Hummingbirds diet consists of mostly of sugary nectar, pollen and small insects. They have a very high metabolism and need to consume lots of sugar to keep active throughout the day.

Hummingbird feeders come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes but there are essentially two main types of bird feeders , the saucer feeder and the inverted feeder. The saucer feeder is basically a dish that is filled with a sugary liquid, hummingbirds feed on this nectar through specially designed feeding holes. The saucer feeders are often smaller (and usually cheaper) than inverted feeders and are generally easier to clean, however they need to be refilled more often and depending on their size might not be that obvious to the hummingbirds.

Inverted feeders are larger (and often more expensive) , more visible to visiting birds and donâ??t require regular refilling. However inverted feeders can be difficult to clean and are poor quality feeders are prone to leaking.  Although there are advantages and disadvantages for both types of feeders most people choose the inverted feeders as they tend to be more effective in attracting hummingbirds. As well as deciding on the type of feeder, consider the following factors when deciding which hummingbird feeder to purchase.

Look for a feeder that is built using some red materials. Hummingbirds are attracted to red objects and are more likely to use your feeder if itâ??s got a red base or tube.  Also choose a feeder that is easy to clean and refill. Hummingbird feeders should be refilled twice a week or possibly more depending on the number of Hummingbirds in your garden.  Larger feeders are generally easier to clean and there are special brushes that can help make the cleaning process easier.

Its worth investing in a feeder that has one or more perches on it. Although it is fascinating to watch a hummingbird hover while feeder it uses a lot of energy and are more likely to feed if you provide a perch for them to rest on.

The sugary liquid in your feeder will obviously attract many insects including wasps if it leaks out of the feeder.  Many feeders have built in ant and bee protectors or you can purchase them to fit your bird feeders.

Once you have got your hummingbird feeders select a visible spot that is in the sun and ideally near a flower bed. It may take a while before you see hummingbirds and a little longer before they feel confident enough to feed using your bird feeders. After a while you maybe able to bring the feeder closer to the house so you can view from a window, however do not place too close to the window otherwise the Hummingbirds may fly in to the window and injure themselves.

Once your bird feeders are in place and filled with a sweet sugary solution, sit back and wait for these beautiful birds to start feeding â?? it is worth all the effort when you see the Hummingbirds feeing in your backyard.

Platform feeders attract birds that feed from the edge.  They have a long, narrow platform that minimize contamination of the feeding station.  They attract species such as cardinals, blackbirds and wrens. Suet feeders come in many styles but all styles have something in common.  They are all designed to hold suet cakes.  Usually, they have a wired cage that has a platform or perch in front.  The birds, then, are able to peck at the suet from the front of the feeder.  Among birds attracted to this type of feeder are mockingbirds, creepers, woodpeckers, jays and bluebirds. Tube feeders look like long cylinders that hold seed.  The feeders are surrounded by perches and feeder holes at different levels.  Usually, there is a platform at the bottom of the feeder to catch loose seed and give the birds extra perching space.  Among birds attracted to this type of feeder are woodpeckers, finches, chickadees and titmice. Hummingbird feeders do, exactly, what the name says.  They feed hummingbirds.  They are filled with liquid hummingbird nectar or a simple mixture of sugared water.  It enables hummingbirds to drink with their long bills.  The feeder should have a bottom tray to catch spills and provide sufficient feeding space.

Notwithstanding, what species of birds you would like to attract, some general rules apply to all birdhouses when looking for a bird feeder.  These guidelines will insure that your birds stay happy and healthy and that your feeder lasts through many a season:

The bird feeder should be weather-resistant.  If the wooden feeder is your preferred medium, cedar and redwood are among the best.  Care should be taken to insure the feeder is not lumber that has been chemically treated and that painted surfaces do not chip.  If a metal feeder is your medium, care must be given so that the metal is not in direct sunlight as it can get overheated for the birds. Also, consideration should be given so that the bird feeder is easy to clean and can be easily filled.  Feeders that are shaped like boxes should have removable roofs.  This will enable you to pour seed in easily and remove leftover shells.  Tube feeders and other long, narrow feeders should have tops and bottoms that are removable.  This will make it convenient to run water through it in order to keep it clean.

The right feeder will make your yard a popular visiting site for your feathered friends all year round and give you many hours of pleasure bird watching.

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.

The first step is to determine the type of birds that frequent your area the most or the birds that you would want to cater to. Once that decision is made it becomes much simpler to decide on a bird feeder. For example if you live in eastern North America you would have the ruby throated hummingbird as a frequent visitor. They love open woodlands, forest edges, meadows, grasslands, parks, gardens and backyards. They are often seen visiting hummingbird feeders and tube-shaped flowers. So if you have a backyard or a garden and you would like these fast little birds to frequent it, a hummingbird feeder which is regularly filled would be ideal. The setback here is that these birds are migratory and they would fly away to Central America by early fall.

