How to choose bird feeders for your backyard

Your local garden center or online retailer is likely to have a massive selection of bird feeders to choose from in various sizes, shapes, colors and prices and it can be difficult to know which bird feeder will be the best for the birds in your garden or backyard. Regardless of the type of bird feeder you decide to purchase it should be built of sturdy material, easy to clean and squirrel proof!

The most popular choices are tubular bird feeders and platform feeders. Tubular feeders are built using a plastic or metal tube with various holes to allow the seed to come out. Many of these feeders have perches for birds to rest on while feeding. Look for a tubular bird feeder that has a solid hook or chain to hang it from a tree or pole, a large tube so you are not refilling everyday and a mesh or dome to protect your food from squirrels.

Platform feeders can be simply be a sheet of plywood raised off the ground and covered with seeds, fruit or other food.  A platform feeder about one foot off the ground is perfect for attracting birds that feed on the ground such as sparrows, doves or juncos. You can also hang a platform feeder from a tree or mount on a pole to attract a vast array of different birds. Again remember to look for protection of squirrels and ensure any wooden surfaces have been protected from the weather.

Hopper feeders are a bit more expensive but are usually easier to look after and come in a variety of interesting styles, including a Victorian house!  The main advantage is this type of feeder automatically restocks the feeder until the feed has been exhausted from the hopper – this means you don’t have to refill the feeder every day. Look for hopper bird feeders which hold a decent amount of seed and are easy to clean. You’ll attract many kinds of birds with these feeders including woodpeckers, cardinals and jays.

Window feeders attach to a pane of glass and allow you to see the birds while they are feeding from the comfort and warmth of your house. It may take slightly longer for the birds to feel comfortable feeding in this way but soon you’ll have a variety of birds feeding right next to your living room window!

The final types of bird feeders are the suet feeder and nectar bird feeders. Suet feeders are usually consist of a wire cake that suet cakes are attached to – suet feeders can be difficult to clean but do attract a variety of birds in winter and summer. Nectar bird feeders are diesgned to attract hummingbirds and Orioles. The birds ‘suck’ a sugary water from an inverted bottle or from a saucer that drips the liquid through the feeder.

It’s often worth having a selection of bird feeders in your garden to attract different types of birds at different times of the year. If you buy bird feeders that have been built well, they should last for a number of years and bring you lots of pleasure.

Choosing Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders

Squirrel proof bird feeders allow your birds to co-exist happily with the squirrels by stopping the squirrels from stealing the bird seed from your bird feeders.

Before investing in squirrel proof bird feeders you can try a few techniques to encourage the squirrels to leave your feeders alone. Position your bird feeders in areas well away from trees to stop the animals jumping on to your feeders and ensure your feeder is at least 5 foot off the ground (although squirrels have been known to jump up to 8 feet off the ground!).  If these tips don’t discourage squirrels, there are two options either purchase an attachment to make your existing bird feeders squirrel proof or buy a specially design squirrel proof bird feeder. You will usually have more success if you buy a squirrel proof feeder rather than trying to retro fit a device to your existing bird feeders.

There are now a wide variety of good quality and effective squirrel proof bird feeders available on the market and they come in a range of styles and shapes. There is a squirrel proof version for almost every type of bird feeder.

Some of the simple designs feature a dome shaped device over the top of the feeder. This is used in bird feeders that are designed to hang from trees and ensures that squirrels are not able to grip on the bird feeder and simply slide off before they can reach the food. They tend to be quite large and can put off certain birds from using your feeder. Clear Perspex baffles are the most effective as birds as still able to see the food inside the feeder when flying overhead.

Metal cages are becoming more popular lately and can be retro fitted to some bird feeders as well. Essentially they consist of a tubular feeder which has an extra cage around it. This allows the birds to use their beaks to reach the seed however the holes between the wires are not large enough for squirrels to bite through.

The most advanced, expensive and entertaining options are the motorized or weighted devices.  The weighted devices either close the feeding hole or tip the perch over when something heavier than a bird perches on them.  Most bird feeders are used by small birds, however if you have large birds using your bird feeders just check their weight won’t cause the feeder to close or tip over. Some of the motorized devices even start to spin around when a squirrel tries to use them, this doesn’t harm the creatures but soon stops them coming back and trying again!

