How best to feed backyard birds?

[Currantly]

Attracting birds to your backyard is simple. All you need to do is entice them with a variety of delicious foods. In fact, by offering our feathered friends a seasonal menu of irresistible treats, you can turn any garden into a year-round bird restaurant!

Providing a plentiful source of nourishment can help birds thrive in your neighborhood. This is especially so in the cold winter months when natural food is scarce. By doing so, you'll be rewarded with regular visits by flocks of winged and wonderful wildlife that will keep you amused for hours with their comical table manners and odd seating arrangements.

So, how best to feed backyard birds? Click through and plan the pecking order.

Linky

 

[3WA]

Depends on the birds. If you want vultures or crows, lay out antelope carcasses in your yard.

 

[r0ckf1re]

Birds like these ?

 

[soulie]

Feeding garden birds in SA has hidden dangers , dont feed fruit eaters and seed eaters in the same area , do feed doves and pigeons on a surface that has direct exposure to sunlight , dont feed seed eaters from feeders ,rather throw the seed out over a large area so it has a chance to come into contact with sunlight , dont use water bowls that arent cleaned daily and refilled , water features with a pump and circulating water is better.birds carry 2 main diseases Trichomoniasis and Kanker ,all wild garden birds get it from mossies to owls , it is spread readily from an infected bird to another ,once infected the chance of survival is very low , with doves and seed eaters it prevents the bird from swallowing so he picks the seed up and spits it out ,another comes along swallows it and gets infected .symptoms in seed eaters is slime and a yellow build up in the beak , if no slime or build up it can progress to the blood and into the central nervous system where the bird will exhibit signs of lethargy , be wobbly or just curl up .main culprits are racing pidgeons and feral pidgeons they build up an immunity to it ,and become carriers . further info you can probably google as i wont be drawn into a debate on it ,if unsure ask your local vet .There are no cures for them and mortality rates are virtually 100% if infected .exposure to sunlight may help kill the bug as with running water but tests are inconclusive and vague .

 

[I.am.Sam]

Feeding garden birds in SA has hidden dangers , dont feed fruit eaters and seed eaters in the same area , do feed doves and pigeons on a surface that has direct exposure to sunlight , dont feed seed eaters from feeders ,rather throw the seed out over a large area so it has a chance to come into contact with sunlight , dont use water bowls that arent cleaned daily and refilled , water features with a pump and circulating water is better.birds carry 2 main diseases Trichomoniasis and Kanker ,all wild garden birds get it from mossies to owls , it is spread readily from an infected bird to another ,once infected the chance of survival is very low , with doves and seed eaters it prevents the bird from swallowing so he picks the seed up and spits it out ,another comes along swallows it and gets infected .symptoms in seed eaters is slime and a yellow build up in the beak , if no slime or build up it can progress to the blood and into the central nervous system where the bird will exhibit signs of lethargy , be wobbly or just curl up .main culprits are racing pidgeons and feral pidgeons they build up an immunity to it ,and become carriers . further info you can probably google as i wont be drawn into a debate on it ,if unsure ask your local vet .There are no cures for them and mortality rates are virtually 100% if infected .exposure to sunlight may help kill the bug as with running water but tests are inconclusive and vague .

and yet pigeons and crows and others thrive and build cities