To attract and maintain a bird population in your own back yard you must provide food, water, and shelter. Without these three items, a bird has no reason to hang around your garden. Food is what will initially attract your feathered friends, so let us look at what you need in your own personal oasis to feed the birds.
There are many different types of bird feeders and bird seed choices from which to choose. Not all birds will eat out of the same type of feeder or eat the same sort of seeds. Before you begin your bird feeding experience you need to learn what types of birds live in your area and what birds you want to attract. You can probably obtain this information by asking knowledgeable neighbors, parks and recreation staff, or just using a good reference book.
Ground-feeding birds will appreciate platform or table feeders. This sort of feeder is the easiest to maintain. They are simply a raised platform with a lip around the edge. They sit about a foot off the ground, and the raised lip keeps birds from pushing food off the table. Table feeders will draw a large variety of birds to your yard. One drawback for this feeder is that there can be a lot of wasted seed, and large, bossy birds might push out the small ones.
Tube feeders are the best type of feeders for smaller birds. The tube feeder is a hollow tube, filled with bird seed. They have openings at the bottom edge for dispensing seed. This feeder also has small perches on which the feeding birds roost. Tube feeders waste a lot less seed than table feeders, plus they are easier to make squirrel-proof.
A hopper feeder holds a large quantity of seed and is the universal type of bird feeder. A hopper feeder has a bottom platform, supporting walls, and a roof. The roof is usually removable to allow refilling with seed. A hopper feeder is generally not weatherproof and should be checked every few days to ensure the seed is not rancid or moldy.
Suet feeders are an entirely different type of bird feeder than what we have already discussed. A suet feeder is a wire or mesh cage with a door on one end. Blocks of fat, or suet, often containing bird seed, are enclosed in the feeder, which is hung from a tree or pole. During winter and times of food scarcity, a suet feeder will help supply needy birds with energy.
Hummingbird feeders are in a class by themselves. Hummingbirds are fascinating little garden visitors that require a lot of food. Their diet consists of nectar, sap, and small insects. A simple hummingbird feeder is a plastic bottle with a feeding opening. Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red, so the feeder should incorporate a nice, bright red. The feeder bottle is filled with commercial hummingbird nectar or a homemade sugar syrup. One caveat concerning these feeders is that the syrup or nectar will quickly spoil, and should be changed frequently.
Once you have chosen the type or types of feeders you want, and have filled and placed them, the fun should soon begin. The neighborhood birds will discover there is a new source of food at hand and will make themselves at home right in your own back yard.
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