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.