BACKYARD BIRDS

To Feed or Not to Feed?
By Rachel Foster 12/14/06

For several days in late October, a hummingbird returned to the spot on our deck where a fuchsia had been blooming until a sudden freeze killed the flowers. The rufous hummingbirds that defended their flower patches so vigorously in summer had already left for points south. This bird was an Anna's hummingbird, and a solitary male Anna's has been around our yard three winters in a row now. In really bad weather we may not see him for several days, but then he surfaces again. I asked Maeve Sowles and Dick Lamster (president and former president, respectively, of Lane County Audubon Society) what hummingbirds eat in the wintertime.
Hummingbirds still get nectar from the few winter flowers, they said, and they eat small insects and spiders, as they do all year round, and tree sap. They also use feeders. I wondered if our neighbor's hummingbird feeder could be an important factor in keeping our hummer around. "In winter, it's possible their dependency on feeders may be greater than it is in summer, but it still isn't very high," Sowles said. "During exceptional cold snaps or heavy snow, we recommend that people who do use hummingbird feeders in winter keep them up consistently and try to keep them from freezing. Never put out a feeder that's above room temperature, though!"
Fewer bird species are around in winter but they may be especially noticeable, particularly small birds that forage in mixed flocks, like chickadees, kinglets and (if you're lucky) Townsend's warblers. I love to watch birds at other people's bird feeders, but I have never had one myself. And, I've discovered, there are differences of opinion on the topic. Some people are concerned that birds may become dependent on feeders, which, they feel, serve the birder rather than the birds. Others cite problems with house cats or disease. When I asked Lamster if bird feeders are a good idea, however, he responded "The short answer is yes. Since we are destroying habitat at an alarming rate, the birds' natural habitat and thus their food supply is being reduced daily. Birds that use feeders still forage for natural foods in the area, but feeders do help."
Winter may be the season when supplemental feeding is most useful. If you choose to feed birds in winter only, author Russell Link (see below) suggests starting in mid-October and continuing until April; keep feeders full during extra cold weather, and be particularly careful about hygiene. "It's extremely important to keep all bird feeders clean," said Sowles. For hummingbird feeders this means taking them down at the first sign of any cloudiness in the solution and cleaning them thoroughly with hot water, including the perches and outside surfaces.
"Seed feeders should be cleaned out at least weekly if they are wet and every two or three weeks in the summer. This involves discarding the old seed and then cleaning the surface thoroughly. It is also helpful to wipe the perches of hanging feeders with a mild bleach solution (10 percent) weekly and using the bleach solution on the platform feeders also. The feeders themselves can become a source of harmful bacteria and fungus and spread disease from one bird to another."
You don't need feeders, of course, to enjoy birds. Local forester and naturalist Whitey Lueck used to put up feeders. Now, he says, "I feed birds by providing terrific habitat!" Birds will come to any yard that provides cover and food sources. Water and some good perching spots will make your yard even more attractive. Among many guides to enriching your own bird habitat, I recommend Russell Link's exceptionally detailed Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest (University of Washington); and Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Winged Wonders to Your Backyard by Kris Wetherbee (Lark Books) Signed copies are available from Wetherbee's website, www.wingedwildlife.comDon't forget that bird-related items, from books to binoculars, make great gifts. Garden centers offer nest boxes, roost boxes, seed and feeders. For birders who venture beyond the sitting room window, mud boots are a must (and lightweight polypropylene gloves are very helpful). You could also sign up bird-besotted loved ones for The Quail, the newsletter of Lane County Audubon at www.laneaudubon.orgIt will keep them informed about local sightings and birding opportunities. As for books, an up-to-date field manual is the first essential, and The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America is a current favorite with many birders. Birds of Lane County (Alan Contreras, ed.; OSU Press) is a great new guide to best nearby birding locations and what to find there.