15 Myths About Wild Birds
75Uncooked rice will make a birds stomach swell up and explode! True or False?
Hummingbirds never land, they always hover. Right or Wrong?
If you feed peanut butter to birds, it will stick to the roof of their mouths and they will choke. Yes or No?
I'm not sure where these crazy ideas came from, but you can find the real truths here.
1. Don’t feed peanut butter to birds, they will choke on it. NOT!
I have been using peanut butter for many years. I have observed that my birds take tiny amounts, fly to the nearest tree, poke it under a piece of bark and eat it as though it were a bug they found.
If you are uncomfortable giving nutritious high energy peanut butter to your birds, just mix it with some sunflower seeds!
2. Don’t bother raking up old seed hulls, they will compost automatically, right? WRONG!
Leaving seed hulls on the ground encourages mold and disease. Besides, sunflower seeds have a toxin that prevents other plants from sprouting and growing properly. It’s best to rake up the seed and discard it on a regular basis.
3. Don’t buy bird feeders with metal perches because birds’ feet will freeze to them. NO!
Birds’ feet are protected by tough scaly tissue that keeps their feet dry, so there is no moisture to cause their feet to freeze to metal objects.
4. It’s absolutely necessary to add red dye in order to attract hummers to a nectar feeder. ABSOLUTELY FALSE! Hummers are attracted to red flowers as well as pink and orange. But they will come to nectar feeders no matter what color they are once they find them. In order for your hummers to more readily find a new nectar feeder that doesn’t have some red on it, attach a red ribbon to the hanger, or set a pot of red flowers nearby. They will find it! Skip the red dye.
5. If you keep nectar out for the hummers, they will stick around and freeze. NO!
Mine have scheduled departure and arrival times I can set my clock by no matter whether the nectar feeder is still out or not. They are genetically programmed by weather conditions and the amount of daylight.
6. Hummers hitch rides on the backs of geese.
No such thing has ever been documented!
7. A sudden cold snap will kill hummers. NOT TRUE!
Hummers have the ability to attain a state of torpor that slows down their metabolism until warmth returns and they regain their natural “Speedy Gonzalez” hyperactivity.
8. Hummingbirds never land, they always hover. They only eat nectar. NOPE!
Hummers land very often to rest, take a shower if it’s raining and watch for another hummer to make an attempt at raiding ‘their’ nectar feeder. They also eat tiny insects and spiders. In fact, they use spider silk to line their nests.
9. Don’t bother to clean the bird bath, birds use mud puddles, don’t they? CONSIDER THIS:
Unclean bird baths are perfect breeding grounds for algae, mosquito larvae and mold. Definitely keep those bird baths clean and filled with clean water on a regular basis!
10. Don’t worry about webs in last year’s birdseed. After all, it’s a moth infestation and birds eat moths, right? WRONG!
The larvae has sapped all the nutrition from the seeds and rendered it useless to the birds. Moreover, the moths have hatched and long since flown away.
11. Red milo seed is a filler only, no birds eat it. NOT SO!
Quails, wild turkeys, pigeons, doves, pheasants, and sparrows love it.
12. Feeding birds is an eternal chore because once you start they will starve without your help. NO!
Only approx. 20-25% of birds’ food comes from feeders. The rest they forage for themselves all year long. Feeding nutritious black oil sunflower seeds helps them use less energy foraging and increases survival rates. But they will not starve if you go on vacation for a month.
13. Uncooked rice will make birds’ stomachs swell up and explode. ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Most birds eat all kinds of grains, including rice, with no ill effects at all. It’s part of their natural diet.
14. You don’t need to feed birds when it gets warm. NOT TRUE!
Actually, that is when birds are feeding and raising their young. They appreciate saving energy foraging if there is a ready supply easily available to help sustain Mom and Pop. The babies need protein, which means the parents need a huge supply of worms, larvae and other unsavory (to us) creepy crawlers. A feeder can be a great help for a hungry and exhausted parent bird.
15. You can buy a squirrel-proof feeder. UH, NO.
Some feeders are actually squirrel resistant, but take it from me, there are NO SQUIRREL-PROOF feeders out there. Squirrels are extremely clever, agile and persistent contortionists. They will eventually find a way to get into your feeders!
