October Newsletter

 

October is the time for southward migrations. Since a lot of birds will be moving through the area, keep your eyes peeled for the unexpected warbler, tanager and waxwing while out and about. White-throated sparrows and juncos that spend their winters with us, should be arriving soon. Keeping several types of feeders in your yard will attract a wide variety of winged visitors. Water is essential and when the weather gets colder a deicer is a good way to ensure a steady supply of water. 

 

Best foods to provide: 

Because White-throated sparrows, doves and juncos are ground feeders, they love millet. You can throw it right on the ground, use a blend with more millet, or add extra to the blend you are already using. Our No-Mess Blend has just the right amount of millet for our little ground feeding birds to enjoy. This is the month that nuthatches, woodpeckers and jay will start storing nuts and seeds for the winter.

**Just a reminder, millet and milo are not the same. Both are little round seeds that get kicked to the ground by the birds who eat at feeders. Millet will be eaten, however, milo is a filler and most birds don't like it. Commercial mixes sold at grocery stores and big box stores often contain a large percentage of milo, wheat and other grains that are fillers and a waste of money, as they are not eaten.**  

Safflower is still a good feed to use if you have a problem with squirrels, grackles and starlings. They don't really like this seed, however most other birds will still eat it.  

Shelled peanuts are loaded with fat and many birds can't get enough as they prepare for the cold weather. These will also be hidden under the bark and in the crevices of trees by our little birds that cache food.  

Continue feeding nyjer for goldfinches and Pine Siskins. Goldfinch will have finished their last nesting so you might notice hungry youngsters at your finch feeders. 

A no-melt suet loaded with nuts is good to use through the end of October, switching to the higher fat suet as the weather cools. Brown Creepers will start showing up in October and they love to visit suet feeders. 

Birds love mealworms all year long, fresh or dried. Putting them near a birdbath is a good way for them to get notice. We also carry a variety of mealworm feeders.

Nectar in October is important. Hummingbirds are still on the move and now so we recommend keeping the nectar feeder out through the end of October or later. The young birds are often in experienced and nectar feeders provide an easy meal when the flowers start to fade.

Cedar Waxwings will eat dried fruit, so raisins, dried cherries, and cranberries are a good thing to start feeding. Placing it near a birdbath is another good way to get it noticed and you can mix seed and mealworms in with them.

Water in October:

The best way to lure a bird to your yard is with a birdbath. Check out our new beautiful Cast Stone bird baths and fountains, as well as our metal ones that can stay out all winter. Place your birdbath where you can easily see it to enjoy the action. To attract a wider variety of birds, add a bubbler, mister or dripper as tanagers, buntings and warblers are attracted to moving water.

 

Nesting in October:

Wait until next month to clean out nesting boxes, but you can put them back up. In cold weather your nest boxes will be used by many birds for shelter at night. October is a great time to add a roosting box. Position the nest or roosting box so you can watch the birds coming and going and where it is safe from predators. 

 

Making your yard a Backyard Habitat:

Leave areas of your yard a little wild and untamed. White-throated sparrows love scratching through the leaves looking for insects and seeds. Flickers will also search through leaves on the ground looking for ants and other bugs. Let your flowers set seed and watch as the goldfinch, warblers, juncos and sparrows eat on these all the way through January. Watch your berry shrubs for the Cedar Waxwing that come through in large groups, clean off a shrub and then move to the next. If you don't have any berry shrubs, fall is the best time to plant them. Local nurseries will be able to help you pick a shrub that is both good for our growing zone and that will feed the birds. Shrubs also provide ideal cover and protection for our birds in the winter.