Birds and the drought

Texas, New Mexico and Arizona are burning up, literally.  I am sure you have seen news reports and today’s paper states that 251 Texas counties are under a burn ban. Getting to the point – birds and wildlife must be terribly stressed by this drought.  People will have to play an important role in helping them survive, especially in the case of migrating birds.  So no matter where you live please help them out by putting out food and water.  Food includes good mixed bird seed, sunflower seed, safflower seed, cracked-corn, nyjer or thistle, peanuts, suet, mealworms and fruit.  Fruit serves a dual purpose in that rotting fruit attracts flies and bugs that are food for warblers and other birds that are not seed eaters.  Place your offerings in a variety of places, on the ground, on tray feeders and in any of the multitude of feeders available at stores. 

Hummingbirds are of course the favorites of many back yard bird feeders.  This year it will be even more important to get more people into feeding hummers, there are not many blooms along their route.  So pass the word to all your friends and relatives along with a few tips.  Sugar water should be 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.  No color is necessary in the water just use some red in your yard to attract them.  I use artificial red poinsettias in an open area of the yard where they can be seen by high flying hummers.  Use only a cup full at a time until they become more numerous and empty the feeder in a day or two.  Filling the feeder too full in hot weather will lead to spoilage and fermentation. 

Happy bird feeding and don’t forget to provide plenty of water.  If you don’t have a bird bath, just use a pot plant saucer or any shallow pan that will hold water and can be easily cleaned. 

Norma Friedrich

President

Arroyo Colorado Audubon Society