Sunday, May 22, 2011

Choosing Backyard Bird Feeders

It is a good idea to have bird feeders in your backyard but do consider several things first. These are the type of feeder, cleaning and refilling the bird feeders, attracting and identifying the birds that go with the feeders and lastly, the location where to place the bird feeder. Each of these parts is interrelated and overlooking one can lead to unproductive and unsatisfactory results. You will not have a good bird feeder if the feeder is not squirrel proof. A bird feeder is intended to be used to feed birds of all sorts and this means that you should ensure the safety of these birds when they are feeding in the feeders, see to it that they are as far away as possible from the reach of wild creatures that may find them tasty. You will be able to find a lot of squirrel proof bird feeders out in the market these days so surely you will find one that suits you.

Once you have your feeders, the next thing that you should consider is the food that goes with it. Birds love to eat seeds and some prefer nuts so consider these when choosing bird feed and another option would be liquid nectars. In case of doubt, contact the retail store where you bought your feeders. There are lots of different bird feed options that are available today but the most common type of feed used in this case is black oil sunflower seed. A lot of different bird species will be attracted by this type of bird seed. You can also load up cracked corn and peanuts into your squirrel proof bird feeders. It is important for those with backyard bird feeders to clean their feeders regularly. Without proper and regular maintenance, bird feeders can easily pack up with dirt and grime. You can use scrub brushes to sweep away debris or you can opt to use bottle brushes in case that your feeder is of tubular shape.

Actually, there are numerous ways by which bird feeders can be used to attract birds. Give the birds some time to swoop down and land on your backyard bird feeders after you first set them up, as much as possible, be as patient as you can. There is a trick if you want to attract birds easily, you can use a coin or anything shiny and place this near the feeder and then you can also use a water source like a fountain of some sort. Here, it is somewhat necessary that you spend some time checking the kinds of birds that often visit your new backyard bird feeders. When it comes to this, you should try taking pictures of the birds that regularly visit your feeders. As much as possible, you need to provide them with a safe and secure environment and this is something that will not scare them away. You need a bunch of sunflower seeds if you are dealing with cardinals but if you have doves, cracked corns would be better. Note also the migration pattern of these birds as they may only be in the area for a limited time.

Providing the birds with enough space will also allow you to look at them while they feed on the seeds. Protection from predators is something that you should ensure for the birds when it comes to the backyard bird feeders that you will be setting up in your home. In this case, you want the birds to stay in the feeders and this is why you need to keep these feeders away from playgrounds or else they will be driven away by the noise and too much movement. Apart from enjoying the sight of birds flocking towards your feeders, it will also be a great experience feeding the birds.