raising the dove. As for releasing the dove into the wild, there should not be a problem with releasing it; however, I would contact a local wildlife rehabilitator for specific steps to take before the release. Good luck!

James (Grove City, OH): I am feeding black oiled sunflower seeds. I have four feeders hanging off of a "T" shaped pole. I find most of the seed ends up on the ground. Its like they pick out the good ones and drop the rest. Any suggestions to save my seed from being wasted?

Dr. Horn: Black-oil sunflower is an excellent seed to place in hanging feeders as you have described. Unfortunately, not all species of birds will feed on black-oil sunflower, and will use their bills to throw the seed on the ground. One way to reduce the amount of seed on the ground is to switch from black-oil sunflower to a hulled sunflower. Hulled sunflower, lacks shells, and therefore will not leave shells underneath your feeder. Thus, you should be able to enjoy your backyard birds, while reducing seed waste.

Todd (Greensburg,PA): My favorite bird was once the pine siskin but I have not seen one or heard about one since college. Can you remind me how to attract them audibly?

Dr. Horn: One way to attract Pine Siskins is to set-up a Nyjer (thistle) feeder. Nyjer is a seed that is readily consumed by goldfinches, redpolls, and pine siskins. If you are out on a bird walk, you might also be able to attract pine siskins audibly through a technique called "pishing." Pishing involves the repeating of a syllable such as "psh" or "spsh." It is thought that pishing resembles alarm calls that birds make, and therefore attracts birds for a closer view. I hope you get a chance to attract some Pine Siskins to your yard - they are a wonderful bird!

Shirley (Jacksonville, AR): Please tell me what to do to prevent stralings from taking over the Bird feeder. They always run the other birds away and clean the feeder out in no time.

Dr. Horn: One thing that you might consider is purchasing a bird feeder that does not allow starlings to perch on. For example, platform, and hopper feeders provide large perching areas, so birds of all sizes are able to perch. Tubular feeders are attractive to smaller birds, but larger birds are not able to use the feeder. In the tubular feeder, I would recommend filling it with black-oil sunflower, a seed that many small perching birds eat.

Patricia (O'Fallon, MO): Do hummingbirds have houses? When and how do they reproduce?

Dr. Horn: Unlike species such as house wrens and bluebirds, hummingbirds do not use nest boxes; rather hummingbirds, such as the ruby-throated hummingbird found in Missouri, construct their nests on a limb using bud scales, plant down, lichens, and spider's silk. Breeding occurs during late spring and early summer. Ruby-throated hummingbirds typically lay 2 eggs, incubation lasts for approximately two weeks, and fledging from the nest may take an additional two to four weeks. Hummingbirds are truly an amazing bird!

Shirley (Chicago, IL): This is the second day that my husband and I have observed a humming bird in our back yard. We are running out today to purchase a bird feeder. How long will the humming bird remain in our area and when will it return? Thanks.

Dr. Horn: Congratulations on your sighting of a hummingbird in your yard! The aerial feats of a hummingbird are an incredible sight to see. Hummingbirds in the Chicago area will arrive in mid-spring and will remain through early fall. After you purchase your hummingbird feeder you can fill it using a solution of four parts water to one part sugar. Enjoy!

Christa (St. Louis, MO): It is early September in St. Louis, Missouri and my birds just don't seem as active. During the summer I could not keep up with how fast they were eating. I have seed, sunflower seeds, all different suets, water and bird houses. The birds along with the squirrels and raccoons and chipmunks seem happy, but now it is as if they are not out as much as during the summer. Where do they go? Will they be busy when the weather cools off in October?

Dr. Horn: Early fall is a time that many people find fewer birds at their feeders and in their backyard. This could be due to a combination of factors including an abundance of seeds available naturally, and the dispersal of young to new areas. In addition, after the nesting season birds are less likely to sing, and thus, birds are less obvious. There also could be an avian predator such as a hawk that is now frequenting the neighborhood and discouraging birds from visiting your feeder. Finally, I would suggest that you make sure that the seed ports are free of debris, and that you put fresh seed in the feeder. Your backyard birds will come back.

Debbie (Oakmont, PA): I love feeding the birds and enjoy many species at my feeders. Lately, however, I have been attracting flocks of pigeons. I live in the suburbs and have never had a pigeon problem before. I have tried feeding only sunflower seeds, putting trays under my feeders and even taking the feeders down for a couple of months in the summer. None of these things has worked. I don't want to do anything that will keep the other birds away. Do you have any solutions?

