As a new backyard bird nut who put up my first feeder in late November, I am very much looking forward to the spring migration and breeding season and the changes it will bring. But as a newbie, I have several questions:
1. When can I expect to start seeing returning birds here in the Boston area? It looks like hummingbirds arrive here mid-April. Do bluebirds and orioles and others all arrive around the same time, or are their schedules staggered over many weeks?
2. I was thinking of hanging a suet feeder filled with nest-building materials (but no suet!): cotton balls, string, thread, grass clippings, etc. Do birds take advantage of such resources? Are these the right materials to provide?
3. I've heard that suet is problematic in the warmer weather, but I've also read that some birds like the suet for feeding their young. What is the consensus here?
4. I'm planning to hang a hummingbird feeder in April, but need advice on location. I have three feeders hanging along my back gutter within several feet of each other. Do hummingbirds require their own space many feet away from other feeders? If I hang it near an inside corner, do they see having walls on two sides as protection, or will they avoid it as too enclosed?
Any advice will be most appreciated.
