How to Attract Woodpeckers

There are more than 20 species of woodpeckers found in North America. Not all will come to feeders, but there's a good chance that a few species in your area will be responsive if you put out the welcome mat. Have your field guide handy to identify any takers.

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Step1
Put up a suet feeder or hang suet in a mesh bag. If the suet is mixed with nuts or raisins, so much the better.


Step2
Offer nuts. Peanuts--preferably shelled--are favorites, but woodpeckers will eat most any kind of nut. They will also eat black-oil sunflower seeds and cracked corn.


Step3
Preserve dead trees. Dead trees or snags offer perfect perching and nesting opportunities for woodpeckers. While the tendency is always to just clear away a dead tree, if the tree poses no danger to life or property, leave it standing for the woodpeckers.


Step4
Put up woodpecker nesting boxes. The size of the box depends on the species of woodpecker you are trying to attract, so you'll need to do some research beforehand. Set the boxes out in spring and take them down in the fall.


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How to Attract Hummingbirds

The greatest variety of hummingbirds occurs in the American Southwest. In winter, hummingbirds are almost exclusively limited to California, Arizona and Texas.


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Step1
Look at a birding field guide or consult your local chapter of the Audubon Society to determine if hummingbirds are normally found in your area and, if so, in what season.


Step2
Visit your local nursery for advice about local plants that attract hummingbirds.


Step3
Plan your garden so it contains several varieties of nectar-bearing flowering plants or trees that are attractive to hummingbirds.


Step4
Hang hummingbird feeders in several locations around your property.


Step5
Fill each feeder with a mixture of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.


Step6
Clean feeders often and thoroughly (see "How to Clean a Hummingbird Feeder").




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How to Attract Chickadees

Lots of people will tell you that chickadees are their favorite feeder birds. They are easily attracted, and can often be hand-tamed. Cheerful as a Christmas card, chickadees are versatile acrobats who can either perch or hang upside-down to glean seeds from your feeder.



Step1
Plant trees and bushes that attract chickadees. Depending on the species in your area, these can include pine, hemlock and birch trees, and berry-bearing plants.


Step2
Buy a bird feeder. Because chickadees are so physically versatile, you can use tube, domed, satellite, hopper or platform feeders with equal success.


Step3
Fill the feeders with black-oil sunflower seeds or shelled peanuts.


Step4
Put up a suet feeder, or hang pieces of suet in a mesh bag from a tree branch.


Step5
Make a mix of peanut butter and birdseed and spread it on a tree limb or make "cakes" to hang in a mesh bag.


Step6
Put up a chickadee nesting box in the spring. Make sure it has the exact dimensions specified for a chickadee.


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How to Attract Cardinals

Cardinals, or "redbirds" as they are often called, are large, sturdy birds that need a sturdy surface to feed from. They often feed on the ground, but a solid feeder filled with their favorite goodies is sure to attract them to your yard.



Step1
Buy a tray or platform feeder with space enough on it for larger birds to land.


Step2
Fill the feeder with any of the following foods: black-oil sunflower seeds (a cardinal favorite), safflower seeds, peanut or other nut kernels, or dried fruit such as raisins or apples.


Step3
Use mealworms (available at most pet stores or online), especially in spring when cardinals are feeding young.


Step4
Consider offering seeds from fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, cantaloupe or squash (including pumpkins).


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How to Attract Blue Jays

Wait!" you say, "blue jays may be pretty, but they are also loud, querulous, chase other birds away and even eat the eggs and young of other species." Still, if you are a blue jay advocate, here's how to get them to your feeder for a great photo op (especially when they're next to cardinals or goldfinches!).


Step1
Erect a large platform feeder that is easy for blue jays to land on.


Step2
Fill the feeder with peanuts. You can use whole, raw peanuts, peanut kernels or peanut halves.


Step3
Include sunflower seeds. The birds will eat whole seeds, but shelled seeds are a special treat.


Step4
Hang a suet feeder, especially in winter when the birds are looking for high-energy foods.


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