Wild Bird Release, Part 1

Carly brought a bird through the pet door. I kept it in a cage for about 12 hours and *tried* to release it. I’m hoping within a week there will be a part two to this. I *think* this is a “Song Sparrow”. It’s the most common bird coming to my bird feeder in the front yard at the moment. I’ll eventually do a High Definition bird feeder video but so far I’ve not had enough of a variety of birds to warrent a video.

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Wild Bird Feeders – Why not?

Ask any ornithologist of the importance of wild birds to a particular geographical eco-system and one will be met with a cacophonous response regarding delicate food chain balances, confusing statistical data pertaining to population decreases and the effect the decimation of natural habitats is having on their beloved winged friends.

But, for the most of us, the most appealing and luring attribute of the feathered sector of the evolutionary ladder is undoubtedly their outstanding aesthetic beauty. This, coupled with a vocal range unmatched anywhere in nature, is the reason why so many of us spend our hard earned on wild bird feeders.

Nuts about the Northern Flicker? Barmy about the Blue Hen Chicken?  Mad for the Mountain Blue Bird? If the answer to any of these, or indeed all of them is yes then you need to know the perfect feeders to allow you to ogle to your heart’s content.

Every ornithologist has a favourite bird. It may be the one bird that eludes him at every bird watching outing, the one he just can’t entice with his wild bird feeder, his prize catch. Armed with a little inside knowledge and an earnest desire, you can find the bird you’re looking for.

Wild bird feeders bring the normally more elusive of birds right into the arena of your own back garden, a perfect vantage point for bird watching in HD. With a variety of feeders to suit the most frugal of budgets, the most determined of pests, (those pesky squirrels!) and the most tiny of gardens, wild bird feeders allow anyone to have their own Technicolor bird watching movie-fest.

Added to this the fact that with the huge spectrum of decorative tables available, you can utilise it as a design feature to add panache to a mundane outdoor space, plus with a little bit of specialist insight you can even match the bird to your open-air decor. With a little research, you can choose the food and feeder to attract a particular species of bird and voila, instant coordination of flora and fauna. Who needs to pay the high prices of specialist gardeners?!

And for the more ecologically conscious amongst us, sleep well knowing that your little oasis might very well contribute to a coinciding rise in population numbers of your favourite bird, helping them feed and nurture their young in a safe and reliable environment. What more self-satisfaction could you get than knowing you’ve done your little bit to offset all the damage we inadvertently do to the natural habitats all around us?

With such minimal outlaying and maintenance costs, there really is very little reason NOT to have a wild bird feeder in your garden!

Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder-Fact or Fiction

The Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder is unique in its design and deterrence. The biggest difference between the Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder and other brands of squirrel proof bird feeders on the market is the immediate, corrective action. With squirrel proof bird feeders that rely on cages and weight activation mechanisms, squirrels need to learn on their own that birdseed rewards are not possible. To learn this, squirrels need to grip, hang and chew on the squirrel proof bird feeders for multiple visits before they realize that the energy they are expending to receive birdseed is not being rewarded. However, with the Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder, the stinging response is immediate and effective.

A mild, corrective sting keeps critters off the feeder the instant squirrels touch two metal parts on the Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder. The reason birds are not able to receive this sting is due to their physiological makeup. You see, a bird’s beak and feet are made of cartilage, bone if you will. Electricity is conducted through our blood vessels, not our bone structure. Birds bodies are covered with feathers, which do not contain exposed blood vessels, either. A mammal’s skin has exposed blood vessels near the surface, which is sufficient for conductivity on the Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder. The sting is not harmful, about the same as a static charge you get when you grab a metal doorknob after walking on a carpet in your stocking feet.

What does all this mean? Any mammal that comes in contact with two different metal parts on the Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder will receive the corrective sting. From the top or bottom, the Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder is protected from squirrels. Humans, however, know where the on/off switch is located! We can turn the feeder off without stinging ourselves to fill and clean.

Does all this complicated circuitry really work to keep squirrels from stealing all the birdseed? According to our huge customer base and two decades of experiences, the honest answer is yes and no. The large 8 port Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder has a generous 10lb. capacity. The huge 12 port model can hold up to 20lbs. Each model has metal perches, metal trays on the bottom, metal hangars and metal parts on the top dome. The squirrels will be able to eat off the bottom tray, without touching a second metal part. For some people, unfortunately, this means the feeder is not 100% squirrel proof. For others, protecting the huge 10lb. & 20lb. seed chambers are the main goals. If the squirrels can only eat the seed droppings on the bottom tray, these customers are quite content with the Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders.

