Gardening for Wildlife

A backyard buffet

Related Terms: nesting box, bird box, how to, installation, building a bird box

In winter, when food is scarce, birds need more energy than usual to keep warm. A feeding station that provides nutritious food for hungry birds is like an oasis in the bleak cold.

Simple feeders

A string of peanuts hung from a branch looks scrumptious to a blue jay.
An old mesh onion bag filled with suet of pan drippings and hung from a tree branch works well.

Pine cones coated with a mix of cornmeal and suet can be dangled from branches.
A hanging log drilled with holes for suet makes a cheap, handy feeder that gets high ratings from birds as well.

Upright corncobs on a board look scrumptious to birds.

Recycled household items like an empty milk carton also make great feeders.

If you build your own feeder, don't weatherproof it with preservatives as most are poisonous.

Paint should not be used on birdfeeders as the particles may be harmful to birds if eaten.
Natural colours are better anyway as birds are wary of bright, conspicuous colours.

See our new bird feeding handout for more tips on bird feeding.