Another option is to buy a purpose built squirrel house and squirrel feeder and encourage your squirrels to use this rather than your bird feeders. Of course this may encourage more squirrels to use your garden but many bird lovers find this is an effective option and allows both species to co-exist peacefully together.

When choosing squirrel proof bird feeders look for materials that are guaranteed again squirrel damage and are built from quality, durable materials.

Rustic Birdhouse and Feeders: Unique Thatched-Roof Projects Designed to Bird-Friendly Specifications

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Bring a Bit of Old-World Charm into Your Yard! North America’s Master Thatcher, Colin McGhee, shows you how to make charming and functional birdhouses and feeders using simplified thatch-roof techniques, basic woodwor… More >>

Rustic Birdhouse and Feeders: Unique Thatched-Roof Projects Designed to Bird-Friendly Specifications

All About Humming Bird Feeders

Unlike many of the birds you may try to attract with feeders in your garden the hummingbird is not one to share. This is because they are one bird that is protective of its own territory and will not readily share a food source with other hummingbirds. That means if this is the bird you want to attract you will need to put several humming bird feeders around your garden. Hummingbirds are very accepting of where their feeders are located so you can put them in many locations. They can be outside a window of a home or office or on an apartment’s balcony. These places are as comfortable for the birds as if they are hanging from a tree branch. The thing you need to be sure of is whether the area you live in is one that hummingbirds travel through on their yearly migrations. You can find this out by doing a little research on the internet.

To ensure you have a chance of attracting these beautiful little birds put the humming bird feeders out early in the spring. Then keep them out there until the end of the fall. If you have previously attracted the hummingbirds and then there are none that will mean they have completed their migration south and it is time to put the feeders away until next year. They may get damaged by hanging outside during the poorer weather and since there will be no birds to feed it is wiser to bring them inside, clean them and store them until the next spring.

Hummingbird feeders can be bought or you can make them yourself. They are frequently made from a bottle or a tube. This kind of feeder is made from glass or plastic and has tiny holes in it for the feed, known as nectar, to come through. These feeders must be made to in a way that allows them to be cleaned regularly. Again, based on the nectar, this is important. You want to be able to take it completely apart and wash is each time before you are ready to refill it. The nectar is very easy to make. You take water, boil it, and then add sugar. It should be one fifth sugar with four fifths water which is then stirred until it is well mixed. Once this is done allow the mixture to sit until it has cooled. Then pour it into the nectar feeder and wait for those amazing little birds to come and have a drink.

The Many Faces of Decorative Bird Feeders

For many people their gardens are a part of their home that they take a lot of pride in. They will paint the fencing in such a way that the garden is almost an expression of the artist in them. The plants they choose will reflect this as will the garden furniture and even the type of bird feeders they pick. Many people will purchase decorative bird feeders that will add color and style to their gardens while still being a truly functional piece of garden equipment. The variety of bird feeders styles that can be put in your backyard will answer anyones taste. They come in small feeders that will sit well in a little backyard or on a balcony or large ones that better suit a big yard to show them off.

Interestingly some people even collect these as works of art. Some feeders will be in the style of Asian culture while others might be like miniature country houses. This decorative style can spread through any type of bird feeder. For example, you can put a tube feeder in your backyard to attract smaller birds. You can make it a simple structure or an unusual one. Perhaps the tube feeder will look instead like a lighthouse. Or maybe the decorative bird feeders you will choose are ones that are hand blown glass made to resemble flowers so that they attract the hummingbirds. Depending on the style you like these feeders have quite a price range. Something simple like a lantern style feeder may cost less than twenty five dollars. But if it is an elaborate feeder you are looking for, perhaps one styled like a cottage or a gazebo, you can expect to pay over a hundred dollars.

The fact is that there is a style for everyone’s preference but if you do not find what you like there are many places that will custom make any type of bird feeder that you want in any style you desire. They can look like small houses, apartment structures, giant mushrooms, the local post office or a gilded cage. If you find what like but the color scheme does not match your garden, buy it anyway and repaint it so it fits in. The birds do not honestly care what shape or color it is, this is for your own pleasure to reflect your tastes. There is no end to what one’s imagination can conjure up in the shape that decorative bird feeders can take. You even have the option of making it yourself if you cannot find the style you want. Just use your imagination, build it and the birds will come.

Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders: How to Discourage Squirrels From Stealing Bird Food

Keen bird watchers value bird feeders as an integral part of the backyard landscape. Now wherever there is bird food there is bound to be squirrels; welcome or not. If you want success at feeding wild birds, you will have to look at squirrel proof bird feeders . Here are some squirrel facts to consider.

Squirrels are agile, bold and persistent. They are rodents; so their teeth never stop growing and adults require up to two pounds of food per week. They are adept at climbing up a wide variety of surfaces, including brickwork. The harder the access to feed, the more they turn into ninja squirrels – truly ingenious acrobats. They are seldom outwitted, but they can be deterred and diverted.

Think about the best feeder types and optimal location in your backyard – always bearing in mind that squirrels can leap up to ten feet across a gap, jump as high as five feet off the ground and are happy dropping eleven feet from a height!

Feeders can either be suspended or pole-mounted. Choose to suspend them from an isolated branch of a deciduous tree (less dense foliage than pine) or you could try hanging them from a wire between two trees (although this makes refilling quite tricky). Always suspend from a metal chain or wire and hook, otherwise the squirrels will chew through the cord to make the feeder will drop.

A good squirrel guard is a baffle. Made from either heavy plastic or metal, it forms an umbrella over the top of both suspended and pole-mounted feeders. The squirrels simply slide off them. Baffles can also be placed about four feet above the ground below pole-mounted feeders – greasing the pole with Vaseline can also be effective.

Caged bird feeders are a good option because they allow small birds access to the feed, excluding squirrels and larger birds too.

You can always opt for more high tech squirrelproof bird feeders . They are weight-activated. When a squirrel lands on one, a spring mechanism causes a metal shield to come down over the feeder or its perches give way. Another, which is also very funny to watch, has a battery-driven motor that spins the squirrel (harmlessly) off it.

Squirrels eat a wide range of foods, but another way to fend them off is to offer the birds safflower seed, thistle seed (niger), and /or pure suet (without seed), because they are simply not that fond of them.

Of course, you can look at this from a completely different angle and get a squirrel feeder – complete with trapeze, tightrope and springboard. You can give squirrels their favorite foods in return for them putting on a wonderful circus performance for you. So while they are distracted, the birds get to eat too – everyone wins.

Let’s face it, squirrels will always be a part of our backyard gardens, and with strategic planning of bird feeder type, location and bird food type, we can ensure not only that the birds get their fair share but also that we are entertained by funny squirrel antics.

Nyjer Seed Bird Feeders Attract Goldfinches Like Crazy

Attract goldfinches as well as purple and house finches, pine siskins, and redpolls to your backyard with a nyjer seed bird feeder. You can choose one of the new wire mesh thistle feeders or one of the traditional thistle tube bird feeders. Then there’s always the old thistle sock bird feeder.

Nyjer, nyger, niger and thistle are all names used to refer to a small black seed cultivated in India and Ethiopia for over a thousand years. The true niger seed comes from the Guizotia abyssinica plant which is an annual herb grown for its edible oil and seed. It is NOT a type of thistle and is not a weed. As a matter of fact, it is now grown in the United States.

Niger seed probably got confused with thistle because goldfinches are known to eat thistle seed and use the downy fluff from thistle plants for their nests. In an attempt to differentiate these two terms in the mind of the public, the Wild Bird Feeding Institute trademarked the name Nyjer in 1998. I don’t think that this was successful however because most people still think Nyjer seed is some kind of thistle and a noxious weed if allowed to grow.

When you purchase Nyjer seed, many companies still use the word thistle on the package which has the unintended result of confusing the public even more. This bird seed is imported from India and Ethiopia and by USDA regulations must be sterilized, not to keep the niger seed from spouting, but to keep other noxious weeds that are incidentally mixed in with the niger seed from sprouting. You can now get non-sterilized, American grown niger seed right here in the United States.

