Ten top autumn tips for attracting backyard songbirds

Water Wiggler attracts birds

1. Provide running water

The sound of running water is heard by birds from some distance, drawing then in for drinking and bathing. A bubbler or mister work well. The "Water Wiggler" is a great way to keep water moving (and deters mosquitoe larvae. Water Wigglers are available at The Bird House.

2. Leave nectar feeders out

While local hummingbirds are heading south this time of year, many migrating hummingbirds from farther north will fly through our area during September. Also, juvenile hummingbirds will stay around even after the adults have headed south.

3. Clean out birdhouses

Early fall cleaning and repairing houses is a good idea. Old nests can harbor insects and parasites.

4. Create brush piles

Save your branch clippings and pile them to create a cover for birds.

5. Plant evergreens

They're the perfect cover for birds in fall and winter. For quick growth, plant Leyland cypress, photinia, arborvitae and certain varieties of juniper.

6. Increate the number of feeders

As weather cools and migration increases, food consumption increases. Provide a variety of types of feeders and types of seed and types of seed, as well as suet.

7. Move the action closer

One reason we feed birds is to enjoy the action. Relocation your bird feeders nearer your house allows you to get closer without disturbing the birds.

Leyland Cypress are a fast-growing shelter for birds

8. Provide ample food for insect eaters

Live mealworms served on a tray are appreciated. Bluebirds, catbirds and several types of songbirds love eating high-protein mealworms. Don't forget berries, jelly or chunks of apple.

9. Bring the sounds indoors

As weather cools, we close our windows, blocking the sound of birds. Consider installing a wireless baby monitoring device outside and the receiver inside.

10. Protect birds against collisions

Seeing reflections in windows, birds fly right into the window pane. Placed on the outside streamers, netting and decal may help.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for August 19

Blue Grosbeak

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the period ended August 19. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Plainfield Township, Northampton County
(at the Grand Central Landfill)
Blue Grosbeak, 2 on July 31.

Green Pond, Northampton County
Black-Crowned Night-Heron, 1 on August 10.

Bethlehem Township, Northampton County
'Plegadis' Ibis, 1 flyby on August 10.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Blue Grosbeak, 1 on August 6.

Red-headed Woodpecker

Heidelberg Township
(at Church and Applebutter roads)
Red-headed Woodpecker, up to 4 to at least August 16.

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Bald Eagle, 4 on August 16 and August 17.
Broad-winged Hawk, 98 on August 17.

Trexler Park, Lehigh County
Red-headed Woodpecker, 3 on August 6.

Whitehall, Lehigh County
Merlin, 1 from August 12 to August 15.

Haafsville, Lehigh County
'Plegadis' Iris 1 on August 8.
Common Gallinule, 1 from August 6 to August 8.

Wescosville, Lehigh County
(along Krocks Road)
Little Blue Heron, 1 on August 6 and 1 immature bird on August 13.

Breinigsville, Lehigh County
(at a retention pond along Nestlé Way)
Glossy Ibis, 1 on August 5, August 6 and August 8.

Merlin

Deep Creek/Knight Lake, Montgomery County
Little Blue Heron, 2 from August 4 to August 8 (immature birds).

Lake Nockamixon, Bucks County
Common Tern, 1 on August 7 (immature bird).

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, 1 on August 15 and August 17.
White-throated Sparrow, 1 on August 4 and August 14.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.

Questions and answers

DO BIRDS COME TO A FEEDER BECAUSE THEY SEE THE SEED OR BECAUSE THEY SMELL IT?

Most backyard birds have some sense of smell but it is poorly developed. They come to feeders because they see the seed or they see other birds feeding. Some birds are naturally inquisitive that they investigate something new, such as seed.

HOW DO I GET RID OF STARLINGS THAT OVERRUN SEED AND SUET FEEDERS?

Non-native European Starlings are a huge problem not just for us but ecologically. They take over nest cavities from woodpeckers and bluebirds, often killing nestlings and even parent birds. 

You can close the feeders down for a week or two in the hope that the starlings will move on. 

You can try using safflower seed—the white-color seed—which starlings and native grackles do not eat. 

You can use tube feeders that are protected by a cage. Smaller birds such as chickadees, titmice, wrens, finches and Downy Woodpeckers can easily get in to reach the seed but the larger starlings cannot. 

Starlings with their softer bills cannot crack striped sunflower seeds but cardinals, chickadees find the appealing.

WHEN DO GOLFINCHES CHANGE COLORS? HOW CAN YOU TELL FEMALES FROM OTHER SPECIES?

Male goldfinches already are in their bridge yellow color bodies and black and white wings. First-year males have a paler color without the black cap. Female goldfinches do not change color. They remain a general buff color with black wings and a noticeable stripe on them.

WHICH BIRDS USE BIRD HOUSES? WITHOUT A HOUSE, WHAT WILL THEY USE?

Not all backyard birds use bird houses, which are also known as nesting boxes. Chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, wrens, bluebirds, swallows, House Finches, Purple Martins, various woodpeckers and some owls use nesting boxes. In the absence of a house, woodpeckers will create their own cavities by pecking a hole in a tree to excavate a nesting area. Some birds will move into old woodpecker homes to build nests there.

CAN I PUT OUT DRYER LINT FOR THE BIRDS TO USE FOR NEST BUILDING?

Dryer lint used to be a recommendation but researchers have found it actually is a bid idea. Lint makes nests very unstable. Take a ball of lint and wet it. See how it shrinks? As it dries, it becomes crushed and loses its fluffy quality altogether. 

Instead you can put out dog or cat hair that has not been treated for fleas or ticks.

You can use string or yarn but make sure that the pieces are only 4 to 6 inches long so birds don't get tangled.