Jun 5, 2019 | Featured in: Watching Backyard Birds, June 2019

Plant a Bird Feeder

From mid-May to early June is a great time to plant these fast-growing beauties that will mature into nature’s own bird feeder. Photo by Shutterstock.
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The word "sunflower" applies to about 70 species of Helianthus, and nearly all of them are native to various locations in North America. All varieties produce a central cluster of seeds. Sunflowers require a lot of space to grow, and some varieties can exceed 10 feet in height. You can even plant the black-oil sunflower seed you purchased to feed the birds. Plant the seeds a few inches apart, but expect to thin them to about a foot apart as the plants grow. They'll need lots of water and sunshine, and perhaps the support of a stake and tie-back as they mature. Read the description of the plant and flower head size on seed packets before you buy. From mid-May to early June is a great time to plant these fast-growing beauties that will mature into nature's own bird feeder.

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  • Re: Ask Birdsqatch: Feeder Marauders » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    I have the same situation. The feeder is attached to the middle of a large picture window that goes ceiling to floor w/ no ledge or sill for animals to climb or balance. Yet every morning all the sunflower seeds have been cracked open and hulls left. Any ideas what it is?
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  • Re: Ask Birdsqatch: Feeder Marauders » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    I have a bird feeder that sticks to my window and I've been hearing noises against the window at night right now its going on. But whatever it is it is aware of me. And when I get to window it leaves.I can't imagine a squirrel or mouse or possom being able to get at it. ...So as I was reading this article im to assume no bird eats at night. Or no birds will eat at night. Why is that? Then im also thinking of a sinereo that could a lost confused bird eat at night. This eating thing is watching meI turn out the light go there noise dissappears..Thank you.
    by Nosferatu, Thu, 05 Nov 2020
  • Re: Ask Birdsqatch: Feeder Marauders » Watching Backyard Birds.com
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