Because Nyjer seed is so expensive (over a dollar a pound in 2008) it is important to feed this seed in specially designed feeders. A good Nyjer seed bird feeder will allow several birds to feed at once without excess seed being wasted. The thistle tube bird feeders should be your first choice in my experience. Small slits in the polycarbonate tubes of these feeders only allow the finches to pull out one seed at a time. This limits the amount of wasted seed.

The Nyjer seed bird feeders made of wire mesh would be my second choice. These feeders allow flocking goldfinches to feed wherever they land, plus some hold large amounts of Nyjer seed. They are probably best used with a seed tray below to catch spilled seed.

A thistle sack bird feeder is an inexpensive choice as far as the initial cost of the feeder goes. Made of durable, fine mesh nylon, these feeders allow as many hungry finches to feed as can comfortably hang on the thistle sack. They now are available in black which makes the beautiful goldfinches really stand out. These mesh bags will cost you more in the long run than the other types of Nyjer seed bird feeders because of wasted seed.

Which ever feeder you choose, you are guaranteed to have flocks of Goldfinches visiting your backyard!

Humming Bird Feeders

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First, it’s important to note that hummers are migratory birds. Where you live will determine what time of year you’ll see the birds. Humming birds are migratory birds, so you will not be able to see them all year round, even if you have nectar in your Humming bird feeder. You will generally start to see humming birds in the spring once the weather is warm and then through out the summer.

Want to know how to attract beautiful Hummingbirds to your garden? Give them the food they like nectar. Nectar placed into a Humming bird feeder will draw Hummingbirds. Hummingbirds will eat more than twice their bodyweight in nectar, so having Humming bird feeders placed throughout your garden will help in their search for more food. There are a large variety of Humming bird feeders that you can choose from, that will decorate your garden nicely.

Essentially Hummingbirds need the nectar to power the insect eating machine that they are. The nectar provides the calories that they need, while the soft-bodied insects and spiders provide the protein. Banana peels that are overripe are good to set out to attract the flies for your Hummingbirds. I have a box of bananas and within a short period of time, I am inundated with flies.

Now back to the Hummingbird feeders.

Perky Pet Humming bird feeders offer endless designs for you to choose from. Some models come in the shape of strawberries or apples. Their body shape is bright red, which helps to attract the birds attention as Hummingbirds love the color red. Its shatterproof and holds about 48oz. of nectar. If your Hummingbirds prefer one style over another, its probably simply a matter of familiarity. If you change feeders, it may be in your best interest to hang the old one empty alongside the new one. I would recommend the HummZinger and similar well-designed basin feeders for their ruggedness as well as their ease of maintenance.

You then have the Hummingbird Oasis feeder varieties from Perky Pet. These Humming bird feeders have a built-in ant moat that is between the feeding ports and the rod. With 6 feeding stations each has an individual perch and yellow flower feeding port.

Where to hang your feeder? A new humming bird feeder may be found sooner by hummingbirds if it is hung over or near a garden of hummingbird plants. My feeders are near windows, where I can watch and enjoy them: one is in a living room window, another outside the kitchen. But, as a word of caution, ensure that your window has a blind or drawn curtain behind it to prevent your Hummingbirds from flying into the window.

Here’s the recipe for artificial nectar (syrup):

Use one part ordinary white cane sugar to four parts water.

Store unused syrup in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

The fastest recorded wing beat rate was about 80 per second, on a tiny Amethyst Woodstar, and the slightly smaller Bee Hummingbird – the world’s smallest bird – may have an even faster rate. Truly a remarkable bird of creation.

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Butterfly And Bird Feeders

Butterfly and bird feeders attract lovely critters to your yard. Your primary ways of supplying food are with appropriate flowers and with bird feeders.

Many flowers attract both butterflies and hummingbirds. You can plant herbs such as sage and thyme. Also try catnip, hyssop, or lavender. Try other plants such as butterfly bush and bee balm. Phlox, purple coneflower, and sedum make good choices, as well. And you have numerous other options that will help to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard.

