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Via gardenauthor)
Posted by admin to cleaning bird feeders, ground feeding birds, platform feeders, safflower seed on 2008-02-06, 11:17:00
Dreary, gray and rainy for the third day in a row. Serious downpours keep even the dog's outdoor time to a minimum. Bedraggled songbirds take turns at the sunflower feeder, extracting one sodden seed at a time. Sparrows and juncos hunch up their little shoulders, as great beads of water congregate on metal perches above, then splash down, adding to the misery of these earnest little seed seekers.
Have you ever noticed ground feeding birds performing the "Seed Shuffle?" They scoot back and forth (in a sort of madcap version of the cha-cha), constantly scratching around in the feeder spillage for those few uneaten seeds. It is an admirable talent and one which yields a great deal of success, when scratching through snow or dry soil. However, after three days of rain laying atop frozen soil, any such areas are best described as seed soup, especially in low-lying spots. This makes for a tough slog on the way to obtaining lunch and probably a fairly unhealthy one, after what we learn of the harmful bacteria build-up in dirty, water-soaked bird feeders. One can only imagine the germs that pervade this particular "lunchroom."
It is generally agreed that such bacteria is responsible for pneumonia-like symptoms, as well as blindness, both of which result in death. Therefore, were I running for Backyard Bird Guardian, my platform would revolve around prevention and cleanliness. Keep your seed supply fresh, cool and dry... an unheated garage or garden shed, stored in rodent-proof containers, or (and this is my preference) several galvanized trash cans with the lids secured against squirrel entry. They're adjacent to the feeding stations, particularly handy when the footing is icy.
Tubular feeders can be extremely unhealthy. Chaff, dust and rotted seed accumulates in the base of feeders, in attached seed trays and around seed ports. Mechanical removal of this decaying organic matter is essential, as is the periodical washing and sterilizing of these feeders. Some folks employ the dishwasher for this job. Alternatively, wash your feeders in a 10-1 bleach solution (10 parts water/1 part bleach), rinse thoroughly and air-dry, before filling and rehanging. Ideally, if wet weather persists, wash these feeders every 1-2 weeks. Monthly washing is usually sufficient during dry, cold weather - just keep the waste cleared out.
To avoid a seed soup situation and to keep the seed you offer dry and uncontaminated, provide a low platform feeder for birds who prefer to ground-feed. The original platform feeders consisted of a wooden frame with a screen bottom. Rain drained through, keeping the seed dry. Many of the newer incarnations include a top grid, which prevents squirrels from reaching the seed... a good idea if you offer sunflower or seed blends. Some newer models also include a roof to keep out rain and snow. A 2-3' metal post provides about the right distance from the ground... some models have attached legs and a few can be suspended on chains.
While you should be able to find platform feeders at your local garden center, click on
Duncraft Feeders to view some of the options available. For cardinals and mourning doves, try offering safflower seed or a safflower/thistle seed mix. The squirrels avoid these seeds, although they may sit there for a while, examining the seeds, then flinging them down in high disgust. The chickadee, towhee, blue jay, nuthatch, titmouse and most woodpeckers are also drawn to the hard-shelled safflower seed... although most of these species (towhee and blue jay excepted) rarely, if ever, ground-feed.
Well, I've burbled on quite enough - any more and I'd be likened to one of those politicians who gas on endlessly about anything and everything. Somehow, I've managed to bring you down into the minutiae of backyard bird feeding. So, let me unequivocally state, my fellow birders, I am running on a platform platform. I believe there should be a cat in every window, a chicken in every pot*, a car in every garage* and a platform feeder in every backyard. In a spirit of cooperation, let us reach across the back fence and renew our pledge to unite in the face a common foe - bird feeder bacteria. Together we can raise our ground-feeders to new heights, as they feed bacteria-free, in a new platform feeder. (I'm Deb Lambert and I approved this ad.)
*Herbert Hoover's 1928 Presidential Campaign slogan.
©2008 Deb Lambert
