Finch Bird

Have you ever heard a “thump” on your window, only to see a bird on the ground? There are an estimated one hundred million to one billion birds yearly that die while flying into human-constructed structures like windows. Windows especially are lethal to birds due to how “invisible” a window is to a flying bird. Many people assume by placing a decal on the window will  stop it from happening. However, placing a decal on the window is not enough protection as you might believe. Furthermore, we might assume we are assisting birds by feeding them, yet we could also be the cause of the problem. Recently, while spending the holidays at our vacation home in Georgia, we were able to witness this. There were so many varieties of finches on the ground and on our deck. We love feeding our wildlife, so there were plenty of seeds to go around. While we were enjoying the frenzy of them eating, suddenly, a finch flew towards our window and crashed into it. However, it jumped quickly on a nearby railing where it perched itself trying to hold onto dear life. For a few minutes we watched as the poor thing wobbled back and forth. It was bending over backward, staying there for a few seconds, trying to make its way back upward only to repeat this several times. We didn’t even want to move in case we spooked it into a worse situation. Fortunately, the finch recovered and flew away. After that I decided to research for some solutions on the internet. I came across some interesting facts about protecting birds from flying into windows. According to Project Wildlife they suggested the following seven tips to protect our birds: 1. Find a larger bird shaped silhouette like a hawk and suspend it in front of your window pane. The movement of this silhouette will make the bird think a predator is nearby. 2. Place bird food, bird baths, and any other attracting objects to birds as far away from your window as possible. 3. You can hang ribbons no more than two inches apart around the window so the movement of the ribbons will spook them away.

It’s Not Just for the Birds!If you enjoy feeding birds, don’t stop feeding them during the long months of winter, especially if you live in an area that experiences cold temperatures, snow, and ice. Some species of birds are more colorful during warmer months, but feeding them during winter months is more important  than providing food in the spring, summer, and fall. Birds have a harder time finding food in the winter, and depending on where you live, your feeder could mean the difference between eating and going without. I recently asked a Wal-Mart associate where the bird feeders and food were located, and I was surprised by the answer I received. The Wal-Mart associate said she didn’t think they had much of a selection since it was winter. I told her that I recalled an adequate selection in the fall, but I couldn’t remember where it was located. With limited time and bad advice, I never did find the bird feeders at Wal-Mart, but I ended up purchasing a case of suet cakes and a bag of seed at a local farm supply store. Regrettably, some people stop feeding the birds at the onset of winter, and unbeknownst to some, winter is the time when birds need human assistance the most. Stores that sell bird feeding supplies during warmer months should promote feeding birds in the winter and provide a wide variety of feeders and seed, but unfortunately, many don’t. Wherever you live, and no matter how warm your winters are, don’t stop feeding birds at the onset of winter. Birds provide a great deal of enjoyment with their presence and their beautiful songs, and each variety of bird is unique in its own way. The following information provides tips on feeding birds in colder areas of the United States, and many of these bird feeding tips can be used in other locations across the globe. Suet Feeders