Want To Attract More Songbirds To Your Garden? Four important factors must be considered: food, shelter, water, and foliage. Today, we focus on the first factor.
#1 Food To Attract Songbirds
Most seed-eating songbirds like sunflower seeds. There are two kinds of sunflower seeds, the regular striped and black oiler. The black oiler type makes it easy for birds to crack open since they have a thin outer shell. The seeds have a high-fat content and are good for the birds, especially in the winter.
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Unfortunately, the squirrels and chipmunks like the sunflower seeds, too. You might have to add some kind of squirrel guard 
to your feeder to keep them out of it. There is a wide assortment of squirrel guards to consider at Amazon or your local hardware store. Fortunately, the chipmunks have only been a problem with ground feeders.
There is a bonus for sharing these oiler sunflower seeds with the songbirds and even the chipmunks. They spread the seeds and where seeds fall on fertile soil…
Yes, these are a couple of examples of several that grew in my backyard this past summer. Nope, I did not plant it. My feathered and or furry friends planted it. However, I may plant some this year because I enjoyed them so much!
The goldfinch blended in so well, sometimes I didn’t realize they were even there until I caught sight of a movement.
These seeds can be offered in hanging or platform feeders for ground-feeding birds.
Feeders don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. Remember the little French yogurt glass jars I recently found at the grocery?
These adorable tufted titmice live in a pine tree next to the house. This particular little bird sits on our bay window and, seemingly, tries to get inside every day. Sophie has named him George.
Last week, he kept flying to the window and singing, as if he were trying to tell me something. I figured he wanted some food. One of the clean little French yogurt jars was above the sink. After filling it with seeds, I placed it on the deck cap rail. He began feasting and discontinued his little drama at the window. The birds are talking to me! I’m not nuts! Lol!
Quickly, other birds started visiting the little jar. A few little Black-capped Chickadees, a member of the titmouse family, were spotted. They are a little flighty and quickly bolt at a movement. Pictures have been a little difficult to take. I’ve read that other people have actually gotten them to eat from their hands!
Oh, my gosh! Doesn’t this little fellow look like a bird version of the chipmunk? Yes, this is a Carolina wren. Even though it rained overnight, he was pretty interested in the seeds. He frequently visits the small jar filled with sunflower seeds.
These birds eat insects, spiders, and small animals like tree frogs, but they also eat seeds and suet.
A pair of cardinals has also been enjoying the little jar feeder. They like the suet feeder, too.
We have a whole family of finches that are always around to eat the sunflower oilers.
The suet feeder has attracted many other birds, too. We have seen downy woodpeckers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, finches, cardinals, a blue jay, and nuthatches.
Some seed falls below the suet feeder, and a variety of ground-feeding birds eat those. We have seen doves, sparrows, and juncos eating the seeds that are dropped.
A few years ago, I made a teacup bird feeder, which is attached to a copper pipe. It is so cute and the birds love it! You can find directions on how to make your own here ►Teacup Birdfeeder.
In doing a little research for this post, I came across an interesting picture featured on BHG.com showing a DIY Bottle Bird Feeder, which Rebecca and Jeff Nickols had created. The bottle feeder looked so interesting, I had to order one of the Durable Zinc Adapters 
to attach to a wine bottle. The one in the BHG picture was plastic, but after reading some of the reviews, it appeared there might be a problem with the plastic breaking too easily. The metal one had better reviews. It is ordered, and I wait for the package.
The picture on the post included a hanger made from copper tubing, and I like that decorative touch along with the idea of using a wine bottle instead of a plastic soda bottle. The wine bottle has to be one with a screw on lid instead of a cork. 🤔 I don’t have any of these, but am sure one can be obtained before the package with the adapter arrives… Will post later on how that project goes!
Click here for ►Part 2 – Shelter.
