The Best Tube Bird Feeder, 5 Tips To Help You Choose The Right One For Your Backyard
What is the best tube bird feeder? How do you tell the difference and is there a difference? The best tube bird feeder is one that suits your needs, not someone else’s. The best tube bird feeder will stand up to time, be easy to fill and clean, doesn’t clog easily and is affordable. For most people, this pretty much sums it up. However, do you know what to look for when you choose your next tube bird feeder? Well, we are going to give you 5 easy tips to assist you on your next purchase.
Materials. Most tube bird feeders are made of an 18″ long clear, plastic tube with holes arranged in a staggered way to allow 3-6 birds to eat comfortably. The best plastic tube feeder will be made with the UV stabilized polycarbonate tubes that won’t yellow with age. This tube is very flexible when you squeeze it. Hard plastic tube feeders look more durable but after a short time in the harsh elements, they become very brittle and crack easily. Portals. In the industry, we call the holes birds sit and eat from “portals.” They look almost like a ship’s window, openings surrounded by metal. Portals can be made of plastic, wood, or metal. Plastic breaks easy and can be chewed, but is cheaper. Same goes for wooden portals. Metal portals made of aluminum die-castings last a lifetime and resist even the sharpest teeth. Hole Arrangement. This is one area that backyard birders never look for. Take a look at how the portals are arranged down the tube. The best tube bird feeders make sure that the holes are not on top of one another, they should be staggered around the tube. Overcrowding stresses the birds. Less stress means wild birds will stay longer in your yard. Tops & Bottoms. The best tube bird feeders are made with easy-opening tops and bottoms, without needing special tools. You open the top to fill the feeder and remove the bottom of an empty feeder to allow for simple cleaning. Due to their design, tube bird feeders are notorious for trapping moisture. The bottom of any tube feeder is the area that causes hardening of the seeds inside. You need complete access to remove old, moldy seed. Hangar. Another overlooked component of tube feeders. Strings, ropes and cords are not the best choice to hang a tube feeder because they snag and break too easy. The best tube bird feeder will have a metal loop-shaped hangar at the top. This is usually attached to the feeder on the sides and holds the top in place. You simply slide the top up the sturdy metal hangar to fill the feeder.
Use these 5 tips to help you choose the best tube bird feeder for you. Look over each tube bird feeder, feel the materials, look at the portals, tops, bottoms and hangar. With this new knowledge, you can be sure that the best value for you is not the cheap, throwaway models. After purchasing 3 or 4 of these in one season, you will have already covered the cost of the best tube bird feeder you can find.
Still need help choosing? After two decades of serving the backyard bird feeding public, we believe these are the best tube bird feeders available. No-questions-asked lifetime warranties, all metal construction, UV resistant tubes and ornithologically correct portals put them at the top of the birding world. If you are not able to purchase these products in your area, simply visit our website www.wildbirddepot.com for the entire line at value prices. Start now and enjoy your birds.
Steve White is the owner of Wild Bird Depot, New Hampshire’s largest variety of wild bird products for over 16 years and www.wildbirddepot.com” onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.wildbirddepot.cm”>www.wildbirddepot.com. He was on the Board of Directors for the National Bird Feeding Society. He is a guest lecturer for national conventions in St. Louis and Atlanta. Wild Bird Depot has donated over $5,000 to the local nature centers for rehabilitation. He has also donated and participated in helping local schools set up wild bird habitats for learning and research. Steve is now offering his backyard bird feeding expertise to assist others in creating wild bird sanctuaries in their backyards, one feeder at a time.
Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders: Best Ways To Squirrel Proof A Bird Feeder
Does this sound familiar? You’ve just filled your bird feeders and you’re successfully attracting a variety of songbirds to your backyard. But that’s not all you’re attracting: hordes of marauding squirrels are threatening to eat you, or at least the birds, out of house and home. With the price of birdseed these days, you can’t afford to feed those ravenous rodents, so what can you do to squirrel proof your bird feeders?
The best way to discourage squirrels is to make it difficult for them to access your bird feeders. A very effective method is to protect the feeders with a baffle. Squirrels can climb smooth poles and run along narrow clotheslines, but they cannot get by a strategically placed baffle. A conical or tube-shaped baffle, which is positioned approximately four feet off the ground, can protect a feeder that is mounted on a pole. A feeder that hangs from a line or tree will benefit from a top-mount baffle. When using baffles, you should ensure that the feeder is positioned at least 12 feet away from walls, fences, and tree trunks to prevent the squirrels from jumping to the feeder.
