Most birds eat a balanced diet; 90% eat insects and nectar, seed or fruit. People feeding birds the wrong food changes the balance of their diet and can negatively impact their health.
Some eat seeds, berries, fruit, insects, other birds, eggs, small mammals, fish, buds, larvae, aquatic invertebrates, acorns and other nuts, aquatic vegetation, grain, dead animals, garbage, and much more… During the spring and summer months, most songbirds eat mainly insects and spiders.
Dark oil sunflower and suet are great basics that will attract a wide variety of birds. There are also plenty of mixes on the market that are designed to attract a number of species. Other types of food to try include thistle, safflower, nuts and peanut butter, and even mealworms.
While no color will specifically discourage birds from your yard, having too much white could keep a few birds away. "This probably stems from the stark contrast between white and the surrounding environment," explains Mulvihill.
Lead and zinc poisoning are the two most common heavy metal toxicities seen in bird patients. These two materials are also frequently found in and around the home environment.
The classic choice is stale bread, crusts, cake and biscuit which most birds will really enjoy, although you shouldn't put out too much as the nutritional value is low. Break up any large pieces, and if it's very hard you can soak in a little water to ensure birds don't choke.
Fruits. Fruits without seeds, like berries, raisins, grapes and mashed bananas can all be offered to the birds on your bird table – and they'll love them!
Try a Variety of Bird Feed
Cracked corn is available in large bags at your local feed store. Another inexpensive bird food is chicken scratch. A variety of small birds love it, and it's such a bargain. Check out your local feed stores, they are in general cheaper than pet stores.
One type of snack that is often given to birds is dried fruit. Dried fruit is a good source of natural sugars and can provide your bird with a quick energy boost. However, it is important to choose dried fruit that is free from artificial sweeteners and preservatives. Raisins, apricots, and apples are all good choices.
Foods to offer: seed, millet, pellets, some fresh fruit, or easily digestible human foods such as mashed ripe bananas, applesauce, strained or soft vegetables such as peas or vegetables, infant rice cereal or baby food, oatmeal, or ground up pellets mixed with fruit juice.
Certain Fruits and Vegetables
The seeds of members of the rose family, including apples, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots and pears, contain trace amounts of a cardio-toxic cyanide compound that can be problematic.
Uncooked porridge oats are also fine for a number of birds. Warning: never cook porridge oats, this makes them glutinous and could harden around a bird's beak.
Although bread isn't harmful to birds, try not to offer it in large quantities, since its nutritional value is relatively low. A bird that is on a diet of predominantly, or only bread, can suffer from serious vitamin deficiencies, or starve.
An Enriching Bird Cage
Place plenty of entertainment in the cage, such as perches and toys. Switch things out periodically, so your bird is sufficiently stimulated. Exercise your bird. Provide as much time out of the cage as possible.
One of Big Bird's favorite snacks is Birdseed Milkshakes, which he often has at Hooper's Store. In Big Bird Gets Lost, he heads off to buy birdseed so he can make a birdseed cake for his nestwarming party.
Birds can be forgiving if a feeder is empty for a few days, but a feeder that is consistently empty won't attract birds. Wild birds won't starve if feeders are empty since they get most of their food from natural sources, but they also won't return to an unreliable food source.
Should I feed birds year-round? It's not necessary. Bird feeding is most helpful at times of when birds need the most energy, such as during temperature extremes, migration, and in late winter or early spring, when natural seed sources are depleted. Most birds don't need your help in the summer.
As a general rule, it's best to put out food at least once a day; take care to provide food at the same time, so the birds know when to travel to your garden.
Berries and small fruits, including blueberries, raspberries, currants, blackberries, mulberries, beautyberries, serviceberries, sumac, holly, juniper, and viburnum are especially popular with many birds. Birds also enjoy other fruits such as oranges, plums, apples, grapes, cherries, crabapples, and prickly pear.
Bright yellow, red, and orange vegetables and fruits, including bell peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, mango, papaya, and cantaloupe, all contain a great deal of vitamin A which is a critical nutrient in a birds' diet.