The Room 12 Bird Feeder: Four Sources, One Plan

Source A: Index of the book A Young Birder's Backyard Guide (print)

Cardinal, northern . . . 14–15
Chickadee . . . 18
Feeders, kinds of . . . 38–40
Goldfinch, American . . . 22–23
Nuthatch . . . 26
Seeds, nyjer . . . 41
Suet . . . 44
Woodpecker, downy . . . 30–31

Source B: Three pages from A Young Birder's Backyard Guide (print)

Page 22: The American goldfinch is a small songbird with a short, pointed beak. In summer, the male is bright yellow. In winter, the male loses his bright color and looks dull olive-brown, much like the female. At feeders, goldfinches often eat tiny nyjer seeds and sunflower seeds. In winter, goldfinches often travel and feed together in small flocks.

Page 41: Nyjer seeds are tiny black seeds. Because they are so small, they are usually served in a tube feeder with small holes. The holes let a bird pull out one seed at a time, so less seed spills onto the ground.

Page 44: Suet is a block of hard fat that is often mixed with seeds. It gives birds lots of energy in cold weather. Woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees often visit suet feeders, especially in winter. Suet can soften and spoil in hot weather, so many people put it out mostly in the cooler months. A suet cake fits inside a small wire cage that hangs from a hook or a branch.