Hummingbirds also like hummingbird feeders. You can boil together one part sugar to four parts water. Let the solution cool completely before adding it to the feeder. Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t have to add red food coloring to the sugar water to attract hummingbirds. Some experts even discourage red food coloring. You should clean out the feeder once per week with hot, soapy water. You should rinse the feeder with boiling water. Then refill it with a fresh batch of sugar water. Even if the hummingbirds did not drink all the sugar water from the previous week, you should replace it. If you leave it longer, it can ferment and harm the birds. If you find they aren’t drinking much, don’t fill the feeders as high.

Hanging bird feeders attract other types of birds (finches, for example). Some songbirds prefer platform feeders, and others are most likely to eat right off the ground. When placing bird feeders, you should consider some of the following suggestions. Place bird feeders a few feet away from shrubbery or trees. Dense foliage gives birds a place to hide from predators. They may not want to feed in areas where they are more open to attack. Secondly, a location shielded from wind will probably help to attract birds to the feeder. If winds typically come from a certain direction, place the bird feeders on the opposite side of your house; the building will help to break the wind.

Depending on how you stock your feeders, you can attract different types of songbirds. If you want to buy only one type of seed that will attract the largest variety of birds, black-oil sunflower seeds will be your best choice. Chickadees, finches, woodpeckers, blue jays, cardinals, and sparrows all prefer sunflower. Mixed seed is also a popular choice, but it works best either sprinkled on the ground or offered in a platform feeder (as opposed to a tube feeder). Fruit can also attract birds such as robins and mockingbirds. In this case, try sliced apples or bananas, or even raisins.

By planting appropriate flowers, you may be able to entice butterflies and hummingbirds into your yard. Installing hummingbird feeders will provide an extra food source beyond nectar. Bird feeders should attract songbirds. Take care to place them out of the wind, in an area where they can hide from predators in bushes or trees. Choose your feed based on what varieties of birds you would like to attract. Then sit back and watch as interesting creatures visit your yard.

How to Maintain Bird Feeders

Bird feeders benefit from regular maintenance, although the maintenance tasks are easy to carry out. The most obvious of these tasks is refilling the feed. When you refill feeders as necessary, you provide a reliable source of food for the birds. If you refill them on a hit-and-miss basis, birds probably won’t starve. But they will look elsewhere for food. You will have to start all over again in attracting birds to your feeding area or yard. The other two regular tasks revolve around cleaning. You should maintain the area around the feeders, and you should clean out the feeders every few months or so. Keeping the area neat and clean reduces the risk of spreading disease among the birds that frequent your bird feeders.

Keeping a supply of feed on hand and refilling the feeders when they get low will be your most frequent maintenance task. But your attention to this task will ensure that you enjoy regular visits from birds. You may choose from various types of feed, depending on the birds you wish to attract. Black-oil sunflower seeds probably appeal to the widest variety of birds. Therefore, sunflower is a popular feed choice. With sunflower seeds, you can attract chickadees, jays, sparrows, blackbirds, finches, cardinals, and even woodpeckers. Mixed seed is also a popular choice. Millet, corn, suet, and fruit will attract additional species to your yard.

You will need to clean the area around your bird feeders periodically. To carry out this task, rake up the seed hulls. If you allow them to stay there, they will begin to decompose. At this point, they can kill your grass, and they can also spread disease among the birds. You can prevent both of these conditions with a few minutes of raking every now and then.

Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned once a week, but you can clean other bird feeders less frequently-seasonally, or once every few months. Cleaning your bird feeders keeps them from spreading disease. When you prepare to clean, start with a basin of hot, soapy water. Mix one part bleach with nine parts water in a separate container. When you take down the feeders, dump out any remaining seeds. Wash the feeders in the soapy water and dip them into the bleach solution. Rinse them well afterward. Make sure they have dried completely before you refill them. Rehang the feeders.

Bird feeders come in all kinds of decorative colors and designs. As you shop for feeders, determine whether you can carry out these three tasks. You should refill the feeders as needed, clean the area surrounding the feeders periodically, and clean and sterilize the feeders themselves every few months. If you can attend to these chores, you should be off to a great start. Go pick out your favorite bird feeders and plot where you will place them and which feed you will stock them with. If you’re new to bird watching, grab a field guide and see how many birds you can identify.

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