Another effective strategy is to buy a bird feeder that has been designed to be squirrel-proof or, at least, squirrel-resistant. There are a couple of variations on this theme. One style has a feeder surrounded by a cage that allows small birds in, but keeps squirrels and large birds out. This style is great for small song birds such as chickadees, finches, siskins and red polls, but could prevent some desirable species, such as cardinals, from feeding.
A second style of squirrel-proof feeder is weight-sensitive. When something heavy, such as a squirrel or a large bird, lands on the feeder, its weight causes the feeding stations to close, thereby preventing the critter from feeding. There are a number of models on the market, some of which are more effective than others. One of the best is the Squirrel Buster Plus, a bird feeder with features too numerous to mention. It comes with a lifetime factory warranty and is guaranteed squirrel-proof.
If you don’t want to upgrade your bird feeding equipment, you can try thwarting squirrels by using blends of birdseed that they find distasteful. This an area where you need to exercise some caution. Some brands contain products, such as cayenne pepper, which can harm the birds. However, there are brands that simply have seeds which squirrels will avoid, but which birds will still enjoy.
Finally, you can try keeping squirrels away from your bird feeders by distracting them. For example, you can install a box feeder filled with corn kernels or hang a corncob “trapper” for the squirrels to feed from. If your squirrels have their very own feeder, situated well away from any bird feeders, they may stick to their own turf and leave the birdseed alone.
There is no question that squirrels can be a nuisance around bird feeders and a costly one at that. However, keep in mind that squirrels are just being themselves. You shouldn’t let your desire to keep squirrels away from your bird feeders result in any harm to them. Don’t use poison or traps that will kill. Don’t use sticky material that can soil squirrel fur and bird feathers. Never add cayenne pepper to your birdseed (if a squirrel gets it in the eyes, the resulting misery and scratching may result in blindness).
Whatever you do, don’t give up on feeding the birds. It is possible to squirrel proof a bird feeder. Squirrels may be intelligent but, with careful thought, it’s not hard to foil them. After all, we’re smarter, right?
Dave McLeod has been successfully feeding birds and foiling the squirrels, for years. To check out Dave’s favorite bird feeder click here.
Best Selection-aviarium In-house Window Sill Bird Feeder
December 5, 2009 by admin
Filed under Window Bird Feeders
- Birds fly right into your home with the Aviarium Birdfeeder
- a high quality, hand-crafted unit, specially designed to ensure maximum viewing enjoyment.
- Experience the thrill of close-up observation of a variety of wild birds
- fits single & double-hung windows up to 46 inches wide. Its adjustable and easily secured in place.
- Dimensions: Height 14 X Depth 9 1/8 X Length 22 inches
Product Description
Over Eight Thousand Sold since it’s origination 10 years ago. A premier birdfeeder, uniquely designed for viewing and feeding
wild birds without disturbing their privacy. Youll be just inches away and never have to go … More >>
Best Selection-aviarium In-house Window Sill Bird Feeder
Best Bird Feeder Ever – Cockatoos
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Wouldn’t it be great to have a bird feeder that had really cool birds? Check out this bird feeder in Katoomba, NSW! Cockatoos (a member of the parrot family) frequent this feeder and fight for the food.
What is the best way to attract birds to a bird feeder?
We just put up a bird feeder on our porch and want to know the best way to attract the birds. Thanks!
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Where is the best place to put a bird feeder?
We hung our new bird feeder on a ceiling hook on our back deck, however we haven’t seen any birds come to it yet. I tried resting the bird feeder on the ledge of our deck but no dice. The only tree we have on our property is a small tree in the front yard, but I would love to keep the bird feeder in the backyard. How can I get birds to come to it?
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Perky Pet 209 “Our Best” Hummingbird Feeder, 30 oz capacity
November 17, 2009 by admin
Filed under Humming Bird Feeders
- 8 ounce capacity
- Shatterproof bottle
- Six feeding ports with built-in bee guards
- Four-way perch
Product Description
The Perky-Pet Pinch-Waist Glass Hummingbird Feeder features 6 feeding ports, a unique circular perch design and holds 30 ounces of nectar. The glass feeding cylinder provides a more durable option than plastic cylinders … More >>
Perky Pet 209 “Our Best” Hummingbird Feeder, 30 oz capacity