5 Essential Bird Feeders For Winter Feeding Success

Рет қаралды 6,082

Күн бұрын

Not all birds like to gather food the same way. Here are 5 bird feeder types that will help you attract more birds to your feeding stations in winter as well as other seasons.
Mark McKellar is a wildlife biologist with over 35 years of bird study experience. He has a degree in Fish and Wildlife Sciences from North Carolina State University and has worked for the Department of the Army, the Wildlife Departments of North Carolina and Missouri. He ran nature centers for many years in Missouri and Pennsylvania before buying the Backyard Bird Center in the Northland area of Kansas City. Mark has led hundreds of bird hikes both locally and abroad. He has taught classes about birds and other wildlife to groups of all ages and brings that knowledge to the customers of his retail business every day. More information about Mark at backyardbirdcenter.com/about-...
#marksbackyardbirds, #backyardbirds, #birdfeeder
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MORE INFORMATION
Contact: info@backyardbirdcenter.com
Cover photo by Jim Braddock
Hopper Feeder video by Hilltop Specialties
Platform feeder pictures by Jim Braddock
Multi-seed Feeder with Eastern Bluebirds by Bruce Weekes
Aspects' Finch Feeder with goldfinches and redpoll by Fiske Miles
Aspects' Peanut Feeder with White-breasted Nuthatch and Downy Woodpecker by Carrie Wadlow
Gray Catbird on suet cage by Brian Voorhees
Oregon Junco on ground by Michele Bridgeforth
Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.
Mark's Amazon store:
www.amazon.com/shop/marksback...
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:17 Importance of Bird Feeder Variety
01:02 Understanding Bird Feeding Styles
01:42 Hopper Feeders: The Workhorse
04:32 Multi-Seed Tube Feeder with Tray
06:02 Catering to American Goldfinches
07:31 Peanut Mesh Feeders for Clingers
09:09 Suet Cages for Additional Clinger Birds
10:04 Ground Feeding: Often Overlooked
11:35 Recap of Essential Feeding Styles

Пікірлер: 46

@workingbulldogs 7 ай бұрын

I can't say enough about how great your videos are! Thank you so much. Lisa, from Ontario, Canada.

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

Thank you Lisa!

@jakebates5918 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Mark! I'm 33 and just getting into birding as a hobby. This was really useful for us begginers!

@MarksBackyardBirds 6 ай бұрын

Excellent. Welcome to the greatest hobby in the world. It is addictive!

@heatherprus5364 7 ай бұрын

Thank you. This was very helpful especially having the pictures to show what the feeders could look like. I need to get a feeder for my shelled peanuts now that I know what I'm looking for.

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

Excellent !

@WhistlesToAnimals 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for helping out people that want to get into bird feeding. We all have our own ways of doing things. My mourning doves' favorite place to eat is from my window sills. The benefit of using window sills is that mourning doves won't be dive bombed as they are trying to gain elevation. This allows them to take off faster and in my area, they will have a better view of what might come. Also there is a trend in this country to cat hoard without walls which is also called TNR, so the ground is dangerous for a lot of birds and more in some areas than others. For some people, maybe windows aren't a good option and the ground is a better option.

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

You are right. Everyone’s feeding options are different and they have to decide what works for them. Cats are deadly predators for our birds and actions should be taken to protect your birds if you have free roaming cats in your area

@syrpentina 6 ай бұрын

Always great videos, Mark. Thank you for sharing these feeders for us and our birds! 🥰

@MarksBackyardBirds 6 ай бұрын

Thank you for tuning in!

@kathysparks6338 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing more helpful info and pictures .May you have a Very Blessed Christmas.

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

Thank you Kathy! I hope you have a safe and joyous Christmas as well.

@jimpangelinan1621 7 ай бұрын

Mark, this was a great video. I have all five styles, but I do need to get a base and cover for my multi-seed tube feeder. I've taken to putting a handful of in-shell peanuts on my porch ledge for the Blue Jays. When I put the peanuts in the tray, the Jays disrupt all the other birds. Thanks!

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

Those jays to cause a ruckus, especially when the first arrive at a feeder.

@karenharnish8090 6 ай бұрын

I really enjoy your videos and helping me be a better bird friend. I always learn something new - thanks for sharing your knowledge❤️✨

@MarksBackyardBirds 6 ай бұрын

Thank you for letting me know you enjoy the channel!

@gloriadumas1100 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing ..I'm just now feeding peanuts and Wow black crowds 👀😊 but the Blue Jay's wanted them it was awesome Merry Christmas and God bless you.

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

You are welcome and Merry Christmas to you!

@PanamaSticks 5 ай бұрын

I'm not prejudiced against starlings and sparrows. They need help too.

@wesb123 7 ай бұрын

Thank yo!

@GameStreit 7 ай бұрын

Mark, love the videos and the content. You have helped me set up a feeder and bird bath that is very active here in Central Florida near Orlando. Do you have any tips or recommendations for setting up a camera on the feeder? I want a camera to see birds I might have missed and help me identify birds.

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

Thank you. I am so glad you find the channel helpful. My friend bought a cheap Ring doorbell camera and set it up on her fountain. It works really well and she can view it on her phone while working.

