Birdfeeders

Window bird feeders are especially enjoyable. They are available as nectar feeders for hummingbirds and as seed feeders for a variety of birds. They attach to any glass surface using suction cups so you are able to coax birds right up to your window for easy viewing. They offer a unique experience to have birds approach closer than with any other feeder.

There is a downside however. Not all birds will come that close to the house and you must be aware of the leftovers that will collect below the feeder.

A hopper bird feeder is similar to a platform feeder in that it also has an open platform for birds to land on and feed. In addition, a hopper feeder has a roof and built in feed storage. This is very handy, especially in winter, so you don’t have to fill the feeder every day. As the seed on the platform is eaten, more drops out through a slit in the bottom of the storage container. During bad weather, the seed is protected from rain and snow as well. These hopper feeders are quite helpful when you are gone, for they insure a constant supply of seed for your backyard guests.

There are many designs available, including ones that close off the seed supply when the weight of a squirrel or large bird is detected. There are clear plastic relatively inexpensive models all the way up to huge, heavy metal or wood models that may hold up to 10 pounds of seed. These can be filled with just sunflower seeds, or a wild bird seed mixture, depending on the birds you are attracting. Because these feeders are of more complicated design than other feeders, they are more expensive, but well worth the extra investment.

The only drawback of hopper feeders is that the platform is not very large. Therefore, there is limited feeding space which cannot accommodate as many birds at a time as on an open platform.

Platform bird feeders are simple to use and easy for birds to find. This feeder is simply a tray that can be on legs, mounted on a pole, hung from a bracket on a fence or deck, etc. It has many advantages. It is inexpensive to buy or you can use a clay saucer, a tray, or any flat item that will hold seed. Because of it’s shape, many birds can visit at a time and there is nothing to obscure your view of them. It you add to the seed such things as raisins, suet or fresh fruit, you will attract an even larger variety of birds. This is a wonderful feeder to use if you are just beginning to feed birds. Because they find their food by sight, they will find this feeder much faster than other types.

There are, however, a couple of disadvantages to platform bird feeders. First of all, they are completely exposed to the weather. Seed will get soaked in the rain, covered by snow and will blow away in wind storms. During the winter, it is a good idea to only put small quantities of seed in this feeder at a time to cut down on waste. Also, if you have squirrels, raccoons or other 4 legged visitors, they will love this easy source of food. There are however, baffles and feeder covers available to help discourage them.

Eco-friendly bird feeders are a fairly new but important category. They are all made of at least 90% recycled plastic. They are environmentally friendly and are designed for easy maintenance. They are UV stable, stain resistant and impervious to insects. These feeders can be cleaned with a mild bleach solution to prevent the spread of disease among birds. Utilizing products manufactured from recycled plastic helps reduce deforestation as well as waste. Recycled plastic is made from post-consumer waste such as milk jugs, water and soda bottles, etc. Products made from recycled plastics can help keep waste out of the landfills. Join the Green Revolution!

Tube feeders are the most popular feeders used for seed and for good reason. They are great for conserving seed. Since birds take out one seed at a time, little is spilled or wasted. Also, they are very simple to use. Just remove the lid to add seed and it is stocked for a while. How often it needs to be filled depends on how many birds are feeding at it and how large the capacity of the tube.

There are two types of tube bird feeders. The first is made to accommodate only nyjer seed. The other type is for larger seeds, such as sunflower seed or seed mixes. All tube feeders can be hung from trees, off decks, on poles, on brackets attached to fences, etc. Remember, birds find their food by sight, so be sure to hang your feeder in a clearly visible location.

If squirrels are a problem in your yard, there are many things designed to keep them out of feeders such as baffles, hoods and cages. A plastic tray can also be attached to the bottom of a tube feeder to catch falling seed and to allow larger birds to land and feed.

The most common nectar feeding bird is the hummingbird. They are very entertaining to watch and seem to have no fear of coming right up to your house. There is a huge variety of hummingbird feeders to choose from, from inexpensive small plastic feeders to large, very decorative models. The best feeders are sturdy and easy to clean. They all are decorated in red which is the color that attracts hummingbirds the best. If possible, choose a model with a perch so the hummingbirds can land and rest while feeding. Fill your hummingbird feeder with a mixture of one part plain white sugar dissolved in 4 parts clean fresh water. Sometimes people put red food coloring in this solution, but it is not necessary for drawing birds and it certainly isn’t good for the hummers! Be sure to wash your hummingbird feeders with hot, soapy water and rinse thoroughly every time you refill them. If mold should appear, empty feeder and scrub right away. It won’t take long for them to find your feeder even if you hang it right next to a window or door. If you attract so many birds that they are chasing each other, consider hanging a second feeder nearby to lesson the competition.Your hummingbird feeders provide extra energy but are not their main food source. Primarily, they feed on small insects and the nectar in flowers. Therefore, you will attract more hummingbirds if you plant your garden with flowers that offer a good supply of nectar.

Orioles also love the same nectar as hummingbirds. However, they cannot hover like hummingbirds and are much larger birds so can’t really land on the perches of hummingbird feeders. They require a larger feeder with larger perches, therefore they have their own oriole feeders. They are also attracted to offerings of fruit and grape jelly.

Except for the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, orioles are a spring through fall treat as they move southward in the winter. Sporting their bright colors, they are beautiful addition to your summer yard.

Even though there is a plentiful supply of food during spring and summer, birds will still visit your feeders. They won’t feed exclusively at bird feeders for insects and bugs are favorite foods, but they still enjoy seeds. Since there will be an abundance of insects and wild fruits for the birds to choose from, you will most likely find fewer birds visiting. Many people take their feeders down during the summer, but we keep ours available and find they are visited regularly. While birds are in the yard, they are also looking for beetles, caterpillars, etc which is very helpful to all of us! This is the time to watch your visitors acting naturally, as they gather food for their offspring and soon they will be bringing the next generation to your yard.

This is also a good time to clean up beneath your feeders and replace mulch to get ready for fall. If you have the space, try planting sunflowers or corn - birds will have a wonderful time picking at the seeds for weeks.

Attracting wild birds to your backyard is easy to do and very enjoyable. You will most likely be quite surprised at the variety of birds who will frequent your yard with some encouragement from you. By simply providing food and water and possibly some nesting places, your yard will become a busy place for both permanent resident species and those migrating.

If you don’t see many birds in your yard, try scattering some mixed seed (available in your local grocery store) and small pieces of white bread on the ground. You will almost surely soon see birds you didn’t even know were in the neighborhood. This will be especially successful in the fall when birds are looking for places to winter or are migrating. Now it’s time to add a bird feeder! You will notice that different species have different food preferences and feeding habits. Some birds will feed only on the ground, while others prefer a hanging bird feeder. Some like small seeds and some prefer only the sunflower seeds. It is best for the birds and for you to have several feeders stocked with different foods to cater to the widest variety of birds.

Adding a water source attracts even more birds. Many kinds of birds, including those that may not be interested in your feeders, will come to your yard for water. Bird baths are attractive and useful, but not necessary. Any shallow container will do. We use plant trays as well as hanging or standing bird baths. A brimming birdbath is attractive to every bird in your area.

There is no need to buy hummingbird food mixtures for it is easy to make at home. Simply dissolve one quarter cup of plain white sugar with one cup of water. Fill your feeder and watch the hummingbirds come to it!