Other Backyard Visitors - Creating a Habitat

Did you know that bird feeders not only attract birds, but other small animals, as well?

One of the most common visitors to bird feeders (aside from birds!) is squirrels, but the seed that the birds leave behind is also attractive to bunny rabbits.  While they mostly visit in the early morning hours and late evening, occasionally they will also appear during the day.

Young Rabbit near Feeder (photo by SCB)

What I've always found interesting is that the birds seem to know what they are, and never show the slightest fear of them.  While birds are fairly comfortable around squirrels, too (except during breeding season), they seem even more confident around rabbits, and will eat right by them.  I have always wondered if they aren't grateful for the extra pair of eyes in watching out for predators.

What exactly the rabbits are eating when they visit the bird feeders is something I have never actually figured out, but I have noticed that the rabbits are most commonly around those in which I have put a variety of seed.  One possibility is that they may be consuming some of the small seedlings that always seem to crop up underneath my feeders.

Attracting Wildlife
Years ago, I read an article that suggested leaving a small part of the yard untended, in order to attract birds and other wildlife.  I have noticed that on the edge of my yard, where the weeds occasionally grow too high, birds will sometimes visit that I rarely see at my feeders, and sometimes they will even go on to the feeders after landing there.  Allowing part of the yard to grow up a little is also a big help for fledglings, which will often hide there before they perfect their flying skills.

Young Rabbit (photo by SCB)

Another plus in leaving part of the yard to grow a little wild is that a lot of insects tend to hide in these areas, making it a prime hunting ground.  Just last night, I noticed several birds hunting in the area near the border of my yard, in the immediate vicinity of a grazing rabbit  One cardinal, in particular, repeatedly hunted the area near where the rabbit was eating, and hopped all over next to it.

If you would like to have other visitors like rabbits by your feeders, another precautionary tip to keep in mind is that baby rabbits, especially, are very vulnerable to herbicides, and even exposing them to the pellet form can kill them.  Having a slightly weedy yard will not only spare them, but will also be a huge attraction for the birds and even many beautiful (and beneficial!) insects.

Have you noticed any unusual creatures attracted to your backyard feeders? If so, please leave a post!