PIERRE, S.D. – The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department is reminding enthusiasts that they can assist in a national survey of birds while enjoying the popular pastime of bird feeding.
Feeding birds takes place in every part of the country and among all age groups. Nationally, about one in three Americans watch wildlife. One doesn’t need a license or any special skills to enjoy feeding or watching wildlife, just an interest and a commitment to doing it right.
Those partaking in this fun and fulfilling activity should keep a few things in mind. Place feeders where you can watch, enjoy, and photograph feeding visitors. If bothered by squirrels at feeders, place your feeder on a pole away from trees. Place feeders near cover to protect feeding birds from weather and predators, such as free-roaming cats. Move feeders if you notice birds striking windows. Some birds, such as sparrows, juncos, doves, and pheasants, feed on the ground or on a flat platform. Offer several feeding sites to avoid overcrowding and disease transmission.
If only one menu item is offered, black oil sunflower seed appeals to many birds. Ground-feeding birds may prefer corn, milo or millet to sunflower seed. Pine siskins, goldfinches and redpolls prefer niger seed (also called finch or thistle seed), which can be offered in feeders specially designed for this seed. Suet or peanut butter may attract woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches and brown creepers. Offer year-round water by adding a bird bath heater. Avoid offering human “table scraps,” which may attract rodents or raccoons.
Remember to keep feeders and feeding areas clean by regularly raking up seed hulls and cleaning feeders by scrubbing with soapy water and rinsing in water diluted with a small amount of bleach. Store seed in tight, waterproof containers to prevent mold and to discourage rodents that may be attracted to accessible seed. Once feeding begins, try to continue through the winter. Don’t worry about missing a few days, since feeding birds typically visit other feeding stations. If sick or diseased birds are noticed, disinfect feeders and stop feeding for 10-14 days to avoid further spreading diseases.
For those just beginning to learn to identify birds at feeders, GFP has a new publication that can help. Request “Backyard Birds of South Dakota,” a free publication, at this link to the GFP Web site: http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Diversity/BackyardBirdsBook.htm
Project FeederWatch is a citizen science project led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The project helps to track wintering bird patterns and has provided extremely valuable information about diseases that affect wild birds. To become a FeederWatch citizen scientist, visit this website to join in this winter’s count: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/
Based on results from last winter’s South Dakota FeederWatch participants, the dark-eyed junco was the most common bird feeder visitor in the state. Rounding out the top five were the house finch, downy woodpecker, American goldfinch and black-capped chickadee.