F.A.Q.
Bluebirds enjoy a bird bath in
Steve & Regina's front yard!
This bath has a thermostatically
- controlled heater built in.
Steve & Regina's front yard!
This bath has a thermostatically
- controlled heater built in.
This "Sky Cafe" feeder does a
great job keeping the bird seed
Dry in snowy or rainy weather.
It is a nice, large feeder with
great perch area for Cardinals
and other desirable birds ( like
the finches pictured above!).
great job keeping the bird seed
Dry in snowy or rainy weather.
It is a nice, large feeder with
great perch area for Cardinals
and other desirable birds ( like
the finches pictured above!).
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Birds-I-View answers "Frequently Asked Questions"!
BIRD SEED and BIRD FEEDING:
Q. Yikes! Why are there things hatching out of my bird seed?
A. Most people do not realize that almost all seed has insect eggs before it is harvested.
Eggs in seed can certainly hatch into larvae which in time will grow into insects. Two things
effect the hatching time: heat and the age of the seed. Seed harvested in 2008 is usually
sold between Nov 2008 and Dec 2009. The longer it is after harvest, the more likely the bugs
will hatch. (Great News for those of you who booked your 2009 "Seed Sale" Booking Order
with Birds-I-View...All the Black Oil Sunflower Seed you booked will be from the NEW harvest
and NOT from the previous year which is the case with many seed sales (particularly if they
have you pick up the seed before November 1st.)
The hatch date of eggs in seed is also effected by temperature. The warmer the temperature
the sooner the bugs will hatch and the hatch date can be delayed by keeping the seed in a air
conditioned building or refrigerating the seed. Some people even freeze seed for their birds.
At Birds-I-View, we try to delay/ eliminate any bugs for hatching by controlling the temperature
in our store. The electric company appreciates our effort!
There is a saying in the industry that " Seed is only as fresh as the most recent harvest". And
since most bird seed ingredients are harvested at about the same time, and only once per
year, the key factor in keeping seed bug-free is to make certain it is handled properly from
harvest to your house.
At Birds-I-View we take care to time our seed deliveries and pick-ups so that your seed
is not spending days sitting on tractor trailers out in the sun and heat during summer months:
wild birds and can usually be fed without concern. However, do bear in mind that once seed
has become warm enough or old enough for hatching to occur, mold and other problems
may have also set in and those can be quite harmful. Take particular care to see that peanuts
and Nyjer/thislte do not become moldy by keeping them cool and dry where you store them,
and keeping the seed in all of your feeders dry.
Q. How can I prevent unwanted plants from coming up underneath my bird feeders?
A. Feeding the birds in or around your flower or vegetable garden, or near a patio can be a
challenge sometimes, due to “sprouting” seeds. The very best solution for this is to feed only
seeds/ food that have been shelled. (seeds need to be enclosed in their shell covering to
germinate) . Sunflower Hearts ( the sunflower “meat” without the shell) is a favorite food of
perhaps any bird you could hope to see at your feeder! Peanuts and Tree Nuts ( not in their
shells) are other food products that will not germinate if offered to birds. And the “Waste Free”
or “Shell-Free” brands of seed mixes we carry are great to use around gardens, landscaping,
on patios or if you live in an apartment. These products have no messy shells to deal with,
and will not germinate below your feeders.
And Suet products are always great for the birds, anytime of year. At Birds-I-View we have
many great options for feeding suet, including No-Melt Suet, Insect-treat suet, berry & nut suet,
and even “hot pepper” suet to keep the squirrels, raccoons, and opossums from eating the
suet!
FEEDER MAINTENANCE:
Q. My Bird Feeder has black stuff growing on it. What should I do?
A. While wild birds are indeed "outside creatures", it is still important to keep your bird
feeders properly cleaned. When we provide a feeding station for wild birds, we are often
encouraging several birds to feed from one spot or food source at once. That is perfectly OK,
(and very enjoyable!) but bear in mind that we need to be responsible about not spreading
disease via a bacteria-filled dirty feeder! We actually have NEW recommendations when it
comes to cleaning feeders & baths. For years we have recommended a solution of Bleach
and water, but we are now satisfied that some of the new Natural Enzyme Cleaning Products
on the market are safer for us, safer for the birds, and actually do a better job of cleaning and
disinfecting, because they are geared to target specific bacteria and organic problems that
can be an issue in feeders and baths. Remember to change seed in feeders if it gets wet
and clumpy. We have terrific cleaning brushes at Birds-I-View to help you clean everything
from tube feeders to platform feeders to fruit feeders! By the way...for your hummingbird
feeders there are specific Enzyme Cleaners that target those "scum lines" that can occur!
Using only 1/4 Cup bleach per gallon of water to clean the hummer feeders every 3-4 weeks
is also effective, but we believe the enzyme cleaners do a much better job.
BLUEBIRDS:
Q. Do Bluebirds stay in “our” area in the winter or do they migrate south?
A. Well, if “your area” is Mid-Missouri (like ours) then the answer is YES they are here all
winter! As a matter of fact, in much of the U.S. Bluebirds are year-round residents in the
general area in which they nest. Often, however, Bluebirds will “re-locate” for the winter
(sometimes only a mile or less!) to areas with abundant winter food and water sources.