There's also an old saying about never feeding salt to birds, that has its basis in science. Salt is not a natural part of their diet, but birds can process a small amount. Large amounts can be dangerous if not fatal. If you like to toss popcorn out to your birds occasionally, try to give them unsalted and air-popped if possible.
And never give wild birds anything with caffeine, iceberg lettuce, alcohol, avocados or chocolate!
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Very interesting, grandmapearl! I didn't know any of these facts, and if I ever decide to feed the birds, I'll keep your excellent advice in mind. However, since they seem to be doing fine without my help, and the last thing I want to do is risk attracting wild turkeys, I'll rest content knowing the other birds are managing without me.
Great article. Some very good and useful advice. Voted up.
Any tricks for keeping squirrels out of the feeders?
Loved these, Connie! Very useful info. The picture of the blue jays is so sweet! Do you have a good recipe for use in a nectar feeder?
Rika
Hi gogogo! Watching and feeding wild birds is a great hobby. It can be very relaxing as well. Researchers claim that people who watch and/or feed backyard birds have a much lower stress level! Thanks for visiting and commenting. It is very much appreciated.
Hi Leah! Thanks for your great comments. But I am curious, why don't you want to attract wild turkeys? Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks JKenny for the great comments and the Vote. They are very much appreciated. I am glad you found this Hub useful. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi KimmiS! Actually, I do feed the squirrels in a different part of my backyard. I leave cracked corn for them, and occasionally I set out ears of corn. They are very fond of corn, and that keeps them busy while my birds are free to eat in peace! As they say, if you can't lick 'em, join 'em. Since I haven't found a way to lick 'em, I chose this strategy instead. Works great for me! There are also wooden 'peanut boxes' with hinged lids that you can mount in your yard. Fill them with whole peanuts and the squirrels will be totally occupied with opening the box and extracting and eating the peanuts. Thanks for the great question, and for stopping by!
Hi rsusan! So great to have you stop by and visit again. I'm glad you enjoyed the blue jays. I do have my own nectar recipe that's very easy, and the hummingbirds love it. To a quart-size microwaveable container with a spout, such as a large 'Pyrex' glass measuring container, add 1/2 cup sugar (just plain old sugar). Then fill the container up to the 2-1/2 cup line with cold tap water. Stir with a wooden spoon to mix in the sugar. Microwave on high for about 2 to 2-1/2 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool for about an hour and then refrigerate in a sealed glass container until ready for use.
I love hummingbirds, and usually have several that come and say 'hi' when they arrive from South America in May. If I am outside they will come up to me at eye level and hover for a few seconds. It never ceases to amaze me! I am glad you enjoyed this Hub!
Thank you, Connie! Will give this a try. I am sure the hummingbirds think it is quite yummy!
I was surprised to discover that our Cape Wagtails can also hover like hummingbirds. I was teaching them to eat cheese from my hand. Then, one day, I was standing and I held a piece of grated cheese between my fingers. The wagtail flew up to me and hovered close to my fingers until it could grab the cheese. This has now become quite a game! A second one also learned to do this. Looks like they love it. I have never seen them hovering like this before. What a treat for them and for me as well!
This is a really beautiful and interesting hub. The photos are stunning. I love all my wild birds, but I wish Scotland had hummers - they are adorable!
I was laughing at the squirrel!! Your absolutely right! Over the years I think I've tried every brand of 'squirrel proof' feeder and the clever little tikes do get into them eventually! I actually like squirrels a lot so I don't have the heart to chase them off, I just make sure my birds get their fare share as well.
I really enjoyed this hub and the information was all new to me - very interesting and some really strange myths about our feathered friends. As you rightly say, where do these stories come from? LOL! Voted up + beautiful + awesome!
Hi Seeker7! It's always great to have you stop by and visit. Thanks for the Votes and the wonderful comments.
I love my squirrels as well. I used to think they were just pesky until I found a baby 'late-born' squirrel. The local animal rehabbers don't like it when in late summer these babies turn up. The problem is that they won't be mature enough when the cold weather hits to make it on their own. Squirrel Moms and Pops have their own survival problems, so it doesn't usually end up very well for the late-borns. That little baby was so small and cold. I used a small empty Kleenex box and filled it with shredded newspaper and some cotton quilt batting I had. Then I placed it under a lamp to help warm it up as the rehabber had advised me over the phone. By the time she got here to pick it up, the little guy had started moving around and calling out. She thought that it just might make it! I have often wondered if it did survive. But my view of squirrels changed drastically after that.
