Backyard Birding Resources

It's great to feed and care for birds in your backyard and its a great way to get your kids involved in nature. Here are some helpful resources and ideas for making sure your backyard birds get what they need and you reap the benefits of a safe feeding station and the right food -- lots of birds to watch!

Wondering what feeders and bird seed to use to get the birds you want to see? 

The US Fish and Wildlife Service recommends the following feeders and seeds to attract specific birds:

TUBE FEEDER WITH BLACK OIL SUNFLOWER SEEDS                                           
goldfinches                                           chickadees
woodpeckers                                        nuthatches
titmice                                                     redpolls

pine siskins

ADDING A TRAY TO THE TUBE FEEDER WILL ALSO ATTRACT
cardinals                                                jays
crossbills                                               purple finches
white-throated sparrow                       house finches
white-crowned sparrows

TRAY OR PLATFORM FEEDER -- WITH MILLET
doves                                                      house sparrows
blackbirds                                              juncos
cowbirds                                                towhees
white-throated sparrows                    tree sparrows
white-crowned sparrows                   chipping sparrows

TRAY OR PLATFORM FEEDER -- WITH CORN
starlings                                                house sparrows
grackles                                                jays
juncos                                                   bobwhite quail
doves                                                     ring-necked pheasants
white-throated sparrows

PLATFORM FEEDER OR TUBE FEEDER AND TRAY -- with PEANUTS
cardinals                                               chickadees
grackles                                                 house finches
titmice                                                    house sparrows
sparrows                                               starlings
mourning doves                                   white-throated sparrows
jays                                                         juncos

NIGER THISTLE FEEDER WITH TRAY
goldfinches                                         house finches
purple finches                                    redpolls
pine siskins                                       doves
chickadees                                         song sparrows
dark-eyed juncos                               white-throated sparrows

NECTAR FEEDER
hummingbirds                                    orioles
cardinals                                              tanagers
woodpeckers                                       finches
thrushes

FRUIT
orioles                                                    tanagers
mockingbirds                                        bluebirds
thrashers                                               cardinals
woodpeckers                                         jays
starlings                                                 thrushes
cedar waxwings                                    yellow-breasted chats

HANGING SUET FEEDER
woodpeckers                                        wrens
chickadees                                            nuthatches
kinglets                                                   thrashers
creepers                                                 cardinals
starlings

PEANUT BUTTER SUET
woodpeckers                                        goldfinches
juncos                                                    cardinals
thrushes                                                jays
kinglets                                                  bluebirds
wrens                                                    starlings

HANGING PEANUT FEEDER   
woodpeckers
chickadees
titmice

Information from the US Fish and Wildlife Service

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PRINCIPLES OF BIRDING ETHICS

courtesy of the ABA

Everyone who enjoys birds and birding must always respect wildlife, its environment, and the rights of others. In any conflict of interest between birds and birders, the welfare of the birds and their environment comes first.

Code of Birding Ethics

1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.

1(a) Support the protection of important bird habitat.

1(b) To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or filming.

Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in your local area;

Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need for extended observation, photography, filming, or recording, try to use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover.

Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for close-ups.

1(c) Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area, and proceed only if access can be controlled, disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from private land-owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities.

1(d) Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum.

2. Respect the law, and the rights of others.

2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission.

2(b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad.

2(c) Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.

3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe.

3(a) Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather.

3(b) Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.

3(c) If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards.

4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care.

Each individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member.

4(a) Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Be especially helpful to beginning birders.

4(b) If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it, and notify appropriate individuals or organizations.

Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional trips and tours].

4(c) Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word and example.

4(d) Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment, and does not interfere with others using the same area.

4(e) Ensure everyone in the group knows of and practices this code.

4(f) Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to the areas being visited (e.g. no tape recorders allowed).

4(g) Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company's commercial interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and submit records to appropriate organizations.

Please Follow this Code and Distribute and Teach it to Others

The American Birding Association's Code of Birding Ethics may be freely reproduced for distribution/dissemination. Please acknowledge the role of ABA in developing and promoting this code with a link to the ABA website using the url http://www.aba.org. Thank you.