14
votes
Do birds eat chillies? Do they feel the chilli heat?
TLDR: Yes they eat them, No they don't feel the heat.
The tiny Bird’s Eye Chili originated in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, The Philippines, and surrounding countries, but they can now be found all ...
- 69.4k
12
votes
Accepted
Sparrows eating grains strewn on floor but not the grains in a nice bowl
There are a number of different birds in the sparrow family. In Massachusetts, USA, I think what we technically have most of is the House Sparrow. This page has a whole sparrow list with their sounds. ...
12
votes
Accepted
What is the ecological justification (if any) for bird feeders?
If we exclude the birdwatching explanation Shem gives, the only possible ecological reason for a bird feeder is to counteract the negative effect we have on the bird's habitat by having our house ...
- 25.1k
10
votes
Accepted
Why are common grackles standing on our bird feeders with their heads pointed straight up?
Those grackles are engaged in a courting behavior, most frequently called “bill tilt.” It's also been called “head up” or “head up threat.” While establishing pairs for mating, males vie for the ...
9
votes
Accepted
How can I help birds know how to feed from feeders?
Malaysia has 781 species of birds, but most are not feeder-oriented, which would explain why people don't put up many feeders in your area. There are some, though, and they've probably seen feeders in ...
9
votes
Accepted
What can I do to get garden birds back after hawk has made my bird-feeder his hunting ground?
The hawk will leave after its food source is gone. It may not be after the small birds you are feeding, but it may be after the rodents that eat the birdseed that falls to the ground.
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8
votes
Accepted
Best food to attract Blue Tits
It looks like the problem might not be the types of food, but the feeder itself.
In the past blue tits had a monopoly on the relatively tricky kind of feeders people put out. The tiny birds were ...
- 69.4k
8
votes
Can dirty bird feeders make birds sick?
Dirty bird feeders are known for causing problems for birds,
CPW said the disease has not yet been confirmed in Colorado, but the agency wants to warn people that house finch eye disease, along with ...
- 69.4k
8
votes
Are there any tips to help hummingbirds find a new feeder?
Hummingbirds find the feeders by sight. Some ways to attract them include:
Use a feeder with bright colors. Red seems to be a color that they
are particularly attracted to.
Try to have colorful, ...
- 2,790
7
votes
Does feeding migratory birds in the fall affect the timing of migration?
Because there are so many different migratory birds, each with their own unique pattern, this is a rather broad question. The answer, therefore, will be based on the general study of migration, rather ...
7
votes
What is the ecological justification (if any) for bird feeders?
The answers to this question may differ based on location, but I can tell you that in my part of the world there is legislation in place for controlling populations of certain birds (as well as other ...
- 53.7k
6
votes
Accepted
What's the ecological impact of bird-baths?
The only downside of birdbaths that I can think of is that they become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. And you can't do much about that, you can't put any insecticide in it for fear of messing up ...
- 533
6
votes
Accepted
Can cornbread be fed to ducks?
Cornbread may contain wheat flour as well as corn meal. Both are processed cereals and so should not be given to wild creatures.
In addition cornbread probably contains some of these ingredients:
...
- 4,785
5
votes
Does feeding migratory birds in the fall affect the timing of migration?
It takes a lot of energy for a bird to migrate, and comes with numerous risks, so if it is possible for it to stay where it is, not migrating can give it an evolutionary advantage. An example would be ...
- 69.4k
5
votes
Do birds eat chillies? Do they feel the chilli heat?
Parrot food ( some brands) contains dried hot peppers. And I give the cores from hot peppers to the parrots ; they love the seeds. Peppers do not seem to burn their lips.
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5
votes
Did a bear knock all my bird feeders down?
Bears will definitely go smashing bird feeders to get to the seed and they are the only thing big enough to pull your feeders over.
Yes, bears (and other wildlife) are readily attracted to back yards ...
- 69.4k
5
votes
What can I do to get garden birds back after hawk has made my bird-feeder his hunting ground?
By putting out food, you're feeding the prey. Encouraging the prey is effectively putting out food for the predator.
The thing to remember is that this is not a stable situation. If there's no prey ...
- 8,097
5
votes
Why aren’t birds using these feeders?
After a brief exchange of comments, I think I have enough to take a stab at an answer, with the caveat that this will be mostly informed-guessing on my part. After all, every animal has its ...
- 5,188
5
votes
Why aren’t birds using these feeders?
I suggest adding something for the birds to perch on right next to or on top of the feeder. A few sticks or branches tied to the top of the feeder may be enough.
I had a birding lecture last night ...
- 217
5
votes
Accepted
Are food store locations of scrub jays and squirrels precisely remembered?
There's a nice explanation of the behaviours of squirrels at LiveScience.com. Basically it boils down to that they can remember about 95% of the hoards, but they will use deception on the burying ...
- 11.3k
4
votes
Is there a way to attract more birds to my yard without a bird feeder?
Plant Plants.
Birds are drawn to various plants for various reasons. Off the top of my head:
To gather nesting material - small twigs or fluffy seeds
As a nesting location - good cover or protected ...
- 2,924
4
votes
Is there a way to attract more birds to my yard without a bird feeder?
Apart from the water, you could also have an area with dry sand/pebbles for dirt baths. Birds do like them (I see them do it often where I live), and it's an actually effective "washing method". If it'...
- 101
4
votes
Is it a pheasant? A grouse? What do I feed it?
I'm a bit late, but hope I can add something to the excellent answers you've already received.
I agree with the general concensus that it's probably a young grey partridge (Perdix Perdix). The adult ...
4
votes
How to help birds with water?
Hehe, I love Sue's comment. I use a disposable plastic plate that's outside on our porch along with a few smaller rocks in it that I got from the yard as my "ghetto bird bath".
Also, one way to ...
3
votes
What should I feed ravens/crows?
I have been feeding several Ravens for over 8 years the same family every year.
They love me and I love them. Here is a list of foods that my Ravens love.
Meat Raw or Cooked, they love dairy any pasta ...
- 31
3
votes
What should I feed ravens/crows?
As a teen I have helped to raise an orphan (European) crow, which was hand tame when it approached my parents in the local park. Clearly had been fed by humans and was not yet able to eat himself, ...
- 4,740
3
votes
Best food to attract Blue Tits
Charlie Brumbaugh is correct in his recommendations.
In addition, I've found sources indicating that blue tits like certain live animals in their diet, including insects, caterpillars, mealworms and ...
3
votes
What should I feed ravens/crows?
The crows who come daily to our home in Colorado love to eat whole, unroasted and unsalted peanuts. They come over in the mornings and late afternoons on weekdays (seems they have other food source ...
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Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible