How do you appeal to woodpeckers to your yard?
This query is extremely frequent, particularly if you’re new to fowl feeding. Woodpeckers are usually not solely lovely, however they’re extremely distinctive and a ton of enjoyable to observe.
And fortunately, virtually irrespective of the place you reside, a number of woodpecker species could be discovered.
At the moment, I’m going to show you 6 suggestions PROVEN to draw woodpeckers.
And the very best half is that you may implement a few of these methods (corresponding to suggestions #1, #2, #6) instantly. Critically, in the event you act on what I’m about to inform you, it’s doable to have woodpeckers in your yard inside hours!
I really like attracting woodpeckers! If you happen to’re fortunate, you could even be capable to see one proper now on my feeders. Simply press play under to observe my LIVE cam! ????
Tip #1: Entice Woodpeckers By Offering THESE Meals!
The BEST and EASIEST method to begin getting woodpeckers to come back to your yard is to ensure you are providing meals that they LOVE to eat.
So, in no specific order, here’s a checklist of the meals it’s essential provide in your yard buffet.
A. Peanuts:
Peanuts are a fantastic meals to supply at your feeding station. Not solely do woodpeckers love consuming them, however they’re wholesome and supply a major quantity of fats and protein, each of that are essential to birds, particularly throughout chilly winter months.
You should use both shelled or unshelled peanuts. Simply ensure you don’t purchase SALTED peanuts.
*Diet Data: 49% fats, 26% protein, 19% carbohydrates
B. Sunflower Seeds:
Most woodpecker species will readily devour sunflower seeds, particularly in winter. You should use any kind of sunflower seeds (black oil or striped), and it doesn’t matter whether or not it’s in or out of the shell.
One of many BEST elements about sunflower seeds is that they appeal to the widest quantity of birds versus another meals. Critically, you’ll be able to anticipate cardinals, jays, nuthatches, titmice, chickadees, grosbeaks, finches, nutcrackers, juncos, sparrows, blackbirds, doves, and grackles, along with woodpeckers!
*Diet Data: 40% fats, 16% protein, 20% carbohydrates
C. Mealworms:
Due to their excessive fats and protein content material, providing mealworms at your feeding station is a wholesome deal with for a lot of yard birds, together with woodpeckers.
In truth, consuming mealworms comes naturally to woodpeckers since they love consuming bugs.
There are two methods to buy mealworms:
Stay:
Utilizing dwelling mealworms shouldn’t be as gross as it could sound. They don’t seem to be slimy or saved within the dust. Once you buy mealworms which are alive, they usually are available a small, plastic container and are saved in your fridge, the place they go dormant and may survive for a couple of months!
*Diet Data: 22% fats, 18% protein, 2.5% carbohydrates View $ on Amazon
Dried:
Shopping for dried mealworms is much less problem than retaining reside mealworms in your fridge! For instance, you should purchase 5 kilos of them on Amazon for a comparatively low price.
*Diet Data: 32% fats, 49% protein, 6.9% carbs View $ on Amazon
Woodpeckers want consuming reside mealworms and should even reject dried mealworms at first. If this occurs, you could want to mix each sorts to slowly introduce dried mealworms. Personally, it’s way more handy to maintain an enormous pouch of dried mealworms in my shed than having dwelling ones in my fridge!
D. Suet:
The most well-liked and generally supplied meals that’s supplied to woodpeckers is suet.
My guess is that you’ve got seen suet muffins earlier than, as they’re generally bought virtually in all places, together with grocery, {hardware}, and even pet shops. The usual suet cake dimension is about 4.5 inches (11.4 centimeters) lengthy and broad and 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) deep. You’ll be able to see an image of 1 under:
So what precisely is in suet?
Properly, on the whole, the time period suet refers back to the kidney fats discovered on animals. Many birds, corresponding to woodpeckers, get pleasure from consuming this fats as a result of it offers them with important power and vitamin.
Whereas the suet muffins you see bought in shops do include some precise suet, they virtually at all times have varied different meals combined inside. It’s frequent to seek out peanuts, sunflower, dried fruit, tree nuts, and corn combined with the suet.
For instance, listed below are the components of a suet cake that I lately bought.
There isn’t a denying that woodpeckers LOVE suet. For my part, there is no such thing as a higher meals to make use of to draw these fantastic birds.
And whereas sq. muffins are the most well-liked form, suet additionally comes within the following varieties:
- A. Balls: Roughly the scale of tennis balls that slot in many forms of caged feeders.
- B. Nuggets: Sometimes barely smaller than marbles. Nuggets additionally could be put in mesh feeders or on tray feeders.
- C. Plugs: Resemble a small log. These match into suet feeders which are specifically made to suit suet plugs. Suet plug feeders are usually vertical and resemble the facet of a tree.
One final tip concerning suet:
I’ve had the very best luck with suet that doesn’t include corn or another grains.
Woodpeckers want suet with meals like peanuts, sunflower seeds, and tree nuts combined inside as a substitute of grains.
Tip #2: Use one in all these woodpecker-friendly feeders!
Now that we all know the forms of meals that woodpeckers can’t resist, it’s time to be taught concerning the fowl feeders it’s essential provide these meals!
Truthfully, there are a whole lot of fowl feeders you might use. However for the sake of brevity, I’m solely going to indicate you a couple of examples of feeders that I personal and WHY that specific type is nice for woodpeckers.
A. Suet Cake Feeders:
- A. Stokes Suet Cage: Tremendous cheap and works nice. It may be hung virtually wherever.
A feeder that may match the usual suet cake is the gold customary for woodpecker feeders. They’re usually characterised by having some kind of metallic cage that the suet cake slips inside.
Woodpeckers can simply seize onto the sides and use their highly effective beaks to chip away on the scrumptious suet.
