As the fall season begins, the migrating flocks of birds remind me that it is time to get the bird feeders ready for the winter. Some people feed birds year round, while others choose to feed the neighborhood birds only in the colder months of the year.

If you fall into the second category begin your bird feeding activities by cleaning your feeders. Wash the feeders with a mild soap and water solution, followed by a weak bleach solution and clear water rinse. This will help begin the feeding season with a healthy environment for visiting birds. Monitor your feeder throughout the fall and winter for signs of mold or feces buildup and clean your feeder accordingly.

Another good fall startup task is to evaluate the placement of your feeder. Birds prefer to have shrubs or small trees within view of the feeder. These areas are used by birds to do a quick visual inspection for predators, which includes cats. These areas are also used as loafing areas by birds using your feeder. If you find your yard lacking this habitat component then you may want to do a little fall planting if you have space.

When adding shrubs or trees to your backyard remember one thing, diversity! Planting a variety of fruit producing shrubs combined with broadleaved shade trees will increase the diversity and thereby the quality of your backyard habitat for birds. Evergreen trees can provide escape cover for birds and nesting habitat as well. A native evergreen tree, the eastern red cedar, planted in your backyard will provide both shelter and a food source for birds.

Shrubs are best planted in clumps or groupings of three or more, if you have the space. Some shrubs native to Illinois you might want to consider include winterberry, shadblow serviceberry, hazelnut, highbush cranberry, and smooth or winged sumac.

In addition to the placement of the feeder within five feet of shrubs or trees, place your feeder in an area that will be sheltered from winter winds. Check the height of your pole feeders or feeders suspended from tree limbs. A height of 5 to 6 feet above the ground will provide a safe feeding area.

When its time to go shopping for bird seed keep in mind that not all mixes offer equal benefits to birds and your budget. Inexpensive birdseed mixes may be cheaper initially, but many contain seeds, such as milo, wheat, oats and rice, which are unattractive to most birds. A mixture of white proso millet and black oil-type sunflower seed will give you the most for your bird-feeding dollar. These seed types are preferred by many types of birds and there will be very little wasted seed. You may have to purchase these two types of seed separately and make your own mix. Another alternative is to simply read the label on bird seed mixtures and avoid those high in unattractive seed types.

Finally, keep in mind that a feeding station in an urban area may use 50 pounds of seed or more during the winter months, while those in rural settings may use as much as 300 - 500 pounds. With this in mind, buying seed in bulk may be more cost effective. Remember to store the seed in a dry location and in a container with a tight fitting lid to avoid insect damage.

If you have questions about feeding birds or landscaping for birds or other wildlife contact the University of Illinois Champaign Extension Unit at 333-7672.