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Feeders provide food for birds, enjoyment to Mid-Ohio Valley residents

Photo by Art Smith A blue jay sits on top of a block of suet.

MARIETTA — Cold weather makes it difficult to get outside, but a well-placed bird feeder can bring nature to a front door.

While a few feeders in a yard provide sustenance to a variety of bird species, they also provide hours of viewing pleasure.

“Feeding birds is great entertainment and it doesn’t cost much. There have been studies that have demonstrated the health benefits of feeding birds, especially for elderly people who might be housebound,” said Bill Thompson, editor of “Bird Watcher’s Digest” published in Marietta, and a lifelong birder. “For most of us it’s nearly free, all-natural entertainment and a great way to connect with nature.”

To attract a variety of birds, include a variety of different feeders, each of which has advantages and disadvantages.

Tray feeders give a wide platform from which birds can feed, but the seed is subject to the effects of rain and other weather conditions.

Photo by Art Smith A male northern cardinal prepares to land next to a female during a recent snowy morning.

Hopper feeders offering protection from the weather are great for attracting birds like finches, cardinals, chickadees and titmice.

Window feeders usually hold less food than hopper feeders, but allow the birdwatcher to get a closer view of the birds.

Nyjer seed, or thistle feeders made of either a metal tube or a sock-like feeder, are great for attracting the American goldfinch, the color of which gets a little less vibrant in the winter months.

Suet feeders are a popular and inexpensive choice to attract birds like woodpeckers and nut hatches. Blocks of feed come in a variety of options and sizes and generally cost less than a dollar.

Whatever feeder is chosen, it is important to remember a few basics, according to Thompson.

Photo by Art Smith Mourning doves take a break on a branch. The birds frequently will feed on what drops from a feeder.

“Keep your feeders and bird baths healthy and clean for the birds,” said Thompson. “Keep your cats indoors so they don’t kill birds, and stop feeding if sick or diseased birds appear at your feeders.”

To prevent the spread of illnesses, Thompson recommends washing feeders in a 9:1 water-to-bleach solution before returning them outside.

Keep a keen watch on a feeder and it may produce a few surprises, Thompson said.

“We’ve had a lot of one-time visitors to our feeders and bird baths,” said Thompson. “I love it when the northern finches show up about once every 10 years or so. We get evening grosbeaks and common redpolls, two species that live in the far north.”

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