Garden Bird Feeders

Archive for January, 2010

It’s not just nice for you to have birds visit your garden, it is also good for your garden as well, the reason is that most varieties of garden birds have a great appetite for insect pests that populate your garden and cause harm to your plants and shrubs.

If you want to make your garden bird friendly and attract birds to your garden you have to consider the following things.

Plants
A good selection of native plants and shrubs with things like berries, and big seed heads will tempt the birds to come and feed.

Trees and Hedges
If you have the space some native trees and hedge line will provide natural nesting sites.

Nesting Boxes
If you have a smaller garden you can build or buy some nesting boxes in different sizes to provide a home for a nesting bird.

Water
Garden birds will also need a water source, so a bird bath is a perfect addition, if you don’t have one a large shallow saucer left on a patio will also provide a great place for birds to drink, bathe and splash around in. Ponds are also a good source of water for birds and it also attracts insects for them to feed on.

Food
Obviously its important to leave food out for your birds, this is the biggest factor for attracting birds to your garden, a stable bird table is great for offering nuts, seeds and fat balls to the birds. Squirrel proof hanging bird feeders are great of feeding the birds, its also very entertaining watching them pecking out the seeds.
While we’re on the subject of bird feeders can I ask you to please not buy the bird food in plastic netting that you can buy from market stalls and some supermarkets, these are very dangerous for small birds as they can get trapped in the netting and can break their legs very easily and even loose them all together. Some bird species have hooked tongues and can also become trapped in these net feeders. If you lean one thing from this article please remember this, it can save your garden birds a whole lot of suffering, and there are so many great bird feeder designs you wont have a shortage to choose from.

So, the simple rule for attracting birds to your garden is to provide what they are naturally looking for in the wild, give them a safe place to feed and they will return time and again. Enjoy it!

Feeders come in all shapes and sizes and often attract different kinds of birds, so the first thing you will want to do is check out the type of feeder you want.

First ask yourself where you are going to put the feeder. Are you going to feed on the ground? Will you have a platform feeder or a hanging feeder. Important in selecting a place for your feeder is visibility from your window, and availability of ‘cover’ in case the birds need to flee suddenly. The cover should be near enough for the birds but not near enough that it could be used by a predator (say a cat) to get close to the birds. Can a cat or predatory bird get to it? If it is close to several windows, the bird may fly into the window in trying to escape and die or be stunned. Placing decals or nets on windows can help if this is the case.

Then check out the types of feeders to determine which one(s) are right for you. Ground Feeders can be directly on the ground, but can cause other problems (such as dead grass) so it is usually better to have a table or tray feeder that you place on or near the ground. Some birds, like Cardinals, do not like to go to the feeders, and a ground feeder will attract them.

A table or tray feeder can also be placed higher up on a pole or on a deck railing. If you select a tray type feeder, make sure one side can open or break away for easy cleaning. It will also need small sides or a lip around it to help keep the seed inside the feeder.

Hanging feeders are the most popular type of feeders. They come in all shapes and sizes, and hang on a pole of some kind. These hold a lot of food, so they may not need filled as often (although my birds can clean mine out in less than 2 days). Problems with hanging feeders are dominant birds that take it over and squirrels who will raid it. I own a squirrel proof one that drops down, covering the openings if the weight is too much. So far, the squirrels still try occasionally, but they haven’t been successful. While researching feeders, read up about squirrels too.

Holes on hanging feeders should have metal protecting them, making them more difficult to access for squirrels.

Finch socks (and finch tube feeders) are considered hanging feeders. They hold small thistle seeds which the goldfinches love. It is amazing to look out the window and see these bright gold finches hanging on the sock as they eat. I’ve had as many as seven at a time on the feeder itself.

Pole feeders sit on top of a pole,

How to Attract Birds

Nature is beautiful; we all want to capture a piece of it. However there is a method to acquiring nature without the mess of actually owning it. It is by making your property a safe haven for the local wild bird population. There are a number of ways to attract birds it just involves a little research and some ingenuity.

People use food as a way to entice birds to come into the area and guess what it works wonders.

Types of bird feeders

Bird feeders: There are a number of types of feeders on the market. You can get feeders that hang from trees, mount on a pole or even stick to your windows; it all depends on what your preferences are.

