All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center

This past summer broke all old records for downright unbearability. It was hot and 'way too arid, but when it did rain we got a gully washer that wiped out bridges across York County.

That memorable storm was so heavy that rainwater mostly ran off into streams and rivers--except for uncounted puddles that stood around as breeding grounds for our most plentiful mosquito plague in recent memory. November finally brought some "real" rain, with several slow drenchings that seeped into parched soil and brought water tables up to near-normal levels.

These recent showers have almost compensated for our longest drought in modern times, and the mercury has dipped to expected lows only a few times in October and November; thus, in most regards it has been a pretty nice autumn.

As usual, however, our silver lining has had some clouds, one of them being that mild, wet, autumn weather has kept vegetation lush and insect populations viable. This is all well and good for wildlife, but for multitudes of Piedmont residents who like to watch birds in their backyards, feeder visitors seem to be far down in number. There are plenty of birds in the Piedmont--a walk through the woodlands and old fields will reveal all sorts of avian activity--but the glut of natural foods keeps those birds in their traditional habitats.

Actually, backyard birders should be elated to know this. A mild fall means birds spend more time feeding naturally and less time just keeping warm. This raises survival rates and nearly guarantees a bumper crop of bird feeder birds when really cold weather arrives in January. The birds surely will show up at feeders then, so for now we just need a little patience.

Instead of pining away at our windows and hoping for glimpse of finch at yon feeder, we should be building better birdseed dispensers. Several readers have asked recently about recommendations for meeting winter needs of our "feathered friends," and I have some suggestions based on what has worked for me at Hilton Pond.

--My first guideline is: "Don't spend exorbitant sums of money on elaborate 'sure-fire' bird feeders." Some birds won't come to feeders at all, and you're better spending money on feed instead of feeders.

--For birds that will visit feeding stations, the feeder most attractive to the most species is easy to make. Called a platform feeder (above and at right), it consists of a 2-foot square of half-inch marine plywood. Tack moulding strips around the edges to prevent seeds from falling off and nail the whole thing to the top of a cedar post at a level you can reach easily--but at least 5 feet off the ground. Treat the feeder with oil-based stain and rub the wood well to remove excess; let the feeder age outside for a few days before stocking it. With this feeder, birds see the seeds, you see the birds, and your unimpeded view provides excellent light for wildlife photography--especially if the feeder is just outside your kitchen window.

--One improvement to the platform feeder is a flat roof to keep off the rain. Also made of half-inch plywood, the roof is slightly larger than the platform and is held a foot above it by 1-inch doweling at the corners. A more natural-looking platform feeder would use 1-inch log uprights and a roof covered by bark. The roof diminishes the amountof light that strikes the seed platform, but it keeps the seeds dry during inclement weather.

--Don't waste money on grocery store seed mixes. They often are high in milo and other seeds that most birds ignore. Better to buy bags of cracked corn, whole corn, white millet, and black sunflower seeds at a feed store and mix them in proportions you find attractive to birds frequenting your feeders.

--Note the emphasis on BLACK sunflower seeds. Striped sunflower is air-filled with heavy hulls hard for many birds to crack. Black sunflower has tight, easily-cracked shells and a very high food value.

--Ground-feeding birds (Mourning Doves, Northern Bobwhite quail, and many sparrows) come to food scattered on bare soil. A low platform feeder on 6-inch bricks concentrates the birds in one location and provides some control over ground-feeding mice or rats.

--Hanging sunflower seed feeders can be made from 15-inch sections of 3-inch plastic water pipe or gutter downspouts. Drill 5/16-inch holes on opposite sides of the plastic and insert long 3/8-inch dowels so they stick out 2 inches on either side; repeat this process to provide three or four sets of perches. About 2 inches above each perch, drill another 5/16-inch hole for a seed port. Plug the bottom of the plastic pipe tightly with a big wad of aluminum foil. Fill the feeder with black sunflower seeds and cover the top with an empty tuna can. Sit back and wait for chickadees and titmice to reveal the location to the rest of the neighborhood. (A discarded Frisbee attached to the feeder bottom will catch uneaten seeds.)

--Hanging thistle feeders attract goldfinches, Pine Siskins, and House Finches. Follow directions for the hanging sunflower seed feeder but use SMALL slits (1/8-inch wide by 1/2-inch long) for seed ports.

--Place your feeders where you can see them but so there is shelter nearby for feeder visitors. If there's no red cedar tree in your yard, plant one for birds to flee to if attacked by predators. It's a good idea to prop your discarded Christmas tree--sans ornaments and icicles--several feet from the feeder. It will last quite a while in winter weather and provides good shelter. Recycle and re-use when you can!

--Make a suet feeder by drilling 1-inch holes in a 15-inch section of log with tight bark on it. Knead a mixture of equal parts millet, black sunflower, and chunky peanut butter in baggies and blend in a few dabs of vegetable shortening. Keep extra mix in the refrigerator and fill the suet feeder holes to supply hungry woodpeckers and nuthatches. Perches are optional on this feeder.

--Provide water all winter long. Commercial bird baths work best when the bowl is placed directly on the ground. You can also use non-metal trays containing no more than two inches of water. (If you slope the tray each bird can choose its own depth for drinking and bathing.) Clean all water containers two or three times a week to prevent spreading disease.

--Don't put out white bread. It is as low in food value for birds as it is for humans, and it attracts starlings in droves.

--Buy a copy of "A Complete Guide to Bird Feeding" By John V. Dennis (Alfred A. Knopf, Publisher.) Aptly dubbed the "bird feeder's bible," this volume lists nearly every conceivable bird food and details which foods are taken by which species. There's a recipe section and a whole chapter on how to get started, so it would make a great Christmas gift for a novice friend.

Lastly, I haven't mentioned how to keep squirrels from coming to your bird feeders. In the first place, I rather like squirrels. Second, I honestly believe that every squirrel is born with an engineering Ph.D. enabling it to master any squirrel-proof feeder designed by humans. We should welcome these furry acrobats with our finest seeds; they may be far smarter than we are!

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