Feeding the birds means more than scattering bread

Today’s question:

I feed a lot of birds in my back yard, which is lush with grass and flowers etc. For many years I’ve been visited and entertained by a large variety of birds.

I am particularly fond of the Gambol quail that visit several times a day, as few as two at a time up to entire families of 12 or more. They do not seem to eat the breads that the other birds feast on but rather, they pick at and peck at the grass.

I’m wondering what I could put out for them to enjoy feasting on.

It’s nice that you seem to have such a pleasant back yard and so get to enjoy so many birds. It must be very pleasant. (See how nice I’m being?) There are some problems here, however.

You’re feeding the birds bread? Why? Birds don’t eat bread. They eat seeds or bugs or fruit or nectar, depending on their tastes. Would you just give bread to your kids?

There are all sorts of wild-bird food mixes widely available at reasonable prices. If you’re going to feed birds at least give them bird food.

As for the quail picking and pecking at the grass, that’s what they do. They eat seeds and insects.

If you’re going to put out food for them, try millet or cracked corn or sunflower kernels or other readily available wild bird seeds.

I assume you also are providing water for all those birds and some sort of shade or shelter.

One last thing: If you are going to attract birds, especially nice, plump nottoo-bright quail, you are going to attract predators. Hawks or falcons might be one thing, but snakes are another. Not to mention mice or rats that may be drawn to an easy food source.

Have a question for Clay? Reach him at 602-444-8612 or clay.thompson@ arizonarepublic.com.

And don’t forget to send in your entries in this year’s Great Big and Large Valley 101 Guess the First 100 Degree Day contest. The deadline is April 18.