Dr. Horn: Occasionally, while feeding birds we attract wildlife to our feeders that we would prefer not to feed. One of the things that you can do to dissuade these undesirable species is to offer food in a manner that is inaccessible to them. For example, pigeons are a large-bodied bird. They will readily perch on platform feeders and hopper feeders, but will have trouble accessing a tubular feeder. Thus, one option you might consider is using a tubular feeder filled with black-oil sunflower as a way to attract smaller, perching birds while discouraging larger birds such as pigeons from using the feeder.

Vivian (Escondido, CA): I have a new birdbath made out of copper. Do I need to do something to it before pouring water into it or is it OK for the birds to drink out of? Is there a special way to care for it?

Dr. Horn: Congratulations on the purchase of your new bird bath. I hope that it attracts some very special birds for you. When you first put out the bird bath, I would consider washing the birdbath out with water. I also recommend changing the water in the birdbath on a frequent basis (daily if possible). Enjoy your backyard birds.

Matthew (Gastonia): I need some research on birds I'm donig a assignment for school so I need some facts on birds by September , 26 2005. So can you get that to me asap? Thanks!

Dr. Horn: There are a couple of excellent places for you to look for information about wild bird feeding research including the Wild Bird Feeding Industry's PROJECT WILDBIRD website: www.projectwildbird.org, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's Project FeederWatch website: www.birds.cornell.edu/PFW/, the National Audubon Society's Great Backyard Bird Count website: www.birdsource.org/gbbc, and the Wild Bird Centers of America website: www.wildbirdcenter.com/content/research. I hope that you also consider becoming a citizen scientist in one of these very exciting and significant research projects. The data that you collect helps us all learn more about the birds we love to watch.

Margaret (Slaughter, LA): My dog (lab), alerted me to a fallen baby bird 3 days ago. Of course I searched around fo a nest, to no avail. I also put it in a large box so the dog and cat could not get to it, and I left it in the same general area that it was found in. My question is I cannot identify it. At first I thought it was a wren, because of its short boxed tail. But it is much larger than a wren. he also has short rounder feathers rather then long ones. I would like some help in either finding out what he is or where can I go on the internet. I live in the east Felicianas of Louisiana.

Dr. Horn: A wonderful resource for identifying baby birds is "A guide to nests, eggs, and nestlings of North American birds" by P. J. Baicich and J. O. Harrison. I hope you can identify the bird that you are carrying for.

Adam & Molly (Pittsburgh, PA): My fiance and I want to wake up to the sound of interesting bird sounds that may be unusual in the neighborhood. We both wake up around sunrise. We live near a nice forested park. I see bluebirds, robins, cardinals, and occasionally some hummingbirds. What is a nice bird noise to wake up to, and how can I attract the bird that produces these noises to my house? We'd like to have this all in place before the spring, when we are to be married.

Dr. Horn: One of the best ways to attract beautiful bird sounds to your yard is through a birdhouse, and being near a forested park is a perfect location for a birdhouse. One of my favorite bird sounds comes from the house wren. While measuring less than 5 inches, the house wren gives off a boisterous sound. Once a house wren is attracted to your yard, it will provide you with many weeks of pleasure. Another nestbox you could consider putting up would be for a screech owl. Owls might be the perfect guests in a yard for an early, early riser. Enjoy listening to your backyard birds!

Patricia (Fallon, NV): My husband works in a gravel pit and they have some strange birds there. The other guys call them Chuckers. They kind of look like a small turkey or a dove with very long and skinny legs. I don't know if they can or do fly but they sure can run fast. Sorry I don't have a picture of on to show you but could you maybe find a picture for me and let me know what kind of bird they are for sure?

Dr. Horn: The Chuckar is an old world species that was introduced as a game bird in North America. Chuckars are found in mountainous, arid regions, and are established throughout the western United States. Chukars can fly, but many game birds will run from danger before flying.

George (Crown City, OH): What is the best feed for Bluebirds! I know there are Bluebirds in my area but I can't draw them to my feeder. What bird food is disliked by Blackbirds

Dr. Horn: In regards to your question about ways to attract bluebirds to feed, I suggest that you get a mealworm feeder from your local Wild Bird Center store. Mealworms are a beetle larvae that can attract bluebirds, and many other species of birds that do not come to seed feeders. In addition, you may consider putting up a bluebird nest box during the breeding season.
Blackbirds, on the other hand, will consume a large diversity of food. One way to dissuade blackbirds from eating your bird food is to have a bird feeder that makes it difficult for blackbirds to perch. Tubular feeders with short perches, for example, will be challanging for blackbirds to feed at.

Candace (Denver, CO): Should we be concerned of copper baths leaching toxins into the water, thus harming the birds?

