From the Desk of
Old Ben...
"Feeding Wild Birds In The Fall"
Fall is a fantastic time to feed birds. Fall bird feeding tips can help you attract a wide variety of both resident birds and migrating birds to your backyard feeders.
Fall Bird Feeding Myths
The idea that if the birds have a steady source of food available in the fall, they won't migrate, and then when those feeders are empty the bird will starve is a total misconception. A reliable food source is only a minor factor that affects how birds migrate. Daylight levels, climate, and instinct play important roles in seasonal migration. Feeding birds in the fall does not prevent migration, but can help it. Migrating birds require lots of calories for the energy necessary to fly hundreds or thousands of miles. Feeders can provide an energy boost to passing migrants as well as help resident birds build up fat reserves for falling temperatures.
It is also a myth that there simply are not enough birds around to feed them in the fall. Bird feeders will still see plenty of activity. Your backyard flocks will change as some birds will leave and more northern birds will arrive.
Why Feed Birds in The Fall
Fall is an ever-changing season and it can be a very rewarding time to feed birds. It's a great idea to always keep your feeders stocked in the fall for many reasons:
* It helps resident birds build fat reserves for energy
* Provides an easy food source for migrating birds passing through your neighborhood
* Offers supplemental food when natural food sources are depleted
* Helps birds imprint on the location of reliable food sources so they will return to the same place next year.
Best Fall Bird Foods
To give migrating birds the best nutrition and energy for their long journeys, provide foods with high oil content and lots of calories like Old Ben's Classic, No Mess, Special Finch Blend, Nyger, Peanuts and Hummingbird Foods
Tips for Feeding Fall Birds
There is more to feeding fall birds than just providing the right foods. By keeping your backyard safe and meeting birds' other needs, a fall flock will be healthy and active.
* Check feeders for damage and repair them so they are safe
* Choose fall plants that offer evergreen cover and lasting berries, nuts or fruits for fall and winter food.
* Keep bird baths filled with fresh clean water.
* Allow leaf litter to build up under trees and shrubbery to attract birds with insects, fallen seeds, and other foods.
* Protect exhausted backyard migrants from predators such as cats.
Feeding birds in the fall can be a rewarding way to enjoy the changing season. By following these few bird feeding and care tips, it is possible to attract a wide range of bird species and halp that they are fed throughout the season.
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