The most important factors in choosing a feeder is how well it latches shut and how much seed can be dispelled all at once. The reason why is simple; people often miscalculate the intelligence of birds and other small critters that are bound to visit once your feeder is up and running. Unless you want to dole out small portions on a daily basis, you may want to rethink the type of feeder you have in mind. Let’s take your average starling for example; they always feed in groups and it is not uncommon for them to find inventive ways to get more seed out per visit. One bird might have the task of distributing the seed while the rest gorge out. I know, I’ve seen it time and again. Another common problem is squirrels and sometimes chipmunks. These little buggers have hands which could pry away at flimsy locking mechanisms. We had a small plastic feeder once (dollar store brand) it was not situated properly and a chipmunk up and stole the whole works. He must have had a ball, because he did manage to pry the thing apart.

Suet cages: It is not necessary to provide suet in the summer time as there are plenty of insects, also the suet can go rancid in warm weather. You can make your own home made suet with a combination of seeds lard and peanut butter. The combination has to be melted together on the stove a let cooled. Suet cages attract orioles, chickadees and woodpeckers.

Humming bird feeders: When using a humming bird feeder it is absolutely essential to take these things down for a regular cleaning. Insects like ear wigs and ants do get inside and can spoil the solution. If the solution is off, humming birds tend not to come back. Making your own brew of liquid food is easy. All you need is sugar water at a 4 to 1 ratio. Four parts

Deciding whether or not to take in a wild bird is risky. An older bird may have disease. Some black birds have west nile and may be deadly. If you should ever see a sick bird call the nearest animal center and ask them for help. However one day me and my friend found a baby bird that fell out of his nest. I cared for him and he lived a long life. If you need ideas on how to help a wild bird, i have a few tips. i took care of a small black bird. However we did not know what kind of bird it was.

1. keep the bird in a box with chick wire over top and make shure nothing can get to the bird. Other predators could try to get your bird.

2. build a nest out of dried up wheat or grass or other plants. Baby birds will make shure that if they have to poo they will do it out of their nest. The baby bird will need comfort. My bird all ready had some feathers on him so i didn’t need to give him any extra heat. If you find a newly born bird with no feathers. call an animal center.

3. wild baby birds constantly need food. Find a pair of tweezers and clean it. Every 15 minutes cut a worm into a small piece so that it can swallow it. then hold the worm over the birds head with the tweezers. If you want the bird to get used to your smell you can feed it with your fingers like i did. make sure that the worms are wet so that the bird can get its water.

4. Take a water dropper and give him a drop of water from time to time. not too much though. the water you put on the worm should suffice.

5. Do NOT get your bird too wet. my bird fell into a bucket of water one time and almost died if i didnt take care of him. If so dry him off with a towel by wrapping it around his body and holding him to you to give him heat. make shure you keep him out of the wind if he is soaked with water.

6. If you want to train him to follow you, you must let the bird get used to you. dont abuse him and feeding him worms with your hand helps alot. It helps if you train him to follow you before he learns to fly. let him walk around indoors in a closed room. put your hand near him and see if he comes to you. Walk around the room and see if he follows you. If he likes you he will walk to you. Call his name or whistle, while making a motion for him to come to you. do this every day so that he can get used to coming to you. If you are shure he will come to you eventually you can let him out side. For my bird if you called his name he would chirp then fly to

Yard art, lawn decorations, embellishments…just what ARE garden accents and what purpose do they serve?

Garden accents or yard art can be ANY decoration or adornment used for the purpose of accenting your yard or garden area.

Embellishments can range from simple to elaborate. Garden accents can be as simple as a solitary bird bath alone in the yard to as elaborate as multiple tiered decking with flower boxes, trellises, and plant stands strategically placed for eye-appeal.

Yard art may be singularly visible as a simple gazing globe on a pedestal. Or it may be found as a hidden surprise in the garden that catches the eye upon closer viewing. Maybe a whimsical faerie garden statue set upon an old tree stump within a small clump of trees and placed so as to be slightly hidden from view yet easily seen from different areas within your garden.

Garden accents can be replaced or alternated to provide variety or change in a yard or garden area. Smaller pieces of yard art or garden statuary can be moved around easily. A newly painted old wooden wheelbarrow of pansies could be moved around and placed anywhere in your yard.

Yard art can be store bought or homemade. Store bought accents may range from an inexpensive item picked up at a dollar store to an expensive specially customized piece of signature art. Homemade yard adornments can be anything from an unused colored bowling ball sitting atop a plant stand to an elaborately built garden trellis or deck seat and pergola complex.

What are garden accents or yard art used for? Garden accents mainly serve as a fun and creative way to personalize your lawn or garden area.

Sure, you can use the same planting design as shown in any book or mow your grass in the same pattern as a neighbor does. But, would you go so far as to also set out the exact same embellishments in your garden that were in that book (if there were any) or would you set out the same lawn adornment that your neighbor did?

Probably not.

