WHO KNEW? Purchase, Placement & Care of Non-seed Feeders

In addition to the popular Orioles, the most common birds attracted to oriole feeders are Tanagers, Northern Mockingbirds, Finches, Grosbeaks, and Woodpeckers. One way to help attract various species is by making sure that your feeder is orange. Orange is an easily visible color for attracting birds and it naturally draws their attention. 

There are many variations of feeders available at a relatively low cost and are specifically designed for jelly, nectars and/or fruit.  Kept stocked with fresh food options, they will draw many well-known varieties in Michigan. 

Look for a feeder that is specifically designed for jelly or fruit so that the containers are the right size and shape to hold the jelly without spilling. Nectar feeders should come equipped with an ant moat feature to prevent ants from accessing the nectar and taking over the feeder.  Preferred feeders should be made of easy-to-clean materials like plastic or glass so that leftover jelly or nectar can be easily removed and cleaned.

See Below for Placement, Cleaning, and How-to Ideas:

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Placement of feeders is important for refilling and cleaning, as well as to protect the birds using the feeders.  Placement of a feeder should be within 3 feet of the window or wall to prevent injury to a bird if they accidentally run into them during landing or take-off. Placing them close to your windows also allows for clear and easy observation. If placement is farther out, it should be at least 10 feet out to allow for distance and speed as they fly in and exit the feeder.

Finally, be patient: it may take a few days or weeks for birds to discover your new feeder, so don’t give up if you don’t see any visitors right away.

Care of feeders is important for the health of the birds. Feeders should be thoroughly cleaned every two weeks to prevent the spread of mold and disease among the visiting birds. To properly clean the feeder, follow the steps below:

1. Completely disassemble the feeder.
2. Empty any remaining food from the feeder
3. Soak the feeder parts in warm soapy water for 10-15 minutes.
4. Scrub thoroughly with a brush over all surfaces, including corners and crefices.
5. Rinse all parts thoroughly with clean water making sure to remove any soap residue.
6. Disinfect all feeder parts (with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water) soaking parts for 10 minutes to kill any bacteria or mold.
7. Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove any bleach residue.
8. Dry parts completely before reassembling and filling the feeder.

 

MAKE YOUR OWN – Orange Feeder

Materials:

• Oranges
• Thin sticks or kabob skewers
• String or wire

Instructions: 

1. Cut the orange(s) in half.
2. Push a thin stick or skewer through the center of the orange half.
3. Place the filled stick or skewer on a branch or hook, hanging it with string or wire to secure it as needed.

MAKE YOUR OWN – Jelly Feeder

Materials:

• Small wooden board
• Jelly jars with lids
• Jelly jars with lids
• Nails and hammer
• Eyelet hook
• Plastic container (for ant moat)
• Orange paint (optional)

 Instructions:

1. Cut the wooden board into a rectangular base and make two holes for the jelly jar lids.
2. Attach four small triangles to the base to create sides.
3. Attach a larger rectangle on top to form the roof.
4. Drill nails on the sides of the roof to hang orange slices.
5. Screw an eyelet hook on top and attach a plastic container with water to prevent ants from reaching the jelly.
6. Paint the feeder bright orange (optional) and glue the jelly jar lids to the base.
7. Hang the feeder in a visible spot and fill it with orange slices, grape jelly and/or other fruits.