Posts Tagged ‘wild birds’
Helping The Bird Feeder Enjoy Bird Feeding
Bird feeding is a common hobby for bird lovers. They keep bird food in the bird feeder and love watching the wild, migratory birds descend into their yards to have a meal. The twittering and chirping of the birds is music to the ears of the bird lovers. The variety in color and shape of different species of birds make for a beautiful sight to watch as they make rare appearances in the yards of bird lovers throughout the year.
A bird feeder should be designed to accommodate the wild birds that frequent your yard. Hopper feeders, platform feeders, tube feeders, thistle sock feeders, suet bird feeders, nut feeders and honey feeders; these are some of the widely used varieties. Hummingbirds feed from honey feeders and it is common to add red color to attract these jewels of the bird world. Also, feeders should protect the birds from sudden attacks from birds of prey or cats. It should be sturdy enough to withstand the perching of many birds, as squabbling among your avian visitors may go on all at a time.
The bird lover should have a pleasant view of the birds while they are feeding. But the safety of the birds takes precedence over this. A bird feeder should not be placed too near to the trees. Cats and squirrels always eye the bird feeder for their meals; the cats eye the birds and the squirrels try to eat the bird food. A squirrel proof bird feeder may be just what you need to protect your avian associates. As well, keeping bird feeders far away from big trees and bushes will make it difficult for the birds to fly to safety if a bird of prey tries to attack.
Feeding the many species of birds that are indigenous to your area can be a round the year activity, peaking during the winter and ebbing during the summer. The bird feeder should be stocked with wild bird food and it should be replenished often. You never know when a winged guest might arrive. There is a chance of diseases spreading from bird-to-bird or from bird-to-humans; therefore, all of your bird feeders should be cleaned and sanitized regularly.
Do You Know The Types Of Feeders For Various Types of Birds?
Taking care of birds at home is perhaps one of the most fulfilling ways to relax. That is why it is important to provide birds with the right bird feeding tools. There are many different types of bird feeders, each designed according to the types of birds that feed from it. The most common ones are the wood hopper feeders, the tube feeders, thistle feeders, platform feeders, ground feeders and the suet bird feeders.
Hopper feeders are basically the most ideal feeders you can buy. They are made from wood, thus making them an additional accent to your outdoor surroundings. These bird feeders houses are very convenient since you just simply open the top and pour the wild bird seed in. They are also fairly well protected against weather like snow or rain. Generally, wood feeders are practical. But be sure to place these feeders in strategic locations, otherwise, squirrels might raid them. Tube feeders are another type.
These can be easily mounted onto a pole, or can be hung wherever you like. Additionally, when looking for feeders that have very tiny holes, thistle feeders are the answers. These feeders are basically designed for gold, purple or house finches because the seeds of the thistles no not pour out easily onto the ground. Most thistle feeders for wild birds have fun designs and you can normally see birds hanging upside down while feeding themselves. Moreover, the design effectively keeps birds always from each other, thus avoiding competition for the seeds.
Platform feeders are the ideal type of bird feeders, especially if you wish to see migratory birds. These bird feeding tools generally have open designs, thus allowing birds to easily notice any approaching birds of prey or cats. And when predators come, birds can simply fly away from the feeder. One great advantage of this type of feeder is that it can accommodate larger species of birds. Such birds can just simply perch and feed. And since these feeders have open designs, birds can feed themselves all at the same time. This is also similar with the ground feeders, which are placed on the ground. Both the platform and ground feeders however, need proper maintenance, as they are prone to different elements, such as snow and rain.
To attract interesting types of birds, suet feeders are a good idea. This type of feeder is actually a cage made from wire and can be easily placed with commercially-prepared suet cakes. Suet feeders normally attract Northern Flickers, and also Pileated, Red Bellied, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers. You have a lot of options when it comes to choosing a feeder, so be sure to have the one that will attract the species you wish to see.
Pointers For Adequate Hummingbird Feeders Management By The Enthusiast
For Hummingbird enthusiasts, the issue of Hummingbird feeders is one of great concern. The bird, known for its energy-sapping wing flap, is capable of remaining stationary in mid-air during feeding. Feeders for these birds must be accessible and maintainable. A variety of Hummingbird feeder designs are available in local birding outlets.
