Bird feeders can be used to invite wild birds into your yard. Feeding wild birds is an enjoyable past time and can do us some good. Birds in your backyard can add color and improve its aesthetics. Watching the feeding birds can help us relax and can even be a form of therapy for sick and confined people.
Using bird feeders entail quite a bit of responsibility. Before embarking on bird feeding, you should consider if you have ample time to dedicate to this kind of a hobby, if you have a good habitat for the birds, and if so, what kind of birds would you like to attract? What feeders will you use, and how many can you handle at one time? You should also consider the amount of money you want to spend. The cost of feeding wild birds can and will accumulate over a certain period of time. Therefore, you should be certain of your choice to start feeding wild birds.
Here are some things to keep in mind for using wild bird feeders:
. Do your research! Read up on wild birds to determine the kind of habitat they are more attracted to, what kind of food they prefer and find out about their feeding habits.
. You should be able to offer a good habitat for the birds. A source of water, some shrubs and natural protection from the elements and their predators would be ideal.
. Get a good quality bird feeder. This should last for a long time if cared for and cleaned properly. Buy a feeder that's within your budget and get the type that won't require a lot of maintenance. If you want to get multiple feeders, remember that diversity is the key. Get different kinds of feeders to attract different species of birds.
. If you want to simply scatter your bird feed on the ground, make sure to change feeding spots several times. This way, you'll avoid creating a clean and an unhealthy area.
. As for the bird feed, black oil sunflower seed is your best bet. Most birds eat this kind of seed. If you prefer to get the seed mix, get one that does not have a lot of filler. Read the label! Good mixed seed should have a high quantity of black oil sunflower seeds, white proso millet and cracked corn. And don't ever use old seeds or seeds left over from last year. Fresh is still the best.
. Keep your feeder clean! Feeders should be cleaned regularly to prevent the accumulation of spoiled seeds and bird droppings. Remember, a healthy bird is a happy bird!
. There is no sure fire way of getting rid of squirrels of preventing them from getting to your bird seeds. Try any one of these ways and you might find that some of these do work, though not 100% of the time: use squirrel proof bird feeders; use squirrel baffles; offer another source of food away from your feeders; place your feeders at an area safe from any squirrel attack.
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