Jelly Bird Feeders
Jelly feeders are designed to hold fresh fruit and jelly to attract birds like orioles and bluebirds.
By Nikki Moustaki
Jelly bird feeders often come with a fruit station or fruit spikes.
Excerpted from “Feeder Facts” in “Popular Birding Series: Backyard Birding,” published by WildBirdmagazine.com publisher BowTie, Inc.
Some wild birds – such as orioles, bluebirds, tanagers and Northern Mockingbirds – like to eat jelly and fruit; some Blue Jays will even feed on jelly. Orioles particularly like grape jelly, so have plenty on hand when they fly through your area.
This type of bird feeder requires frequent cleaning, because fruit rots and both jelly and fruit leave a sticky residue.
Jelly bird feeders often come with a fruit station or fruit spikes, making it easy to serve the fruit – such as apples and oranges – that will attract birds. You also can offer mealworms to tempt songbirds to your jelly bird feeder. Some jelly feeders also include an area to offer sugar-water, making the birdfeeder nearly irresistible to orioles.
Jelly bird feeders are made from various materials, from wood to plastic. This type of bird feeder requires frequent cleaning, because fruit rots and both jelly and fruit leave a sticky residue.
Make sure that the bird feeder is easy to remove and disassemble for cleaning. Use a scrub brush and mild bleach solution (10 parts water to 1 part bleach) to disinfect the bird feeder before refilling the food. Make sure to rinse thoroughly, too.