Many people want to know, should I or shouldn’t I feed the birds? In my line of work, as Natural Neighbors program director, Bird Feeding 101 questions are some of the most common questions I get during site visits. My answer is always this: if seeing wild birds in your yard would bring you joy, then by all means, you should feed the birds! However, the answer to this question is far more nuanced than one would expect. So before you rush off to the nearest store to stock up on bird-feeding supplies, do yourself (and the birds) a favor and read on. You just might save yourself a bout with buyer’s remorse.
When discussing bird feeding, one of the first pieces of advice I give to a person on a Natural Neighbors visit is that natural food sources are the most beneficial improvement one can make in their landscape. Fruiting shrubs are an easy addition to any landscape. Just to name a few: raspberry, highbush blueberry, or winterberry holly will provide abundant resources through the summer, fall, and into the winter. But what happens in the dead of winter? That is when “leaving the leaves” and “saving the stems” pays dividends to our feathered friends.
As I welcomed the arrival of two feet of snow in what will go down in history books as the Blizzard of 2026, I watched the constant murmuration of activity surrounding my bird feeder. The chickadees arrived in threes, darting from the tree line to the feeder, keeping in touch with each other through their strident chick-a-dee-dee-dee calls. A pair of cardinals followed them in, the male providing a muted flash of red within the windswept white of constant snowfall, and somewhere lost in the atmospheric tumult, the harsh cry of a blue jay called in his closest compatriots. Mourning doves and song sparrows milled around on the snow-blanketed ground below, searching for the seeds knocked out of the tube feeder, while woodpeckers hammered on the block of suet, its cage nailed to the trunk of the gnarled apple tree that served as the hub for all this commotion.
Watching this scene unfold, one could easily think that without the food we have provided, these birds would be literally left starving out in the cold. Let me assure you that while we can make the search for resources easier for wild birds, by no means are these small, but mighty creatures dependent on us. Case in point: my feeding station may have been the hub, but it was not the sole source of food.
As the nor’easter raged throughout the day, the birds spent just as much time in my pollinator patch, strategically placed close to my home and somewhat sheltered, as they did at the feeder. The wet snow had weighed down and toppled over the goldenrods and bluestem grasses that still retained their seedheads. The sparrows, mourning doves, and chickadees feasted on these! They also worked the bark of the grapevine that frames the patch, feeding on over-wintering larvae from myriad of insect species. They also worked on the trunk and branches of the apple tree, and the lichens growing on its bark, with equal fervor. This is how nature sustains itself, and I recommend this as the way one should first and foremost feed the birds.
Still, nothing quite matches the entertainment factor of a well stocked bird-feeding station. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard someone tell me that watching the birds at the feeder was more entertaining than watching TV! To help you bring this type of joy into your life, here is a practical guide to getting started; let’s call it Bird Feeding 101.
These are the Birds in Your Neighborhood
Even the most casual of observers can quickly come to know the regulars at their feeder.
What to Offer
Simplicity works best and is the most cost-effective.
- Black oil sunflower seed, straight, no chaser, is the universal favorite. Avoid buying seed mixes unless they are from a reputable seller. Almost all of the mixes you will find in your local grocery and hardware stores are chock-full of inexpensive, low-nutrient fillers such as milo (sorghum), cracked corn, red millet, and other grain products. These blends might be great for chickens but are wasted on wild birds. They will toss most of it out of the feeder, trying to find the very few black oil sunflower seeds that are in the mix.
- Nyjer (thistle) seed, in specialized thistle feeders, draws goldfinches and other small finches whose bills are not made for cracking open the shells of larger seeds.
- Peanuts, shelled or in-shell, are a high-protein food source that is irresistible to jays and the surest way to attract woodpeckers to your feeding station.
- Suet is made from animal fat and is a luxury food source that provides critical high-energy nutrients. When temperatures drop, suet is the most beneficial item you can add to your menu. However, like seed mixes, most local outlets carry horribly inferior suet products, cut with cornmeal, oats, and more grains. No buneo! What the birds really need is the fat. Sorry to say, you are not going to find the good stuff on the island. Shop online, or get it straight from the butcher. Buy some (unsalted, raw) peanuts, melt the suet down, mix in the peanuts and some (unsalted, raw) sunflower seeds. Pour into a square brownie pan, cover, and refrigerate until it solidifies. Cut into blocks as needed.
