Frequently Asked Questions

Do you carry replacement parts for your bird feeders?
Many of our products carry lifetime or limited lifetime guarantees. To see if you own a Wild Birds Unlimited product that is covered with one of these guarantees, to possibly have your product fixed on the spot or to order new replacement parts, please visit or call our store and speak with one of our friendly Sales Associates.

What do I do if I find an injured bird?
If you have found an injured bird, please contact the Ruth Melichar Bird Center - 208-338-0897 for further assistance.

What do I do if I find a baby bird fallen from the nest?
If you have found a baby bird fallen from the nest, take precaution and place the bird in a safe place, preferably on the ground next to some bushes or inside the bushes in a low traffic area. If the area is not safe for the bird to be on the ground, place it somewhere safe that is off the ground. Many times you will find a baby bird after it has taken its first flight from the nest. If you see that the parent is close by, do not worry as this is very common. The parents are teaching the birds survival skills outside of the nest. If the baby bird is still there after several hours and the parent is no where to be heard or seen, please contact the Ruth Melichar Bird Center - 208-338-0897 for further assistance.

Why do American Robins behave so strangely and attack my windows?
When a bird decides on a nest site, the surrounding area becomes its territory and it aggressively protects its territory by driving other birds away. Most birds have a strong sense of territory, especially during the breeding season. Territorial birds often mistake themselves as a rival in the reflections of windows and then tries to drive the "other" bird away. For Robins, the breeding season may total seven or eight weeks; and the "window fighting" may continue off and on between April and August. There is unfortunately not a lot that one can do to prevent this behavior besides covering up the reflections on windows, which can be very difficult because covering just one window is not enough since they will simply find another window to attack. Some people choose to cover the windows temporarily with paper, cardboard, or an outside curtain, but these options completely defeat the purpose of having a window in the first place! Fortunately, neither the window or the Robin will sustain any lasting damage. Your best bet is to do nothing.

How do I prevent the birds from hitting my windows?
Cover the glass on the outside with window screening or netting at least 2-4 inches from the glass, taut enough to bounce birds off before they can hit the glass.
Cover the glass with a one-way transparent film that permits people on the inside to see out, but makes the window appear opaque on the outside.
Place a wooden grille or vertical tape strips on the outside of the glass, set not more than 10 cm apart.
Install external shutters and keep them closed when you're not in the room or taking advantage of the light or view.
Install external sun shades or awnings on windows, to block the reflection of sunlight.
Put decals, stickers, sun catchers, mylar strips, or other objects on the outside surface of the window. These are effective only when spaced very closely.
Place feeders within 3 feet of window glass. Birds may still fly into the glass, but seldom with enough force to injure themselves.

What is the recipe for hummingbird nectar?
4 cups water to 1 cup sugar. Please do not add anything other than the correct proportions of sugar and water, this includes not using red food coloring, honey, artificial sweetner, etc. To make hummingbird nectar, boil 4 cups of water for a few minutes, then add the sugar, and let dissolve and cool. Boiling the water helps keep it from fermenting sooner. Please change your hummingbird water frequently, at least every 3-5 days.

What is the drumming sound on my chimney stack and gutters?
This is just the Northern Flicker trying to attract a mate! He will only drum on your stacks and gutters for a couple of months. There are certain things you can do to scare them away, such as holographic scare tape, mechanical spiders, or hanging things in the yard such as pots and pans that make loud sounds when they cling together. If you find a woodpecker making holes in your house, then you may want to hire someone to come in and check for insects. If they're attempting to make a nest cavity, you may try placing a nest box for the Northern Flicker over the area.

Not only am I feeding the birds, but I am feeding the squirrels now too! How do I keep the squirrels off my feeders?
We have a couple solutions for you, one is a squirrel proof feeder which has a weight activated system that closes the feeder ports when something heavier than I bird lands on them. We also have feeders with cages around them, which helps to keep out the bigger squirrels. Another solution is purchasing one of our Advanced Pole Systems (APS) and a squirrel baffle to go around the pole. Squirrels will be unable able to climb of the pole and you can keep the bird feeders you already have without having to squirrel proof them. The APS system works the best in a clear spot where squirrels cannot jump from trees branches or shrubbery.

Do you sell wild birds?
No, we do not sell wild birds. We are a backyard birdfeeding store that sells bird seed, bird houses, bird baths and accessories.