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| Thanks to the Lisle Wild Birds Unlimited for the donation of the recycled platform feeder! |
It’s here! Lyman Woods now has its very own bird viewing area right outside the Interpretive Center! This area features seven feeders of all different types, as well as a variety of bird food that is already attracting a wide range of year-round residents. These include White-breasted Nuthatches, Goldfinches, Eastern Bluebirds, House Finches, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, Mourning Doves, and Downy Woodpeckers! One of the platform feeders on display was generously donated by Wild Birds Unlimited in Lisle at the beginning of the summer, and is made entirely out of recycled materials. That feeder is now flanked by many other feeders that were on the porches or hiding in storage.
The key to attracting numerous species of birds is to provide all different kinds of food resources. Right now we have a mix of sunflower seeds, hot pepper suet, nyjer, and nectar spread among the feeders. Even watching the feeders for a few days has already clued me in to the seeds that certain birds prefer. For example, White-breasted Nuthatches take sunflower seeds one at a time to the surrounding trees, while Downy Woodpeckers love to munch on the hot pepper suet. I’ve also enjoyed watching both the intraspecific (within species) and interspecific (among species) competition for space and food. Some species, such as Goldfinches, are extremely tolerant of one another and try to squeeze as many finches as possible on one feeder. White-breasted Nuthatches, on the other hand, are much more territorial, as they will often engage in short chases and miniature fights to claim their place on the feeder.
So far we haven’t had to address the problem of chipmunks, raccoons, and squirrels ambushing the feeders, and this success is the result of a few carefully planned deterrence tactics. The hot pepper suet is not palatable to mammals, but birds don't mind the spiciness. If you intend to install bird feeders in your own backyard, placement is crucial. The average squirrel is indeed capable of jumping with ease from a nearby tree and ransacking the feeder. For this reason, the posts for hanging the feeders were placed approximately twenty feet from the nearest tree. This solved the problem of geography, but the next challenge was making sure the hungry mammals didn’t climb up the poles from the ground level. Normally, you can buy what is commonly referred to as a baffle to wrap around the pole, and this will prevent raccoons, squirrels, and chipmunks from reaching the feeders by thwarting their attempt to grip the pole.
However, with a tight budget and a flare for the creative, I decided to manufacture my own baffles out of metal duct pipes. To do this I simply wrapped the duct pipe around the wood pole (approximately two feet from the ground) and attached them with a power drill and screws. Since their installment, I’ve seen tiny paw prints only at the base of the pipes, which tells me that the baffles are working! I’ve also made sure that I check in on the feeders periodically to make sure there aren’t any chipmunks or squirrels that have managed to outwit my plan by climbing through the gap between the baffle and the pole. None have tried thus far, but if this were to happen in the future, an easy fix is to plug the gap with steel wool.
In addition to a wide range of feeders, the bird viewing area at Lyman Woods also features a small bird bath which attracted its fair share of birds that either need a quick drink or a quick bath. Inside the Interpretive Center we’ve provided a few items that may benefit your birding experience. These include a bird identification flipbook with fun facts about the common birds that frequent the feeders, bird species checklists, bird guides, and binoculars for a much closer view of the action. Be sure to stop by the Interpretive Center and watch all of the beautiful birds as they enjoy a tasty snack!
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