But there are many birds that are not migratory, like the Cardinals. These beautiful little birds are difficult to take your eyes off – even the duller looking females with their warm red accents and crest. They are usually seen in pairs and are very wary of being exposed, so they tend to not like open spaces. They inhabit areas like backyards, parks, woodlots, and shrubby forest edges and nest in dense tangles of shrubs and vines. Due to their fear of exposure, it is best if you place the bird feeder near bushes or trees so that they can hide in them if the need occurs. These birds also love to bathe by fluttering their wings to throw water over themselves, so it is a good idea to place a bird bath near by the bird feeder.

A Suet cake is a protein rich molded cake made from animal or vegetable fat, filled with bird seed, nuts, fruit pieces, peanut butter and other things that birds love to eat which are also very nutritious. The Downy woodpecker is particularly attracted to Suet cakes due to their high nutritional value and of course also their taste. And this is exactly what downy woodpeckers depend on during the cold winter months when they need all the energy that they can get. The fat content in the suet keeps the woodpeckers warm till the spring arrives. Suet Bird Feeders come in both reusable and one time use holders, and to attract these birds you would be advised to place a Suet bird feeder in your backyard or event a vacant lot. They are known to be found in open woodlands – particularly among deciduous trees and brushy or weedy edges. The also feel at home in orchards and city parks. The Downy woodpecker is another bird that does not migrate so you will see them all year round. They are the most widespread of North American woodpeckers.

Before you invest in a bird feeder, do a bit of research to determine the type of feeder you will need to get. There are a variety of bird feeders, depending on the type of bird and the type of feed. From hanging bird feeders to window bird feeders and from squirrel proof bird feeders to tube bird feeders, you have plenty to choose from.

When choosing the feed, you need to decide between nectar, different types of seeds and seed mixes and different Suet cake mixes. Apart from the above, you could also choose to install a bird bath for your garden or backyard. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes – like bird bath fountains or bird bath bowls. These will not only be very refreshing for birds but also look very elegant.

Having birds visit your garden everyday is a very rewarding feeling – not only because of the beauty of birds, but also because of the knowledge that you are helping these beloved creatures.

So you get home, put the bird feeder up near your deck, and are ready for avian wildlife of all kinds to show up and start enjoying the benefits of your deck. There’s a major problem, however: the birds are not showing up at all. You’ve put in different kinds of seed, tried moving the feeder to different parts of your deck, even tried putting on a three ring circus for the birds – but nothing seems to attract them. Believe it or not, this is a common problem for the bird feeder owner. Not knowing what kind of birds they are catering to, many people get the value bird seed. The result is inferior bird seed that nobody – not even the rodents – wants to eat.

The good news is that it is not your fault – being a misinformed consumer is something that affects us all time and time again. Furthermore, wanting to help the ecosystem by putting up a bird feeder isn’t a bad thing either. And both are easily corrected with a little research, and knowing what type of seed will benefit you the most.

First off, consider the type of bird feeder you have before you consider what kind of seed you want. If you are using a tube feeder, bigger grain and coarser seed will not be of any benefit to you whatsoever – it will get stuck in the tube easier, and won’t be appealing to smaller birds. Conversely, you don’t necessarily want a finer grain seed in a hopper-style feeder, as the feeder won’t be able to hold back the small grains as well. By considering the birds you want to attract with the feeder you have, you are on the right track to marrying the two and bringing birds back to your deck.

After considering the type of bird feeder you have, its now time to put some deeper thought in the seed you are putting in for your wildlife to enjoy. Different kinds of birdseed will attract different kinds of birds to your patio, depending on what is indigenous to your community. Sunflower seeds are some of the more common bird feed out there, because of their high fat and oil content that birds need in their diet. However, not all sunflower seeds are equal: stripped sunflower seeds come in shell, and are harder for birds to open on their own, where as black oil sunflower seeds are easy to eat and high in nutrition for birds. Hulled sunflower seeds are the happy medium between the two, attracting a wide variety of birds without the mess that comes with. If you live where upland birds are plenty, consider adding millet seed to your bird feeder. Also high in nutrition and small, this seed attracts upland birds because of their dietary needs. Cracked corn is also an excellent choice for upland game, as it is a natural part of their diet.

Buying a bird feeder is only the first step to getting birds attracted to your homestead. By knowing the correct seed to apply, you are ensuring that birds will be attracted to your feeder, giving you enjoyment out of your feeder for years to com

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