During the winter they prefer areas with plenty of water for bathing and areas that have
perhaps berry-producing shrubs and trees that provide food and shelter from the cold. They
also favor areas of low –cut grass and high perch area (like overhead power lines or a fence
row) where they can perch and search for insects on the ground. Of course, a well-stocked
meal worm feeder is a welcome sight to a Bluebird almost anytime of the year, but can be
particularly attractive when cold & freezing weather makes other food sources less reliable.
We do know bluebirders who have tried for years to have Bluebirds nest in their yard without
success, yet they routinely have flocks of Bluebirds at their heated bird bath in the winter.
Bluebirds are not as territorial in the winter as they are during nesting season, so winter is the
time when you have the opportunity to see large groups of Bluebirds feeding and bathing
together…right outside your window!
Q. When is the best time to put up a Bluebird Box?
A. In Missouri Bluebirds will tend to begin nesting in March or April and average about 3
nestings per season. They also will use the nest boxes to roost inside in the winter to stay
warm. So, even though they may not use the box to nest in until late winter or early spring,
putting up a nest box ( on a metal pole please, to help protect against predators) in the fall or
winter can do much to get a bluebird “committed “ to a nest box for use when nesting season
does roll around. (Just remember to keep the house sparrows out of the box year-round
also). As a dear bluebirder friend of ours has always said “TODAY is the best day to put up a
Bluebird box!”
HUMMINGBIRDS:
Q. Is it true that we can see hummingbirds in the winter in Missouri?
A. Although uncommon, Missouri certainly DOES get hummingbirds in the winter. As a matter
of fact, in the winter of 2007 Jefferson City, MO had 2 Rufous Hummingbirds ( one was
banded by a local bander) and already this year ( 2008) two Rufous Hummingbirds have
been spotted in Jefferson City! Banding Research has shown for 20+ years that some of the
varieties of hummers from the Pacific North West will spend time here in Missouri and
sometimes will even spend the entire winter here or in the south eastern U. S. The "Rufous"
Hummingbird is the most common "wintering hummingbird", however the Calliope, Anna's,
Black-chinned, broad-tailed, Green Violet-ear, and , as of November 2008, the Allen's
hummingbird, have all been documented in Missouri. Of course the Ruby-throated
hummingbird is our resident "summer" hummingbird. Please call us at 573-638-BIRD(2473)
or 888-270-VIEW(8439) if you see ANY hummingbird after November 1st!!
To find out more about hummingbirds, please check out the following websites:
www.hummingbirdsplus.org or www.hummingbirds.net
BIRD SEED and BIRD FEEDING:
Q. Yikes! Why are there things hatching out of my bird seed?
A. Most people do not realize that almost all seed has insect eggs before it is harvested.
Eggs in seed can certainly hatch into larvae which in time will grow into insects. Two things
effect the hatching time: heat and the age of the seed. Seed harvested in 2008 is usually
sold between Nov 2008 and Dec 2009. The longer it is after harvest, the more likely the bugs
will hatch. (Great News for those of you who booked your 2009 "Seed Sale" Booking Order
with Birds-I-View...All the Black Oil Sunflower Seed you booked will be from the NEW harvest
and NOT from the previous year which is the case with many seed sales (particularly if they
have you pick up the seed before November 1st.)
The hatch date of eggs in seed is also effected by temperature. The warmer the temperature
the sooner the bugs will hatch and the hatch date can be delayed by keeping the seed in a air
conditioned building or refrigerating the seed. Some people even freeze seed for their birds.
At Birds-I-View, we try to delay/ eliminate any bugs for hatching by controlling the temperature
in our store. The electric company appreciates our effort!
There is a saying in the industry that " Seed is only as fresh as the most recent harvest". And
since most bird seed ingredients are harvested at about the same time, and only once per
year, the key factor in keeping seed bug-free is to make certain it is handled properly from
harvest to your house.
At Birds-I-View we take care to time our seed deliveries and pick-ups so that your seed
is not spending days sitting on tractor trailers out in the sun and heat during summer months:
- We do not store our seed in a hot warehouse or in rooms with large windows that
would direct heat to bags of seed., or in trailers out doors during hot weather. - Once home, storing your seed in dry cool areas of your home or garage is always a
good idea. - Avoid storing seed in a "sun room" or near heat sources in your home.
wild birds and can usually be fed without concern. However, do bear in mind that once seed
has become warm enough or old enough for hatching to occur, mold and other problems
may have also set in and those can be quite harmful. Take particular care to see that peanuts
and Nyjer/thislte do not become moldy by keeping them cool and dry where you store them,
and keeping the seed in all of your feeders dry.