Each Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder operates through the use of a single 9-volt battery. Each model only uses the battery upon a mammal’s touching of the two metal parts we have discussed. How many times the circuits are used will determine the life of the 9-volt battery. We have discovered that during the first one or two months of introducing the Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder to your backyard, these batteries will need to be changed about 2-3 times. This is the training period for your squirrels. Squirrels are not sadistic creatures. They do not enjoy pain and will not return to test the feeders after about 3-4 attempts. Since each squirrel in your area will have to be taught about this new stinging device, we estimate that by the end of the second month, batteries are on stand-by only. We only change our battery about 3 times per year. Our local critters know about the penalty for trying to steal birdseed from our Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder. Nighttime raids by raccoons can drain the batteries faster, depending on the number of visitors you get each night, if at all.

There is not such thing as a 100% squirrel proof bird feeder. Our long experience has shown us that at sometime, somewhere, somehow, a squirrel will receive a birdseed reward for their diligence on any squirrel proof bird feeder. If your desire is to purchase a squirrel proof bird feeder that squirrels can not own, then the Wild Bills Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder, with its immediate stinging, will give you years of stree-free enjoyment.   Visit “Bird Droppings” for all your wild bird news, facts and tips.

Wild Bill’s 12 Station Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

• Extra large seed hopper with 3 sections
• 20 lb. capacity
• 12 bird-friendly feeding stations
• Top and Bottom Squirrel-Stinger
• Hangs or pole mounts (pole mount not included)

Product Description
This is absolutely the best squirrel proof bird feeder I have ever used. Squirrels get a tiny shock when they attempt to raid the feeder and, believe me, they only try it a couple of times before they give up. They don’t… More >>

Wild Bill’s 12 Station Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

Sunflower Seed Bird Feeders Come in a Variety of Designs for a Variety of Wild Birds

Bird watching and wild bird feeding has become a fascinating and enjoyable pastime for many people around the world. We love watching the variety of birds visiting our homes and yards. If you are interested in setting up bird feeding stations around your home there are some things you need to know about different species and their feeding habits as well as the different types of bird feeders available. Sunflower seed bird feeders come in many forms which serve different purposes.

The Caged Triple Tube Bird Feeder can not only be used for feeding sunflower seed but can be used for feeding three different types of seed at once. The tube parts of the feeder that hold the seed are fitted with metal ports (on the quality tube feeders) that will help stop house sparrows from raiding your feeder. Also the cage around the tubes keeps your feed safe from the larger birds like Jays and Grackles and keeps the squirrels out too. If you want to feed only sunflower or one type of seed Single Tube Caged Bird Feeders are also available.

These tube feeders are loved by Chickadees, Evening Grosbeaks, Titmice, Nuthatches, Jays, House Finches, Purple Finches, Redpolls, Woodpeckers and Cardinals. If you want to restrict their use to smaller birds use a tube feeder without a tray. Take away the perches and you will restrict the feeder use to only species that can cling like finches, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and small woodpeckers.

There are also wire mesh constructed sunflower seed bird feeders. These sturdy feeders are squirrel resistant because they are made entirely of metal. No plastic and no wood. Some of them hold as much as 6 pounds of sunflower seed! Wire mesh feeders come in several designs, some with perch rings and trays and some without.

So the first thing you need to do when deciding on which types of feeders to use for your bird feeding station is to decide which species you want to attract to your yard. If you don’t know what birds live near you, check with your local Audubon Society. They should have a list of birds for your specific area.

Read up on the wild birds that live in your neck of the woods, or grasslands, or desert, or even in your city, and decide which species you want to watch, close up. Many songbirds prefer sunflower seed because of its high fat content. Sunflower seed bird feeders take advantage of this, offering you the biggest bang for your buck considering the number of different wild birds that will be attracted to these feeders.

In conclusion, having the right bird feeders and mounting them in the proper locations is essential for attracting the species you want to observe to your backyard. Sunflower seed bird feeders will attract a large variety of birds and should be one of your first choices for your feeding station. You will probably want to add other types of feeders to your yard also because the greater the variety, the more different species of birds you will attract.

Wild Parrots at Brooklyn Bird Feeder

Somewhere in South Brooklyn, on a cold and windy St. Patrick’s Day, a raucous flock of wild Quaker Parrots digs into a bird feeder.

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Where can i find plans to make a wild bird feeder?

