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Two way to identify birds.  Sight & Sound

Sight - Birds perched in a tree, identified by silhouette, movement or flight pattern, color & special markings can also help

Sound - Birds sing for two reasons, find a mate and mark territory.  

Knowing the song of a particular bird can help with positive identification.

State Bird: Purple Finch

What makes a bird different?  Only birds have feathers and a wishbone.

Some birds eat insects, others forage for seeds or fruits & berries.  All birds need food high in protein and fat to fuel their bodies and provide energy for the many activities in a bird's life.

Don't put out bread crumbs for the birds.  Bread provides little nutrition.  If a bird fills up on just bread on a cold winter's night, it may not survive in morning.

Sunflower Seeds - are a favorite of many birds and usually attract them like a magnet.  Seeds should be in shell.

Wild Bird Seed - contain a variety of whole seeds that attract many kinds of birds.  

Suet & Peanut Butter - Good energy sources in cold weather.  Coat a pine cone with peanut butter, roll it in birdseed, and hang it from a tree branch;

Special Treat - Shelled peanuts, fruits such as berries, halved apples & oranges, water soaked raisins.

Note (Not all birds eat out of a feeder - sprinkle some food on the ground)

BIRDS	Ground Feeders	Raised Feeders	Hanging (Suet)	Hanging (Seed)
Blue Jay		X
Chickadee	X	X		X
Cardinal		X	X (if seed is in it)	X
Finches		X		X
Grackle	X	X
Junco	X	X
Dove	X
Mockingbird		X
Sparrow	X	X
Woodpecker	X	X	X
Wren		X
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker		X	X

Bear Tips:

Bears and Birdfeeders: If you enjoy feeding the birds, resist the temptation to put out feeders before December, or you'll risk habitual bear visitors that are likely to interfere with bird-feeding activities, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department advises.  Remove bird feeders by April 1.  Clean up seeds below feeders. Plenty of natural foods are available for the birds.

Interesting Web sites:

NH Audubon                                  Birds need a place where they find food, water and shelter and raise their young.  

NH Birds                                        That place is called a habitat.  Turn your backyard into an official bird refuge.  Keep 

Birding.com in NH                         the feeder stocked with food and build a birdbath so water is always plentiful.  

Attract Hummingbirds                    (Snow in the winter already provides lot of water for the birds).

Backyard Birding  Feeding, houses

Bird Feeding

Squirrels - If you didn't plan on feeding the squirrels, you might want to prevent them from feasting at your bird feeder.  They can eat up the majority of Bird Seed.  Bird stands that hang from trees can be easily accessed.  A separate bird feeder with a metal or pvc pole works fairly well, keep away from trees or limbs.