You’ll be able to even buy INVERTED suet cake feeders, which require woodpeckers to eat whereas hanging the wrong way up.
Woodpeckers don’t have any downside feeding this fashion, however “bully” birds, like European Starlings, have bother!
B. Mesh Tube Feeder:
This fowl feeder is extraordinarily versatile when attracting woodpeckers as a result of many several types of meals could be positioned inside. Suet balls, suet pellets, and peanuts all match with no issues! View At the moment’s Value!
The wire mesh is properly suited to woodpeckers. They don’t have any downside hanging off the facet and becoming their pointy beaks inside. However many different birds can’t grasp onto the perimeters since there is no such thing as a perch or match their beak between the wire mesh!
C. Vertical Logs That Use Suet Plugs:
So far as aesthetics go, this woodpecker feeder is my favourite. I really like how the log mimics the appear and feel of how woodpeckers feed naturally on bushes.
To make use of this feeder, you’ll need to purchase suet plugs and insert them into the holes within the sides.
D. Hoppers, Tube Feeders, and Trays:
Not one of the above feeders are specifically designed for woodpeckers.
BUT, so long as a majority of these feeders are crammed with some mixture of sunflower seeds, suet, mealworms, or peanuts, it’s completely doable you’ll be able to see a woodpecker feeding on one. I do know that I’ve!
Truthfully, you by no means know what actual feeder a woodpecker will land on to try to eat from. I’ve even seen them sampling jelly and oranges from my oriole feeders and slurping up hummingbird nectar!
Tip #3: Present bushes, bushes, and extra bushes!
There isn’t a getting round the truth that woodpeckers LOVE bushes. The very first thing most individuals take into consideration in terms of woodpeckers is one drumming in opposition to a tree!
They use them for shelter, nesting, show, and meals. Sadly, in the event you reside in a large area devoid of bushes, it’s going to be exhausting to draw woodpeckers.
Now I do know that instantly making a mature forest of native bushes shouldn’t be doable. However it’s by no means too late to begin planting extra bushes in your yard.
And as they are saying:
One of the best time to plant a tree was 30 years in the past. The second greatest time is TODAY! ????
Tip #4: Don’t minimize down any useless bushes!
When most individuals see a useless tree, they assume it’s an eye-sore that must be minimize down.
However when a woodpecker sees a useless tree, they assume they’ve gained the lottery!
First, useless bushes are an unbelievable meals supply. They’re often crammed with beetle larvae and different bugs that woodpeckers can feast upon.
Second, since useless bushes are usually simpler to bore into, woodpeckers use them to construct nests. You see, woodpeckers don’t use conventional nests that sit out within the open on a tree department.
No, woodpeckers are CAVITY nesters, which suggests they make holes in bushes which are utterly enclosed apart from the doorway. With out useless bushes, they’ve a a lot tougher time discovering a spot to construct a nest.
As well as, many different birds are cavity nesters, however they can not make their very own cavities. Bluebirds, for instance, depend upon outdated woodpecker holes for his or her nests.
So subsequent time you might have a useless tree in your yard, please assume twice earlier than chopping it down. ????
Tip #5: Set up nest containers to encourage child woodpeckers!
Within the earlier tip (#4), we discovered about how woodpeckers ONLY use nest cavities for breeding functions and why useless bushes are essential.
Properly, what in the event you don’t have any useless bushes appropriate for nesting woodpeckers in your yard?
Fortunately, there’s a straightforward resolution.
Most forms of woodpeckers will readily use synthetic nest containers to construct their nests inside! By placing up applicable nest containers in your yard, you not solely can appeal to woodpeckers but additionally watch their infants.
However all nest containers are usually not created equal. Particularly, you wish to take note of the diameter of the doorway gap, as this dictates what species can use the nest field.
Listed below are some entrance gap diameter pointers to comply with for some frequent woodpecker species:
- Downy Woodpecker: 1.25 inches
- Bushy Woodpecker: 1.5 inches
- Pileated Woodpecker: 3 x 4-inch oval
- Crimson-bellied Woodpecker: 2.5 inches
Lastly, listed below are a couple of pre-made woodpecker nest containers you should purchase.
A. Downy Woodpecker Nest Field
B. Coveside Three Woodpeckers Home
And if you’re useful, it’s additionally straightforward to make your personal. Simply Google “DIY woodpecker nest field,” and loads of choices will present up!
Tip #6: Entice woodpeckers by offering water!
The ultimate method to get woodpeckers to go to your yard is to supply a continuing, constant water supply.
So, how precisely do you accomplish this?
Properly, until you might be fortunate sufficient to have a stream or lake close by, the easiest way to supply water is to purchase a fowl bathtub.
Truthfully, there was a time once I didn’t assume having a fowl bathtub was that essential, particularly since they require a little bit of upkeep to maintain them recent and clear.
However as soon as I lastly tried a fowl bathtub, my opinion modified perpetually. Birds LOVE having a protected, clear water supply. And the very best half is that fowl baths appeal to not solely woodpeckers but additionally numerous different species, together with many birds that usually don’t go to fowl feeders.
Critically, take a look at this video of a Crimson-shouldered Hawk at my fowl bathtub!
On the subject of fowl baths, there are HUNDREDS of choices, together with many alternative types. To assist information your determination, listed below are a couple of extra articles that may assist.
Do you might have any extra suggestions for attracting woodpeckers?
At the moment, I offered a number of methods you should utilize to draw these entertaining birds to your yard. We talked about the very best meals and feeders, together with methods to make the encompassing habitat interesting.
I’d like to know what methods have labored greatest for you?
Please depart a remark under, together with the particular woodpecker species you might have been in a position to appeal to!