COLUMN: Naturalist notes

     This year I would like to begin a new format for my column articles, that of answering natural resource questions I receive from interested individuals, groups, or classes.

     You can e-mail questions to naturalist@co.jones.ia.us, mail questions to Attn: Naturalist, 12515 Central Park Rd, Center Junction, IA 52212, or call in your question to 563-487-3541.  I look forward to your questions and will try to do my best to find an answer.

     I will start by answering a common question I receive this time of the year: “Why don’t I have birds at my feeders? Up until our recent snows and very cold temperatures, eastern Iowa birds have been able to easily locate food in their wild habitats. Easy access to wild food sources reduces the amount of time birds spend at neighborhood bird feeding stations.

     Birds are very mobile animals, often having large territories where they search for food, water, space, and shelter. They know where all the feeding stations are and where natural food can be found. Some of our birds, depending on the species, migrate short or long distances from season-to-season while others move around their territory depending on the weather and food availability. During good weather when natural food is readily available, you will notice smaller numbers of birds regularly visiting your bird feeders. During harsh weather conditions when natural food is harder to come by, birds at your fast food feeders will definitely increase.

     Birds also like to dine where they feel safe. Bird feeding stations with better cover for evading predators, like cats, hawks, and falcons, are preferred to feeders exposing birds in the open. You can increase the likelihood that birds will use your feeding station by placing your feeders out of the wind near trees, shrubs, brush piles, and flower gardens where they can easily take cover, find some natural food, and stay warm during the winter. In addition, this habitat gives them comfortable places to wait their turn when visiting your feeders.

     To increase the attractiveness of your bird feeding station, make sure you are providing high quality food. Most bird species prefer black oil sunflower seeds to all others. To increase the bird diversity at your feeders, offer finch and mixed seed mixes. Put out a variety of feeders including: hopper style feeders, hanging tube feeders, and suet feeders. Homemade log and pine cone feeders are also attractive to woodpeckers and many other bird species. A few common birds attracted to eastern Iowa bird feeders include juncos, black-capped chickadees, northern cardinals, blue jays, American goldfinches, house and purple finches, pine siskins, downy and hairy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, white-breasted nuthatches, mourning doves, white-throated sparrows, house sparrows, and European starlings. Some birds move in flocks while others prefer more solitude.

     Another way to make your bird feeding station stand out from the neighborhood is to offer a safe dependable year round water supply. Of course in the winter this will require a bird bath heater of some kind and daily maintenance by you, the maintenance staff. The fun you will have watching the birds using your water source will make it well worth the extra effort.

     So by providing five star food choices, a dependable water source, and good habitat and shelter from the harsh weather and predators you will be able to enjoy the antics of your avian neighbors year-round. Keep a bird journal, take photographs, and join bird watchers across the United States to record and report through citizen science the birds in your backyard.

     Visit https://feederwatch.org to learn more about your birds.