I am looking for plans to build a wild bird feeder. I prefer one for a post, made of wood, with a hopper, and 4 sides for the birds to feed from.

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Wild Bill’s 8 Station Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

• Large seed hopper
• 8 bird-friendly feeding stations
• 10 lb. Capacity
• Top and Bottom Squirrel-Stinger
• 18″ High x 15″ Diameter

Product Description
This is absolutely the best squirrel proof bird feeder I have ever used. I have three of them at my home. Squirrels get a tiny shock when they attempt to raid the feeder and, believe me, they only try it a couple of time… More >>

Wild Bill’s 8 Station Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

Wild Bird Feeders – Quality Check

Wild bird feeders can be found in countless styles and designs. There are tube feeders, platform feeders, hopper feeders, squirrel-resistant bird feeders, feeders for particular species of birds, and many more. Though the forms and functions of wild bird feeders are multitudinous, one thing should remain consistent – a high standard of quality. Poor bird feeder construction is not only potentially dangerous for birds, it will ultimately lead to frustration and more money spent on the part of the aspiring bird watcher. The good news is that a well-constructed wild bird feeder usually only costs a few dollars more than a shabby one. If you are in the market for a wild bird feeder (and you should be – bird watching is a very fulfilling hobby), make sure you purchase a well-made product. Following are a few things you should look for.

General sturdiness is imperative. A good, sturdy wild bird feeder will last for many years. Immediately inspect your new bird feeder both visually and with your hands. Look for cracks, rust, loose parts, or anything that seems awry to you. If the bird feeder is broken, or if there is anything about the bird feeder that you have questions about, bring it to the seller’s attention. Most people in the birding business are after more than just profits; they want to share their love of bird watching, and are therefore very eager to help. If you want to purchase a wild bird feeder online, the same applies. Look into the return policy of online retailers before you buy, so you know what your options are. In most cases, it is very hassle free; they want your business and your referrals, so they need you to be satisfied.

Most tube style wild bird feeders are made of plastic and metal. The plastic should be strong and, again, free of cracks. The metal parts will likely be made of rustproof material, but check it all the same. The feeder ports, or the holes through which birds can access the seed, will be fitted with a grommet, usually made of metal. Ensure that the grommet is not loose or easily removed. It is there to reinforce the hole in the plastic and prevent cracking. It will often have a little perch attached at the bottom, also. The fact that your beloved backyard birds will alight on that perch is all the more reason to be sure that the grommet is stable.

Look at the method of construction. Screws and welds are strong and long lasting. Few, if any, nails should be used in its construction. Nails will come loose easily if the feeder is dropped, or even just through temperature changes, during which wood, plastic, and metal will expand or contract. The same is true of glue. Nails and glue should only be used on nonessential parts, such as decorative aspects.

These days, many wild bird feeders have moving, even motorized parts. This is particularly true of squirrel-resistant bird feeders. Check to make sure that the parts move easily, without grinding or catching. Motorized parts should not be moved by hand, as it could jam up the machinery. Motorized parts of wild bird feeders are usually weight-activated; to check them, simply apply a little pressure with your finger, if you can do so without hurting yourself or the feeder. If not, use a stick or a pencil, or wait until a squirrel tries to get at the seed. The only sound should be the whir of the tiny motor and possibly the angry chattering of the retreating squirrel. You should not hear squeaking (except from squirrels) or grating. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance.

Once you deploy the wild bird feeder, watch it for any issues that may not have been apparent in the initial inspection. Contact the seller as soon as possible if you see any problems. Most wild bird feeder stores will be very understanding as long as the problem did not arise through misuse or abuse.

Now that you are confident in the quality of your wild bird feeder, it is time to fill it with nutritious seed, and enjoy the birds!

Audubon #NATUBE3 Squirrel Proof Caged Tube Type Wild Bird Feeder

• Squirrel Proof ABS plastic mixed seed wild bird feeder with four seed ports
• Seed ports are totally enclosed in a sturdy powdercoated steel cage
• Squirrels and large birds like bluejays, morning doves and grackles can’t get at the seed, but most song birds can
• Forest green finish bird feeder holds one quart of seed
• Great gift idea

Product Description
Squirrel Proof ABS plastic mixed seed wild bird feeder with four seed ports. Forest green finish. Holds one quart of seed. Totally enclosed in a sturdy powdercoated steel cage. Squirrels and large birds like bluejays, m… More >>

Audubon #NATUBE3 Squirrel Proof Caged Tube Type Wild Bird Feeder

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