Seeds, Nuts and More
Of course, seeds and nuts make up a good part of a bird's diet, many types of which we enjoy. Sunflower seeds, peanuts, millet, cracked corn and even popped popcorn are staples at bird feeders and will attract Northern cardinals, the titmouse, grosbeaks, finches and buntings. Excess salt can be unhealthy for birds, so place unsalted nuts and seeds in your feeders.
Bread
Place pieces of plain bread, corn bread and other bakery scraps onto feeders, and flickers, blue jays, crows, woodpeckers, chickadees and robins will visit. Do not set out molding bread, as this can be dangerous to some bird species and can attract rodents, particularly if you throw crumbs onto the ground. Keep sugary bakery scraps at a minimum as well for this reason.
Fruit
Birds such as orioles, mockingbirds and sapsuckers love fruit just as much as we humans do. If you do not have fruit trees in your yard, you may want to consider adding a few wedges of fruit to a platform feeder, such as berries, apples, pears, raisins, watermelon or oranges. Remove rotting fruit and clean the feeder between fresh offerings.
Meat
Certain birds, like wrens, magpies and nuthatches, will eat meat fats as a supplement or in place of insects during lean times. Pieces of bacon and beef kidney fat, also known as suet, is commonly hung from trees in special feeder cages to attract these birds. This type of food works particularly well in the winter months, as the cold weather helps preserve the food and does not attract bees and wasps.
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Birds also enjoy nut butters. Make homemade wild bird food by mixing peanut butter and seeds together for a tasty treat. Also, offer a tablespoon of jelly from time to time for a welcome change. To feed nut butters and jellies to wild birds, choose brands that contain a minimum of additives to provide the healthiest foods for your outdoor friends.
