Garden Bird Feeders - How to Pick the Best One
So exactly how do you choose the right garden bird feeder for you? What’s the first thing you need to do and is the choice of bird feeder truly an important one? Well, the truth is that in the beginning it’s probably not. The choice of your first bird feeder can be simple and rudimentary - you don’t really need anything too fancy - and something with a low price tag might suit you even better, at least until you make up your mind as to what you really want from your bird feeder.
But, if you’ve been doing this birding lark for a while, you probably know exactly what kind of garden bird feeders you should be looking at, and you can probably teach me something too! If you are new to this, then you might also be wondering how you can find the right garden bird feeder to suit your back yard. There are a few things to consider and I’ll go through them so as to make the options clear and easier for you to work through.
But just before I do that, if you don’t really want to go through all the fuss, or if you’d rather have the pleasure of discovering as you go along, then go ahead and get yourself one of the basic platform garden bird feeders. It’s a great one to begin with and will get you off to a great start.
But if you’d rather be as prepared as possible before you make your choice of which garden bird feeder to buy, then keep reading. What I will do is make a list of all the things you should consider - the most important points at least. You will need to think about;
* What types of birds are you hoping to attract to your garden
* How long-lasting is your bird feeder
* Is it easy to maintain
* How much seed will the feeder hold
* Do you live in a warmer climate or a colder one
* Are you on the birds migration path
* Do you want to raccoon and squirrel proof your bird feeder
* How much are you willing to spend
Just a bit more on the first item I mentioned there - probably the most important question to ask of yourself when buying a bird feeder is what kind of bird are you hoping to attract to your garden? This is crucial because the choice of feeder is always influenced by the type of bird you’re going to be feeding.
For instance, if you’re looking to attract hummingbirds then investing in a platform garden bird feeder isn’t going to get you very far. Hummingbirds need nectar and you’ll need to get a special hummingbird feeder for them to drink from, and the same applies to orioles. Alternatively, if it’s northern cardinals you want then you’ll want to look into buying garden bird feeders that sit on the ground, or maybe you’ll need to go for suet bird feeders for any woodpeckers and others of the same kind.
Hopefully you get the general idea, but if you’re new to all of this you might even now be wondering how on earth you’ll be able to know which birds can be found in your area. That too is a fairly simple problem to overcome and any field guide native to your area can help you or barring that I’ve always found the internet to be a mine of information. Otherwise you could always find more information at your library or perhaps even from a bird society in your area.
When you’ve gathered all the relevant details it’s just becomes a matter of narrowing it down to which particular birds you want to attract. Then you can use the same sources to find out exactly which kind of garden bird feeders your birds will prefer. Failing that, you can always ask the friendly sales person at your local pet store.
Bird-friendly Landscape Design
Should you wish to attract all sorts of birdlife into your garden for the sheer pleasure of watching their antics, you must include some bird friendly features in your landscape. These are features that will attract the birds, not frighten them away. Here are a few ideas to assist you in your task.
Use Feeders to Attract Birds
Birds love to have a ready supply of food and a birdfeeder is a great way to achieve this. There are many types and styles of birdfeeders available. Some can be purchased online from petstores such as havahart.com. Obviously, you will need to purchase the appropriate seeds for the birds. Smaller birds love hulled sunflower seeds and millet. These feeders can be hung from tree branches around the garden or even from your patio if you have one.
Hummingbirds will be attracted to feeders that have a mixture of sugar and water and robins adore smaller seeds and dried fruit such as raisins.
Include berry producing plants
If you include plants that produce berries, you are sure to have birds visiting your garden. Any form of berry will attract a variety of birds, including those that we humans don’t consume such as hawthorn, mistletoe, honeysuckle vine and pyracantha. If you don’t mind sharing your produce with the birds, then blueberries, strawberries and cherries could be included. Birds such as robins, mockingbirds,bluebirds, sparrows and waxwings will come in their numbers to your garden.
Provide a supply of worms
Many meat eating birds will appreciate it greatly if you create an area that attracts worms. A damp spot where you place kitchen scraps (vegetable peelings etc, not meat) will encourage worms and serve a dual purpose of conditioning the garden soil as well as feeding these birds.
Set out a birdbath
Birds need a supply of fresh water from which to drink and to clean themselves and a bird bath is ideal. One that is around 1-2 inches in depth and above ground, to protect the birds from predators, is the best.
Have a garden pond
A garden pond will be another source of water for the birds as well as a home to turtles and frogs. Some birds prefer ponds to birdbaths because of the nature of the water.
Use wind breaking techniques
Windbreaks are vital in areas that suffer from extreme climates. This can be achieved by a sensible arrangement of trees, with taller deciduous trees at the very back. These will protect the middle sized trees which in turn will shelter the shrubs that are planted towards the front.
Help birds to build nests
Your birdlife will benefit from your efforts if you gather up some nest building material and placing them in piles or old onion bags where they can access them. Suitable nest building materials include lint, short threads of yarn, short hair, dried grass or hay, bird feathers and more.
Frighten away the predators
Ensure that potential predators such as stray dogs or cats are kept away from your small yard. You should ensure that your fencing is secure to prevent access to these strays. Keep your own pets enclosed to prevent them wandering through any of your landscaping accessories in your yard and frightening the birds. Put bells on the collars of your pets to warn the birds of their presence.
Even after you have done all these things, there is still no actual guarantee that birds will visit as it is dependent upon the types and numbers of birds in your area. Research the birdlife that is in your area and plan your landscape according to their needs.
Bird Watching Binoculars - a Must Have For All Bird Watchers
Bird watching is becoming an increasingly popular hobby enjoyed by people of all ages, all around the world. Most bird watching enthusiasts take pleasure in spotting these beautiful creatures for the sheer enjoyment of it; not for scientific reasons. They merely enjoy the thrill of spotting a different species of bird and studying its plumage or behavior. There are now bird watching clubs all around the globe devoted to this fascinating hobby.
Bird Watching Binoculars Provide Close Ups
Many people enjoy spotting birds with the naked eye but, in some instances, this can be very difficult and a good pair of bird watching binoculars can come in handy. With a pair of binoculars you can take your time to study the birds up close without scaring them away. Read more about Bird Watching Binoculars - a Must Have For All Bird Watchers →
Choosing the Right Binoculars For Bird Watching.
With a myriad of colors and sizes coloring the avian world, it is easy to see why bird watching is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. You only need a directory of birds and a pair of binoculars to enjoy bird watching.
Patience is essential to develop the necessary skills ad soon you will feel the ecstasy to see the delicately beautiful being spreading its wing and takes to flight gliding gracefully throughout the skies in a gentle yet.
Those binoculars will help you see them from a distance, simple because you can never get too close to them without scaring them away. A good set is essential to let you experience the wonders of these avian creatures, while investing in an inferior quality will only diminish the enjoyment of your new hobby. Read more about Choosing the Right Binoculars For Bird Watching. →