Crow Kitchen :: All-Natural Bakery for Backyard Birds

BIRD FEEDING 101

Feeding wild birds is a fun, relaxing hobby that celebrates one of nature's greatest gifts - the humble songbird. If you live in an area with mature trees, you'll probably find it easy to attract a wide variety of birds. But even if you don't, you can still take steps to set out the best welcome mat possible.

1) Feed a selection of high-quality food, including seeds, nuts, fruit, and of course, Crow Kitchen treats. (We buy local, organic seed whenever possible, or grow our own. Black oil sunflower is a great all-purpose choice.)

2) Supply fresh water for drinking and bathing.

3) To avoid crowding and make birds feel safe, position feeders in various locations, always near a bush or tree.

4) Hang bird houses and nesting boxes for additional shelter and protection from predators.

5) Make your yard a bird habitat by planting native trees and plants that provide shelter and food. It's also a good idea to allow at least a small section of your property to "go wild." For more info, look here.

6) Keep birds disease-free by regularly cleaning feeders and birdbaths.

BIRD ENEMIES?

We welcome all birds at our Crow Kitchen feeders, but we understand why some people don't like starlings, house sparrows, and blackbirds. They can clean you out in no time, and starlings especially are quite noisy. (Did you know they can be trained to speak?)

We believe there is no humane way to rid your yard of "bad" birds (BBs) entirely, but you can minimize their impact. These strategies have worked for us:

Serve a decoy product (like Bird Butter) in one section of the yard, drawing BBs away from your primary feeders. When BBs come near the feeders, clap loudly or squirt them with a water gun.

Feed just before sunset. Many BBs disappear as it starts to get dark, but some "good" birds, like woodpeckers and cardinals, will gladly eat at dusk.

Place your primary feeders close to the house. Many BBs spook easily, so any movement near the windows will drive them away...at least for a few minutes.

Be extra vigilant when BBs show up with their babies. Otherwise you'll soon have a whole new generation of greedy diners.

Finally, take a deep breath and learn to appreciate the good qualities of "bad" birds - their beautiful feathers, that fact that they eat bugs, etc. And before you get too upset, remember that starlings and blackbirds, at least, do migrate, so you won't be stuck with them all year.