Choosing a Feeder
Given the island’s coastal winds, sturdy feeders are advisable. Lightweight models may not survive a February nor’easter like we just witnessed. Buying quality pays off in the long run; a good feeder will last you a lifetime, while cheap ones deteriorate over a few seasons, or to one tenacious squirrel. Speaking of squirrels: I am not going there. I could write an entire manifesto on squirrels at the bird feeder. Suffice to say, there are truly squirrel-proof feeders out there, and if you have squirrel problems, then I suggest you spend the money and buy the Squirrelbuster Plus. You can thank me later.
Tube feeders are for sunflower seeds and seed mixes with larger seeds (safflower, black oil, hulled, and striped sunflower seed). They help limit waste and accommodate smaller perching birds like chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and finches.
Platform feeders are for sunflower seeds and seed mixes with smaller seeds (white millet) that attract a wider variety and cater to birds who prefer to feed on the ground, like cardinals, juncos, sparrows, and mourning doves.
Suet cages are simple and effective in winter; they snap shut and hold a block of suet. All birds covet suet, but it is especially attractive to woodpeckers, and is known to attract birds that won’t typically visit feeders, such as Carolina wrens and over-wintering warblers. Attach suet cages securely to your feeding station, as they are prone to being carried off by other hungry critters!
Finch (a.k.a Thistle) feeders have smaller seed ports, specifically designed for nyger seed, which is a small, thin seed. American goldfinches will flock to thistle feeders, along with house and purple finches, and if you are lucky, perhaps a common redpoll when they are in the area.
Peanut feeders are made of metal mesh; the open mesh keeps feeder contents exposed to open air, which prevents the peanuts from getting moldy, and they are a favorite among all birds, not just woodpeckers and jays.
Placement matters. Position your feeder five or six feet above ground, ideally near natural cover in the form of shrubs, hedges, or woodland edges, to give birds quick refuge from predators. They should also be sited appropriate distances from windows to reduce collisions, either within three feet so the birds can’t get up enough speed, or 30 feet so they can recognize the window.
Seasonal Bird Feeding
It is worth saying again that planting native plants is the best way to feed your birds. But I am often asked: “Do I need to feed the birds in the summer?” The short answer is no, natural food sources are abundant throughout the summer, especially if you are planting them into your landscape, and the reality is, the birds are gorging themselves on live food more than anything else. I recommend only putting up a hummingbird feeder in the summer and letting nature’s abundance take care of the rest.
Fall brings migrants and the need for quick calories, but winter is when feeders matter most. Natural food sources dwindle, and birds rely heavily, but not completely, on consistent offerings. If you begin feeding in earnest during cold weather, you will see the same individual birds day after day, at the same time every day. You will never miss your favorite show!
A Note on Responsibility
Feeding birds comes with some responsibility and requires care. Bird flu has been an on-again, off-again issue. Pay attention to town ordinances regarding bird feeding during a bird flu epidemic. If bird flu has been noted in your area and no ordinance has been put in place, stop feeding the birds if you or people in your neighborhood have domesticated fowl.
If sick birds appear, particularly finches with eye infections, experts advise temporarily removing feeders and cleaning them thoroughly before putting them out again. Regardless of sick birds, your feeders should be cleaned every two to four weeks, depending on the amount of traffic they get. If you have a busy station, then weekly cleanings are in order. Clean them with either a 10% bleach solution or a 50/50 vinegar solution, then rinse thoroughly.
Fresh water is just as valuable, if not more so, than feed. A shallow birdbath, refreshed regularly, is often the most popular feature in a yard. In winter, heated baths can be lifesaving.
Birdfeeding, at its heart, is an act of attention. It invites nature into your yard. It marks the turning of seasons. It teaches the difference between the titmouse’s hasty whistle and the clear whistle of a cardinal. It makes neighbors of wild creatures.
If you would like to get to know your natural neighbors better, you can learn more about our Natural Neighbor program by clicking HERE, and while you are there, sign up for a visit. We will come by to help get you started on your journey! We will share our knowledge and resources at no cost to you and find many other ways for you to support the birds and all the biodiversity in your yard.
