How to Discourage Certain Birds

  Click here to visit duncraft.com Pigeons Since pigeons are fairly large birds, small hanging feeders are the most difficult for them to feed from. Hanging feeders will tip with their weight and swing in the air, and if there is limited or narrow perching room, the pigeon cannot get a foothold. Duncraft's Satellite and Cling a Wing feeders would be disappointments to any hopeful pigeon. To discourage pigeons further, we recommend feeding black oil sunflower seed in the shell. Pigeons do not like this seed and your smaller birds, and cardinals, will love it. Pigeons especially like: corn, milo, wheat, oats and millet - so stay away ... (read more)

Summer Feeding

(Back to Duncraft.com Home Page) Warm Weather Feeding Winter is the prime time for feeding backyard birds because much of their natural food sources, such as insects and fruit are unavailable.  But there are many reasons for continuing to feed during the warmer weather months.  Food shortages can occur at any time of year due to harsh weather conditions, drought, excessive land development, etc.  Also during the summer months birds require high protein foods, especially during the molting season.  And parent birds are stressed right now because not only must they feed themselves, they now have offspring to care for. Should you feed ... (read more)

Purple Martins

(back to Duncraft.com homepage) Perhaps no other North American bird has a more interesting association with humans than the Purple Martin. As early as the 1800's, it was discovered that Native Americans had been providing the birds with hollowed out gourds to attract them to their dwellings. Martins were useful in driving off vultures, small hawks and crows from the vicinity, and it's possible that the Native Americans also appreciated the birds' voracious insect-eating appetites! Over time, perhaps because of the safety of being near humans, and the success of the provided nesting gourds Martins began to prefer nesting in close proximity to us ... (read more)

Top 10 Things To Do To Attract Hummingbirds

(Back to Duncraft.com Home Page) by Bill Thompson, III Here are my top ten things to do to attract (and keep) hummingbirds in your backyard. 10. Add a new native plant species to your garden You just can't have too many good hummingbird plants in your garden or yard. Take an inventory of your existing offerings and consult a source of hummer plant info for ideas on what to add next. Good sources include plant charts in Enjoying Hummingbirds More, and Creating Your Backyard Bird Garden. Both titles are part of the backyard booklet series published by (BWD Press: 800-879-2473, 32 pages, full color, $3.95). Also: Hummingbird Gardens, an excellent book ... (read more)