Q. How can I prevent unwanted plants from coming up underneath my bird feeders?
A. Feeding the birds in or around your flower or vegetable garden, or near a patio can be a
challenge sometimes, due to “sprouting” seeds. The very best solution for this is to feed only
seeds/ food that have been shelled. (seeds need to be enclosed in their shell covering to
germinate) . Sunflower Hearts ( the sunflower “meat” without the shell) is a favorite food of
perhaps any bird you could hope to see at your feeder! Peanuts and Tree Nuts ( not in their
shells) are other food products that will not germinate if offered to birds. And the “Waste Free”
or “Shell-Free” brands of seed mixes we carry are great to use around gardens, landscaping,
on patios or if you live in an apartment. These products have no messy shells to deal with,
and will not germinate below your feeders.
And Suet products are always great for the birds, anytime of year. At Birds-I-View we have
many great options for feeding suet, including No-Melt Suet, Insect-treat suet, berry & nut suet,
and even “hot pepper” suet to keep the squirrels, raccoons, and opossums from eating the
suet!
FEEDER MAINTENANCE:
Q. My Bird Feeder has black stuff growing on it. What should I do?
A. While wild birds are indeed "outside creatures", it is still important to keep your bird
feeders properly cleaned. When we provide a feeding station for wild birds, we are often
encouraging several birds to feed from one spot or food source at once. That is perfectly OK,
(and very enjoyable!) but bear in mind that we need to be responsible about not spreading
disease via a bacteria-filled dirty feeder! We actually have NEW recommendations when it
comes to cleaning feeders & baths. For years we have recommended a solution of Bleach
and water, but we are now satisfied that some of the new Natural Enzyme Cleaning Products
on the market are safer for us, safer for the birds, and actually do a better job of cleaning and
disinfecting, because they are geared to target specific bacteria and organic problems that
can be an issue in feeders and baths. Remember to change seed in feeders if it gets wet
and clumpy. We have terrific cleaning brushes at Birds-I-View to help you clean everything
from tube feeders to platform feeders to fruit feeders! By the way...for your hummingbird
feeders there are specific Enzyme Cleaners that target those "scum lines" that can occur!
Using only 1/4 Cup bleach per gallon of water to clean the hummer feeders every 3-4 weeks
is also effective, but we believe the enzyme cleaners do a much better job.
BLUEBIRDS:
Q. Do Bluebirds stay in “our” area in the winter or do they migrate south?
A. Well, if “your area” is Mid-Missouri (like ours) then the answer is YES they are here all
winter! As a matter of fact, in much of the U.S. Bluebirds are year-round residents in the
general area in which they nest. Often, however, Bluebirds will “re-locate” for the winter
(sometimes only a mile or less!) to areas with abundant winter food and water sources.
During the winter they prefer areas with plenty of water for bathing and areas that have
perhaps berry-producing shrubs and trees that provide food and shelter from the cold. They
also favor areas of low –cut grass and high perch area (like overhead power lines or a fence
row) where they can perch and search for insects on the ground. Of course, a well-stocked
meal worm feeder is a welcome sight to a Bluebird almost anytime of the year, but can be
particularly attractive when cold & freezing weather makes other food sources less reliable.
We do know bluebirders who have tried for years to have Bluebirds nest in their yard without
success, yet they routinely have flocks of Bluebirds at their heated bird bath in the winter.
Bluebirds are not as territorial in the winter as they are during nesting season, so winter is the
time when you have the opportunity to see large groups of Bluebirds feeding and bathing
together…right outside your window!
Q. When is the best time to put up a Bluebird Box?
A. In Missouri Bluebirds will tend to begin nesting in March or April and average about 3
nestings per season. They also will use the nest boxes to roost inside in the winter to stay
warm. So, even though they may not use the box to nest in until late winter or early spring,
putting up a nest box ( on a metal pole please, to help protect against predators) in the fall or
winter can do much to get a bluebird “committed “ to a nest box for use when nesting season
does roll around. (Just remember to keep the house sparrows out of the box year-round
also). As a dear bluebirder friend of ours has always said “TODAY is the best day to put up a
Bluebird box!”
HUMMINGBIRDS:
Q. Is it true that we can see hummingbirds in the winter in Missouri?
A. Although uncommon, Missouri certainly DOES get hummingbirds in the winter. As a matter
of fact, in the winter of 2007 Jefferson City, MO had 2 Rufous Hummingbirds ( one was
banded by a local bander) and already this year ( 2008) two Rufous Hummingbirds have
been spotted in Jefferson City! Banding Research has shown for 20+ years that some of the
varieties of hummers from the Pacific North West will spend time here in Missouri and
sometimes will even spend the entire winter here or in the south eastern U. S. The "Rufous"
Hummingbird is the most common "wintering hummingbird", however the Calliope, Anna's,
Black-chinned, broad-tailed, Green Violet-ear, and , as of November 2008, the Allen's
hummingbird, have all been documented in Missouri. Of course the Ruby-throated
hummingbird is our resident "summer" hummingbird. Please call us at 573-638-BIRD(2473)
or 888-270-VIEW(8439) if you see ANY hummingbird after November 1st!!
To find out more about hummingbirds, please check out the following websites:
www.hummingbirdsplus.org or www.hummingbirds.net
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Above: This female
Pileated Woodpecker
frequents our deck for suet!
Pileated Woodpecker
frequents our deck for suet!