A noteworthy aspect of Hummingbird feeder designs, such as the tube feeders, is that the birds find these plain or decorative bird feeders novel, and consequently, they do not immediately recognize them as food sources. They rely on good old instinct, inquisitiveness and keen observation of other Hummingbirds. These birds may prefer a certain feeder to another. When changing from one feeder to another it is advisable to effect this transition gradually. The two may be kept side by side, as emptying and filling is done on both feeders.
This allows for much required familiarity. It is possible that any feeder can be capable of attracting hummers. The key is to lend focus to disassembly ease and cleaning, so that whatever feeder you choose, it can be easily cleaned and put back together and filled. The feeders of basin-style design are thus far better when compared to those of the inverted-bottle type. Moreover, they must be sturdy and easy to hang. There is also the contentious issue of whether to have perches on the feeder. The argument that best supports it is the fact that these migratory birds have energy intensive lifestyles. Perches go a long way in their conservation of calories. Hovering is far more exhausting than normal flight and they would only be glad to have a place to rest as they feed.
It would be of great help to have fresh syrup in great abundance. Even though it is common practice to buy a commercial mix, a simple sugar-water solution will do the trick. After all, all they need is a source of fuel to carry out their daily tasks. Strange as it may seem, given a choice, hummingbirds prefer sucrose and are averse to beet sugar. Anecdotal evidence shows that this species of birds can distinguish the taste between the two. It is however imperative to eliminate the use of honey in the Hummingbird feeders. It ferments very quickly when diluted in water, a solution that is potentially fatal to these birds. There has also been evidence that red dye, used to attract birds, causes tumors. These reports are however unverified, yet it is definitely not worth the risk. Cleaning the feeders is not a difficult process. Flushing the feeder with hot tap water, aided by a brush starts the process. One should avoid soap at all costs since the birds loathe the taste. Removal of black mould found under careful visual inspection follows. Unconsumed syrup should be poured. The entire process should be repeated after every three or four days.
Hummingbird feeders should prudently be hung either in or adjacent to a garden teeming with plants that these birds like. A good number of people place their feeders close to windows so that they may enjoy watching the birds feed. This is a good idea so long as there is way of indicating to the birds that there are windows. Several birds sustain injury from striking glass panels even though a person’s intentions are noble. Try drawing the blinds or curtains, adding cutouts of birds of prey, decorative flags or even wind socks. Keeping these issues in mind, humankind plays a role in making the lives of these avian jewels a bit easier.
Helping You Pick Feeders Bird Baths
The beauty of your yard or garden is enhanced when you have bird baths or bird feeders in them. The colorful birds and the decorative bird feeders, as well as bird baths, add life to your garden. For those who enjoy birding as a hobby, a decorative bird feeder can be a perfect gift. Apart from beauty and the looks, considerable thought must be given to the utility and functionality of the feeders bird baths. One cannot be compromised for the other.
The bird bath is an artificial puddle of water created for the birds to have bath and drink water. A shallow basin is put on a pedestal and a depth of two inches is sufficient for the wild birds, as they do not submerge their entire body in the water. They just dip their wings and splash water all over the body. You can heat up the water in bird bath with solar bird baths. The wild and migratory birds can get warm water to bathe in during the winter from your backyard. You can even add a suet bird feeder during the winter months.
The feeders bird baths should be cleaned regularly to maintain proper hygiene and to prevent the spread of any diseases. Different species of birds carry different harmful viruses and bacteria, which could affect the health of other birds. It is amazing how fast the feeders bird baths can get dirty. The bird bath can be scrubbed clean; however, a tablet containing naturally occurring bacteria and enzymes can be used to break down organic waste and keep the bird bath clean with less scrubbing, which will leave more time for bird watching.
The placement of feeders bird baths is also of utmost importance when you are planning for bird watching in your own yard. The bird bath should be placed near a big tree or bush so that when there is an imminent attack from birds of prey your winged guests can fly off and take shelter immediately. Bushy berry trees can serve the dual purpose of providing shelter and food. Many species will love the bird feeders and bird baths in your yard if they are assured of proper shelter and protection.