Give migratory birds a boost on their journey

Give migratory birds a boost on their journey

www.agfc.com LITTLE ROCK — The season’s finally here when many Arkansans favor the warmth of the hearth over the biting cold of winter. There is still plenty of opportunity for outdoors enthusiasts from the comfort of a windowsill or reading nook in the form of colorful birds making their annual migration south for winter.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, about 47 million Americans over the age of 15 identify themselves as birders. Of those, 41 million specify that they primarily watch birds around the home. Birders spend an estimated $40 billion each year on their hobby, with $7.5 billion devoted to wildlife-watching equipment including bird feeders, food, birdbaths, and viewing equipment.

According to Kirsten Bartlow, Watchable Wildlife Program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, winter can be a great time to attract new varieties of birds to your backyard, and it may help them make their trip in better condition.

“We’ve taken up quite a bit of habitat that birds were able to use with houses, yards and towns,” Bartlow said. “It doesn’t hurt to offer a little food in return for them as they make their way south to avoid cold weather and dwindling resources.”

Feeding birds can be as simple as scattering some seed on the ground or as elaborate as using specialized birdfeeders to promote only certain species. Bartlow offers a few tips to make the most of your efforts and keep things safe for the birds.

“The number one thing I tell people that want to put out birdfeeders is to keep their cats inside,” Bartlow said. “Domestic cats and feral cats cause more deaths to birds than just about anything else, so try to keep them away from the safe zone you’re creating by feeding.” Additionally Bartlow says feeders should be cleaned every few weeks to prevent spreading disease. As birds come and go, feeders can get covered in droppings, seed husks and mold, which can all be vectors for disease. Also, hulls can pile up underneath feeders, which can attract rodents and insects, so keeping things tidy can go a long way.

When it comes to food, bargain shopping may not be the best approach.

“Instead of buying mixes from dollar stores, I’d advise someone wanting to feed birds to go to a bird feeder store like Wild Birds Unlimited to get good quality birdseed,” said Kirsten Bartlow, Watchable Wildlife Program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. “A lot of cheap seed will have fillers in it that make it look like you’re getting a lot of food, but the birds will just pick through it to get to the good stuff, leaving a mess on the ground under the feeder and taking the few pieces they want.

“Really for the person that’s just wanting to see a lot of birds and a good variety, the standard black oil sunflower seeds are about the best bang for the buck,” said Kirsten Bartlow, watchable wildlife program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. “It’s going to bring it cardinals, goldfinches, doves, nuthatches and many other common backyard birds. The shells are very thin, so many species can crack them to get to the food inside.”

In addition to their near universal appeal and low price, black oil sunflower seeds can be offered to birds on platform or hopper feeders as well as sprinkled directly on the ground to attract groundfeeding birds.

From the Arkansas Game & Fish Commision