Dr. Horn: Thank you very much for your question regarding the safety of copper bird baths. It is an excellent question. Copper is an inorganic element that is required by birds in trace amounts. Other trace elements include Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, Iron, Selenium, Iodide, Molybdenum, Cobalt, and Chromium. These and other minerals are involved in the formation and maintenance of bone, maintain homeostasis, are components of hormones, activate enzymes, and assist in cellular metabolism. Some copper may leach into the water of the birdbath. However, the amount of copper that is leached is unlikely to cause harm to the birds. Enjoy your birdbath.

Angela (Front Royal, VA): I have flocks and flocks of blackbirds. They are destroying my plants, sunflowers, droppings everywhere, etc. Would you please give any advice you may have of getting rid of these nasty flocks.

Dr. Horn: At the end of the breeding season many species of blackbirds form large flocks that search for food together. For these species, large foraging flocks may afford greater protection from predators such as hawks. The flock has found your yard to be a good spot to find food including your sunflower plants. Once the food has been depleted, the flock will move on to a different spot. To discourage the blackbirds you might consider covering some of their food sources such as the sunflowers and other plants until the flocks are no longer present.

Connie (Clinton, MD): I just moved into a new (to me) house 2 weeks ago. Since that time a persistent male cardinal has been trying to fly into a casement window several times/day every day, starting at 6 AM. He starts from a tree branch and flies right into the window. I have been afraid he would hurt himself, but he appears to be very "hearty". I tried hanging alum. foil in front of the window or covering the window with a pillow inside. He just moves to the next windows around the corner. I thought about a window feeder, but I'm afraid he'll resume the behavior if the feed runs out. What do I do to dissuade this behavior before he finally does himself in? I'm thinking this bird conveyed with the house.

Dr. Horn: Your question is an excellent one, and is very timely too. Window-bird collisions are a significant cause of avian mortality. It is estimated that between 1 - 10 birds die per building per year through collisions with windows. One of the reasons that birds collide with windows is that they do not recognize glass as a reflective barrier. In the case that you describe, the male cardinal may view its reflection as a territorial intruder, and in turn, tries to drive the intruder away. This behavior should subside as the breeding season comes to an end.
Your suggestion of purchasing a window-mounted bird feeder is an excellent one. Research studies have shown that placing bird feeders within 1 meter of a window substantially reduces the number of fatal collisions compared to feeders located several meters from windows.
Wild Bird Centers of America is currently sponsoring research on window-bird collisions and factors influencing their frequency, and hope to distribute a continent-wide survey for homeowners early next year. I hope that you will consider participating so that we can all learn more about this problem, and how to prevent it. More information will be posted about the study at www.wildbird.com later this year.

Tricia (Waldport, OR): I live beside a golf course where perhaps 40-50 (sometimes more) crows congregate. It seems I spend a great deal of time "shooing" them out of my small back yard and a nearby tree. A neighbor continually threatens to "get a gun" and blast them away. (Whether he'd actually do so is debateable.) Is there a way to discourage the crows in the area before my neighbor carries through on his threat? I'm not fond of crows, but don't want to see them hurt, either?

Dr. Horn: First, you might consider informing your neighbor that it is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to harm migratory birds. This includes any part, nest or egg of the bird. Thus, the killing of a bird could result in federal prosecution, and there may be state laws and local ordinances against the killing of birds as well. There are very few non-invasive methods for discouraging crows from roosting in a given area. However, sometimes the crow roosts are temporary, only lasting several weeks. While the crows are present, you might enjoy watching their behavior. Crow make a wide assortment of calls, and are one of the few animals in the world that have the ability to create and use tools for food acquisition.

JoAnn: I recently moved and brought with me the many feeders I had at my old home which many birds visited. I have hung two feeders and a hummingbird feeder. No birds are coming to my feeders. Our new house is very exposed on top of a hill on 40 acres. The sun beats down on the decks as it travels around from east to west. Can you tell me what to do and do birds stay away from sunny area's even though there are feeders? I can't put water out it will get to hot. What can you tell me about attracting birds to this location?

Dr. Horn: Often times when individuals move from one location to another they find that the bird feeding experience is different. This can be a result of many factors including the fact that birds in the new location have not been feed before, and thus, do not visit the yard as frequently as if there had been a bird feeder present previously. It will often take many days or even weeks to establish a bird feeding station so do not get discouraged. Birds will eventually find your feeders. Previous studies sponsored by Wild Bird Centers of America have found that the abundance of birds at feeders is greater closer to vegetation such as trees and shrubs than farther away. In addition, bird abundance is greater farther from structures such as buildings than closer to buildings. Thus, you might consider moving your feeders closer to nearby trees and shrubs and farther from your home. With that said, remember, bird feeding is for both you and the birds, so place your feeder in a place where you can enjoy observing them. Regardless of the placement, the birds will find your feeders and use them, sometimes it just takes a little longer than we would like.