You have personal preferences that show up everywhere else in your life so it only makes sense for your lawn or garden areas to exhibit your personal touch also.

Just what are garden accents, yard art, or lawn decorations? They are that special touch that add your personal signature to your lawn or garden areas that only YOU can provide.

As winter approaches and the days grow shorter we are likely to spend much less time winter gardening – there aren’t so many tasks to be done, and staying warm and cosy indoors seems a much more attractive prospect. Similarly, the wildlife in a winter garden is searching out food and shelter to help survive the winter, and there’s a lot we can do to help them in their quest for survival.

As we want to become less active in the winter garden, our neglect helps to offer wildlife in the garden many desirable winter residences. There was once a time when no respectable gardener could retire indoors for the winter unless the herbaceous borders had been cleared, all the fallen leaves removed and the vegetable patch reduced to bare soil.

These days we realise that both aesthetically and environmentally, the winter garden is far more interesting and diverse if some plants are left untrimmed until the spring. Tufts of ornamental grasses have a haunting beauty, especially when back lit by the low winter sun, but they are also a valuable habitat for hibernating ladybugs.

Areas of leaf litter provide homes for many beneficial insect species and will protect delicate plants that may otherwise be killed by the cold weather and frosty nights. The stark angular outlines of berried shrubs and the seed heads of annual and perennial plants give a visual structure to the winter garden, and many will last long into the season, providing important food for birds and other wildlife in the garden who will work their way through all the seeds and berries during the cold months.

Additionally, stone walls, log heaps and untidy coorners provide ideal homes in our winter garden s for all kinds of wild animals, from field mice to frogs, toads and hedgehogs.

There are also ways we can actively encourage wildlife in the garden, not only into the winter garden, but throughout the year. These days the domestic garden is an invaluable habitat and if we manage it well we will be rewarded with a wide variety of wildlife in the garden that will act as natural predators on our less welcome garden pests.

Feeding the birds is a top priority for pest control, but once you start, it is important to be reliable and continue as birds will waste energy visiting your winter garden bird feeder or table to no avail if no food is provided. In frosty weather they will also need water. This is a good time of year to fix new nesting boxes in place so the birds will have plenty of time to check them out before the spring comes.

Insects also need places to hide in the winter garden and while many will take up residence in existing nooks and crannies, it’s a good idea to provide some additional nesting places. These can be home made from simple materials such as a handful of straw or short lengths of cane in a flower pot, but you can also buy commercial versions.

So, why not spend some time making your winter garden welcoming and comfortable for your wildlife in winter? That way both you and they will be rested and ready for the lengthening days next spring.

Wild Bird Feeding

Wild bird feeding is an engaging recreation that often grows into a passion. There are many wild birds that will visit bird feeders, all of which are intriguing and fun to watch. Wild bird feeding is also a great way to demonstrate stewardship of the surrounding world, helping to restore a bit of the natural balance that humans are notorious for upsetting. The following paragraphs will describe a few of my favorite wild birds that may be seen at bird feeders, which foods will attract wild birds to feeders, and the effects of wild bird feeding on local ecology.

The Featured Players

Restricting the conversation solely to songbirds, various species still exhibit greatly differing feeding habits. Still, there are a great number of wild birds that will visit feeders. Some, like finches or the oft-dreaded house sparrow, may be frequent diners at a bird feeder, while others, like meadowlarks and scarlet tanagers, will rarely visit them. Of course, season, weather, competition, and food preferences all play a part in attracting particular birds to wild bird feeders.

It is quite difficult to list all possible feeder birds along with their favorite foods and behavioral peculiarities, as many an accomplished ornithologist can attest. Since I am not an ornithologist, I will keep the following list simple and concise. With no further ado, I give you these stars of the bird feeder stage.

The Nuthatch

These quirky birds have a compact, stubby build. They are generally a bluish-gray on their backs and wings, with black or brown on their heads. Nuthatches have relatively long, straight bills that aid in their seed cracking ability. In fact, nuthatches got their name from their habit of “hatching” seeds and nuts by wedging them into a crevice and hacking at them with their bills.

A more remarkable claim to fame may be their ability to scurry up and down tree trunks, seemingly defying gravity. They perform this acrobatic act in search of insects and their eggs. They supplement this diet with generous helpings of seeds, nutmeats, and suet offered at a bird feeder. Nuthatches will accept many types of bird feeders; hanging feeders, platform feeders, suet feeders, and windowpane feeders are all welcomed.

The Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Woodpeckers are another spectacular example of nature’s limitless diversity. Woodpeckers are flying jackhammers that burrow out holes in trees in search of food, and sometimes, to make a home.

