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 Not all birds eat the same foods and the
diet of individual birds changes with availability. The
supply of preferred foods may vary due to weather, competition
and relocation (bird irruption and full migration).
S nags
and brush piles, previously explained, play an important part in
providing sources for natural feeding. Dead trees, fallen
branches and logs are excellent places for
birds to find insects that thrive in wood and those that aid in the
decaying process. Other insects live under grassy and bare ground.
Delicious bugs can be found on all vegetation from volunteer growth
weeds to our best ornamental plants.
Live trees, of course, provide not just shelter, but a combination
of seeds, fruit, buds, twigs, sap, nuts, leaves and needles. Now add to
all those parts of the trees, all the edible insects
that call trees home. Most birds should be able to find something to
snack on.
Some birds can snatch insects from the air. Another important part of benign negligence is the absence of
bug sprays and fertilizers. Anything that destroys vegetation and insect
activity also destroys an important source of natural food for birds and
critters.
Weeds and plants provide sources of nutrition
provided by insects. They can also be favorite places to find seeds and nectar. Fruit trees and
a variety of berry bushes
left unclipped and unpicked are valuable sources of year-round nutritious
meals even when insects are not active.
Varied growths of ornamental grasses and weed patches can be bursting with yummy seeds
and insects. Lawns can be excellent hunting grounds for worms and ground-dwelling insects.
Backyards should provide food and shelter all year
long. The most wonderful thing about trees, bushes, plants and
grasses is their ability to provide that nutrition (insect support and
direct food source) and also offer shelter for rest, safety and family
activities.
White Breasted Nuthatch |
Northern Flicker |
Red Bellied Woodpecker |
Goldfinch |
Note: The above pictures show some birds that enjoy feeder foods, but
are photographed eating foods found in nature.
| Name of
Bird: |
 Bluebird |
| Food
Choices: |
Insects, earthworms and spiders;
fruit (especially cherries) and berries; raisins, mealworms
or commercial seed mix for bluebirds
|
| Plantings: |
Dogwood (tree and deciduous shrubs); winterberry;
blueberries; spicebush |
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Eating Style: |
Swoops down from perch to catch flying prey and forage
ground and low bushes; seeks softer foods (beaks thin and not
strong) |
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Our Backyard: |
We watched only early summer activity in 2008, but we never
saw them feed. Although we tried mealworms in a small
hanging container with sides, we probably hung them
too late in the season. |
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...Bluebird main page |
| Name of
Bird: |
 Robin |
| Food
Choices: |
Forages on the ground for insects, earthworms, and
spiders; fruit and berries eaten in winter;
|
| Plantings: |
Being in the same thrush family as bluebird, they share
the same love of these plantings: dogwood (tree and
deciduous shrubs); winterberry; blueberries; spicebush |
|
Eating Style: |
May appear to be listening for prey by cocking head,
but is really watching for activity in the earth; may stamp
the ground hoping to encourage movement of the worms |
|
Our Backyard: |
We have had sightings of these "spring birds" all year.
One foraged near a
ground feeder looking for
insects or worms (not the seed). We were enjoying unseasonal
weather the week of February 8, 2009. |
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...Robin main page |
| Name of
Bird: |
 Sharp Shinned Hawk |
| Food
Choices: |
Mostly small, song birds, but also
small mammals, reptiles and large insects |
| Plantings: |
Removal of any protective plant cover,
will encourage this predator of songbirds. |
|
Eating Style: |
May hunt from concealed brush or
buildings to snag birds mid-air or off feeder perches; may
flush prey by flying closely over hiding places in bushes
and treetops; or could glide slowly on air currents, plummet
in a sudden, steep dive with wings folded (known as a
stoop), swing feet forward and catch the surprised prey;
after capturing prey with feet, the long legs are extended
to protect the hawk's head and eyes; the small bird is
repeatedly clawed until struggling stops; beak is used for
plucking and eating the dead prey; small, rounded wings,
flight patterns of short flaps then long glides, and
rudder-like tails allow for successful, fast speed chases
through woodland areas; comes to feeders just to hunt |
|
Our Backyard: |
We have the occasional sharp shinned
hawk snatch a bird from our feeding area. Invariably
the small bird was captured just outside any protective
cover. Most visits end when other birds sound the alarm and
sometimes with the raucous sounds and swoops of mobbing. The
hawk's success depends on the element of surprise. |
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...Sharp shinned hawk main page |
| Name of
Bird: |
 Tree Swallow |
| Food
Choices: |
Insects (especially flies, beetles and flying
ants); will eat berries and seeds when cold weather makes
insects scarce
|
| Plantings: |
Bayberries (need 2 female and 1 male) |
|
Eating Style: |
Catches most insects in the air but
will eat small crustaceans and spiders on the ground; feeds
in mixed flocks of other swallows; does not come to feeders;
beaks open extra wide to capture flying insects |
|
Our Backyard: |
After raising a family in one of our
birdhouses, we thought at first that mom and dad and the
kids had moved on. But scanning the skies, often
showed these birds still there, swooping for insects. |
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...Tree swallow main page |
| Name of
Bird: |
 Wren |
| Food
Choices: |
Insects (beetles and grasshoppers),
caterpillars, spiders and snails and invertebrates found in
low trees or by foraging on ground |
| Plantings: |
Serviceberry, burning bush, clematis
and broccoli (can plant in flower garden) |
|
Eating Style: |
Gleans food from surfaces |
|
Our Backyard: |
We saw little of the house wrens after
a family was raised in one of our small birdhouses.
The winter wren stopped by our small pond for a drink one
day. |
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...Wren main page |
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