Now I feed them separately in another part of my yard. They love corn, so that is what I set out for them. And it keeps them busy long enough for my birds to eat their seeds in peace.
I'm glad you enjoyed this Hub!
Hi rsusan! What a wonderful experience to have birds eat from your hand! It must have been quite thrilling to have that winged creature so close. I had no idea that any bird would eat cheese! I love to learn new things about birds. Thank you for sharing your amazing story.
Yes, Connie, it is wonderful and a privilege. They seem so excited in the mornings when they call outside, waiting for their 'breakfast'! I don't know about other birds, but wagtails absolutely adore grated cheese. They probably think the slivers are little yellow worms or something! We have taken pictures of them as they feed in this way - perhaps I will send you one or two sometime.
grandmapearl, you ask why I don't want to attract wild turkeys. I've explained it all in http://leahhelensdottr.hubpages.com/hub/Wild-Turke Would you like to have my wild turkeys? I'll gladly box them up and send them to you!
This is great information, I know so little about how to feed birds, I remember seeing on tv about how to keep squirrels off the feeder, but for the life of me I can't remember what they said! lol! it was coating it with something natural, not sure what, really interesting hub, thanks!
Hi rsusan, I would love to see pictures of your wagtails, especially while eating grated cheese. That would be lovely. Thank you
I read your 'Wild Turkeys in My Garden' Hub, and now I definitely see where you're coming from on not wanting to attract them. A very hilarious take on a bad situation!
Uh, you can keep your turkeys, thank you very much!!
Thanks for telling me about them, though. I really enjoyed your Hub! Now Following You by the way.
Hi Nell Rose, Thanks for stopping by, and for the great comments. I have heard of people using vegetable oil on the feeder pole to keep squirrels off, but I don't know how well that works. I have used PVC pipes to cover my feeder poles. They are the white 4" diameter sewer-type plastic pipes. The squirrels can't seem to find a good purchase, but the racoons find this no challenge at all!
Love it grandmapearl! I knew all but two of what you reference in the hub. I was always told that rice would explode the tummy of a bird, and never threw out wedding rice because of that... I stand corrected. About the squirrels...well I agree with all you say, but I thought for sure that someone would have out smarted them critters by now, but I see not! I stand corrected again! I fully enjoyed the hub, a Friday treat for me.
Keep up the excellent hubbing! Voted up, interesting and useful!
Hi Dale! I don't know where that rice thing got started, except that possibly someone had the brilliant idea that selling soap bubble stuff would make them some money and it was a marketing ploy? As to the squirrels, I use a special feeder for them that holds peanuts. They can pull out one at a time by lifting the lid, which closes automatically. It keeps them busy and away from the more expensive bird seed! If there really is a squirrel-proof bird seed feeder out there, I'd sure like to know about it! Your wonderful comments always keep me motivated to keep hubbing. Many thanks for them and the votes. Much appreciated.
Hi grandmapearl! You know the peanut idea is nice! I will have to keep that one in mind! I have no idea where the rice rumor came from, just one of those "ingrained" things, lol. :)
Thanks for the chuckle this morning, Dale!
What an informative article grandmapearl! I got more wrong than right, and I thought I knew a little something about birds! I have been feeding them for many years now, but I am guided by your article to make a few changes. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I voted up and useful :-)
Hi CelticWillow67. I'm so glad you enjoyed this Hub. And thank you most especially for the great votes-they are very much appreciated. I have to admit that I'm still learning about my backyard birds after more than 35 years of watching and studying them! As a matter of fact, I recently started using a special peanut feeder for my squirrels. The lid snaps shut so they only get one peanut at a time, but it keeps them busy in another part of the yard. My birds can eat happily at their leisure. Peanuts are much cheaper than black oil sunflower seed! And after all, squirrels get hungry, too! Thanks for stopping by. :)
Voted useful. Another great and interesting piece. This Bird Lady will be back for more.
Hi aviannovice! Thanks very much for the vote and the nice compliments. I am so glad you enjoyed my article. We share a love for wild birds for sure!
gogogo Level 4 Commenter 3 months ago
Birds fascinate me, where I live is near an open area and we get lots of birds