@mjm7031 7 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for this. I’ve just started really feeding birds this winter and have learned a lot from you. Question for you. I recently hung up a log with your peanut butter mixture in it. The pillared woodpeckers and northern flickers are loving it (excellent), but so are the crows ….. I had 21 of them by it today. Could you do a video about how to discourage crows from coming? I may try a peanut dispenser like you showed today, but the crows have also been quite happy to eat the fallen seed under my seed feeders and they’re scaring off the birds I want. Thank you again and merry Christmas.

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

Thank you Mary. Crows can be a real challenge to deal with. They do tend to be quite cautious of people so if you harass them enough, they may eventually quit coming around. I have a friend who throws ice cubes at them when they start gathering. One or two is ok but when they get to your numbers, I can't blame you for wanting them gone.

@kingneptune8120 7 ай бұрын

Merry Christmas

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

@rosiecastroff9386 6 ай бұрын

my eastern blue birds never ate from a feeder i had to feed them live mealworms on a plate or screen tray

@MarksBackyardBirds 6 ай бұрын

I do think there is a certain amount of luck involved with bluebirds. They have to figure out the whole bird feeder thing.

@anesenuriddin9091 5 ай бұрын

All of these feeders are a great idea, but, the doves are such a pain, all the joy goes out when they persist at the platform feeders. I find it too expensive to feed them. It sure limits the fun having to constantly fight against them.

@MarksBackyardBirds 5 ай бұрын

Doves are problem for many. I recommend taking trays off of tube feeders, caged them be feeders work well also. For open trays and hopper feeders Dove Cages are your only option. Here is a link to my video on them: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/npt5ZNh32Z_QonU.htmlsi=M1JsPgIRDm-lMIoI

@PeggyStentzCasey 7 ай бұрын

This is great! But how do you keep squirrels from taking all the ground seed?? I have a lot of squirrels. I'm in Atlanta. So far, I am having bluebirds taking baths, eating at the feeders and generally being around! Also, the finches have discovered my old black eyed susans which are all just seeds now and they are eating them. I''ve had more birds so far this season than I ever have and it is exciting. I just want to get one of the flat feeders with a roof set up and I think I'm good. Thanks for all the tips! Hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday.

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

It sounds like you are doing it right! The only answer to the squirrel feeding off the ground would be safflower or heat treated seed. Your feeders sound busier than mine this year. Thanks for watching.

@bjstewart3723 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for this info. How do you keep the deer from just coming and eating it all, except the finch and peanut tubes? And how do I protect the feeding birds from the hawks. I had a wonderful little grey bird that would come to my door and chatter at me, he was so pleasant, I'm sure a hawk took him. Sad.

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

The key to keeping deer it is 6ft. That is the limit to their reach so feeders mounted at that height are safe. As for hawks, making sure you have close to scape cover. If you don’t have bushes and trees, try building a brush pile nearby. An old Christmas tree works great for a few months.

@mariogoyette8896 7 ай бұрын

Hello Mark ,Mario from quebec, i have a question..i have a mesh peanut feeder and another one made of steel with small round holes in it, how often should i replace the peanuts inside?

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

I would empty the old peanuts out each time. If they are dry, you can empty them in a pitcher, mix with the new peanuts and refill it.

@sherry2836 7 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for this info. I live in an apartment in SE Michigan and have a patio. I wish I had space for all these feeders! I have 3 feeding areas; platform, tube finch feeder and the ground but the squirrels and sparrows overwhelm all feeding areas. Is there a certain time of day to set feed out to avoid these gluttons? Do the feeders need to be higher then 4 ft? i also plan on hanging a suet feeder next month but I'm afraid the squirrels will figure a way to cut thru the wire and haul the cage away. They did that to the heads of all my sunflowers! Also, what is a good mix to attract cardinals? Thank you and Merry Christmas! Also, I have not seen any finches yet or black capped chickadees but the little juncos are feeding now.

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for tuning in. Have you ever tried Safflower? It may be the answer to much of your troubles. Squirrels, blackbirds and sparrows do not care for it. There really isn’t a time day that is better. Squirrels can jump straight up 4 to 4.5 ft. I

@davidhowe8845 7 ай бұрын

Any suggestions for ridding my feeders of house sparrows ? I have probably 50 or more eating my seed.

@zuzuspetals8323 7 ай бұрын

That makes two of us!

@MarksBackyardBirds 7 ай бұрын

House Sparrows are tough. Don’t feed any mixes with millet in it. That is their favorite. With that number of birds, your best bet is to feed some millet on the ground a little away from your other feeders. They tend to stay away from the larger stripe sunflower and safflower when millet is available and they prefer the ground for feeding.

@rickyflair4516 7 ай бұрын

B b gun will do it hahah. Have you tried fishing line string?

@zuzuspetals8323 7 ай бұрын

@@MarksBackyardBirdsInteresting. Thank you. 🎄 Merry Christmas to you and yours. 🎄

@davidhowe8845 7 ай бұрын

@@MarksBackyardBirds are sparrow traps effective ?