You can diversify your garden with a bird bath. It is funny to have a birth bath in the backyard. There is big variety of bird baths at the bottom there is a guide to help you in your choice for excellent bird bath.

Bird baths tips

You have to follow some advices when you install a bird bath. The water in the bird bath must not be very deep, you wish the birds to have more space; it averts drowning of the birds and another little animal in the bird bath. It is a great idea to change the water in the bird bath oftener. Birds would avoid locations with many people. You would desire to be the bird bath higher because the birds can be secure from another animal. At the bottom there are several bird baths.

Pedestal

The famous kind of bird bath is the pedestal. Granite, copper, aluminum are from resources which are used for those baths.

Hanging

Hanging baths are excellent out of your window. Birds are oblivious to the fact they were spied on due to the reflection of light from a window.

Electric and solar heated baths

The heated bath is excellent for someone who is living in cold locations. The birds have the opportunity to go to the bath all the cold season. Electric baths and solar heated baths are the two kinds of heated baths.

Soothing fountains baths

The water is a good idea to stand alone in the backyard or garden area.

Whether you like looking at birds or spend your time in the garden, the bird bath would give you great pleasure. Do not forget to locate a feeder and a bird house close to the bath.

What else do birds eat besides seeds and bugs? Would you believe… rendered animal fat! That’s right – it’s known as suet (much nicer sounding, right?)

Pre-Made Suet… Wait – it’s not that yucky! You don’t really have to make it from scratch. Blocks of suet are readily available in garden supply stores. In fact, ask a butcher in your local grocery store or meat shop… you might even get it for free! Suet blocks are also available online.

If you’re lucky, you might even find suet with extra goodies like seeds, dried fruit, and (gulp) dried insects. Remember, this is quite appealing to birds.

Home-Made Suet… Making suet from scratch isn’t too difficult, it’s just quite… smelly. Basically, obtain raw beef fat from a butcher, melt it, and then cool it. You can make or purchase soap molds that are the right size for the suet holder. Some folks have even used a large baking dish, and just cut the suet into blocks. Remember to freeze the unused suet, or all that hard, smelly work will be for nothing.

There are some folks that improvise when the “fancy” suet isn’t available. They simply place the suet in a microwave just long enough to make it soft, but still hold its shape. Then they roll the block in a mixture of seeds and dried fruits. There’s probably an online source for dried insects, but…

Suet Holders… Do you remember noticing small wire baskets where you buy bird seed? Well, these are suet holders. They’re made specifically to contain blocks of suet so that it’s easily accessible to birds, and not squirrels or raccoons (or other little fellows with nimble paws).

Loose the battle – Win the war. Remember those nimble-pawed squirrels and racoons mentioned earlier? These little guys are persistent to the extreme, so why fight them. Locate a couple of feeders just for them in locations with lots of squirrel or raccoon activity.

It’s not a sure thing, but they simply might become better citizens in your bird garden. It could happen!

The nice thing about National Geographic birdfeeders is that you can be assured that they come with great provenance. Sure, you can walk into any local pet store and find bird feeders of all sorts. But do they work well–have they been vetted–that is the question.

With National Geographic birdfeeders the variety is wonderful and the workmanship well worth the shipping cost, which one must consider when ordering off the internet. For instance, you can find feeders with a sturdy wire cage around them so that little birds can hide inside and not be bothered by larger, shall we say obnoxious, visitors?!

The website http://shop.nationalgeographic.com also has a variety of other National Geographic birdfeeders for those who are concerned about needing weatherproof or squirrelproof feeders. There is no need to have your precious seeds go moldy. You dont go to the trouble and expense of buying quality seed just to have rain get in and start sprouting seeds! Its not a seed sprouter youre interested in — its supposed to be a dry seed feeder!

And as for our four-legged squirrel friends, yes, they were created with the same inalienable rights as birds by the Creator. The proviso is: NIMBY! You can even find squirrel feeders on the website, but even better, you can find National Geographic birdfeeders that are squirrel PROOF.

If youve fed birds for any length of time, you know how much a squirrel loves sunflower oil seed. After all, they are smart critters. But we are not interested in feeding squirrels high quality seed. We might provide some corn and make them do tricks for it for our entertainment, but not for sunflower seeds! There is a fine squirrel-proof example among the National Geographic birdfeeders on the site.

Also offered among the National Geographic birdfeeders is a unique hummingbird feeder mobile! It has three glass balls that can be filled with red sugar water. The balls turn around each other in the wind and with the attentions of the hummingbirds. Give it a look. Its a delicate and enchanting piece of sculpture in motion.