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Fall  Feeding and Backyard Bird Checklist

OCTOBER  TIPS

October means cooler nights and , usually, cooler days. Migrating birds are winging their way south and many, like grackles, will gather in large groups before leaving.

This is the time to get out the nuts - peanuts in the shell for jays who will cache them for later, tree nuts and peanut splits for the chickadees, nuthatches, bushtits, downy woodpecker and flickers.

Sprinklers go off, and water becomes scarce. A birdbath with unfrozen water will always reward you with birds looking for clean fresh, open water.

The last hummers will be leaving, mourning doves head for Texas, the warblers should be out of here by end of the month.

Wild Bird Information and Rehabilitation closes its doors until May, but will still be in need of funds to retain their summer facility through the winter and to feed the birds that were too ill or were not yet healed enough to  migrate with their species.

PROTECT YOU LANDSCAPE, MAKE SURE SQUIRRELS HAVE WATER

FALL FEEDERS

TRAY FEEDERS. Tray feeders are big in the fall. Jays, magpies and crows love to pick nuts and corn from these feeders.  I also like to put millet mixed with our PatioWise in a hanging tray for my red-winged blackbirds and flickers.

GROUND FEEDERS .A ground feeder in an open place (to avoid cat attacks)with critter mix, millet, and cracked corn is for the sparrows, collared doves and juncos. Juncos should be arriving as soon as we start to get substantial snow in the mountains.

TUBE FEEDERS.  For our many house finches, a tube feeder with hulled sunflower remains a favorite. The Buster Plus, Brome Classic, or our caged tube feeders from Droll Yankee or Woodlink keep squirrels eating at their own feeders.  Black oil sunflower, safflower or a mix with mostly sunflower will also work in these feeders. These are cheaper alternatives, even if messier in your landscape.

NYJER FEEDERS. Keep nyjer feeders working. Many goldfinches winter over and house finches will visit the nyjer feeder when the sunflower feeder is too crowded.

NUT FEEDERS. A must for fall all the way through winter. Chickadees, nuthatches, downy woodpeckers love peanut splits, uglies, or chopped nuts in special nut feeders. These birds, especially the chickadees and nuthatches, tend to be "hit and run" feeders. With a specialized nut feeder, you are treated to watching the birds climb around the feeder to select just the right nut...they stay a little longer and you get a better look at these adorable birds.

We have a variety of feeders that work well both to attract these clinging birds and to keep squirrels out.

There is also a metal blue jay feeder, made especially for feeding peanuts in the shell, that the squirrels cannot chew up.

SUET AND SUET FEEDERS. I feed this food all year round, but when cool fall weather arrives, the insects head for cover and our insect eaters (chickadees, flickers, downy woodpeckers, nuthatches) need this bug substitute to keep warm and healthy in cold weather.

We have a variety of suets and will be glad to help you select what will attract the birds you like to see.  We also have suet feeders, squirrel-proof and not, and some suets that the squirrels don't like but the birds do.

BIRD BATHS.  Clean your baths and pull out your bird bath de-icers to make sure they are in working order.

When the leaves are off the trees, you'll likely see more hawk activity. Most often seen in our urban areas are the sharpshinned and cooper's hawks.

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Concerned about Pigeons??

Visit our Expert Advice Section for tips on discouraging these sometimes unwanted birds

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