If you are an avowed bird lover–and even if you are not–few sights can match the calming comfort and serenity that frolicking birds can provide. It is a sight that can trigger memories of a much simpler and more innocent time in the past, when the worries and cares of the real world were a lifetime away.
Thankfully there is a way to recapture some of the magic of those bygone times and that is with wild bird feeders. Having a ready supply food around is one of the best ways to entice birds to frequent your yard, and wild bird feeders are the most effective and cost efficient ways to do just that.
Wild bird feeders come in a wide array of sizes, shapes, colors and designs and you can hardly go wrong with choosing any of the commonly available models. So how do you choose which particular type of wild bird feeder to go for?
One of the most important considerations for any beginning bird feeder owner is the type of bird that you wish to attract. Seed feeders–which are by far the most familiar type of wild bird feeder around–will attract the common songbirds such as cardinals, chickadees and finches. These types of feeders can vary in design from the simplest feeding tray type setups to more elaborate ones with latching feeding mechanisms.
Naturally if you want to attract a specific type of bird–such as a hummingbird or an oriole for example–you will want to purchase a wild bird feeder that is designed specifically with their needs in mind.
Another important consideration when purchasing a wild bird feeder is the material. Feeders made of plastic have been increasingly popular in recent years and for good reason: they are extremely durable and they are generally very inexpensive. Be aware though that they tend to discolor when exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods, and they are harder to keep sanitary.
Glass models would be an ideal alternative given those considerations, but they are not without their own disadvantages. They are prone to breakage for one thing, and if they fall from a height–which is where wild bird feeders are typically installed–there is a risk of glass shards flying around when it shatters.
In any event, most commonly available wild bird feeders present very good value for the money and you will surely enjoy the color and life that they will bring to your yard!
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Hummingbird feeders have traditionally been made by hand for many years. They were typically constructed out of bits and pieces of lab equipment lying around the house such as flasks, bottles, beakers, rubber stoppers, glass tubes and other similar materials. Those early hummingbird feeder creators would no doubt be surprised at just how far the hummingbird-feeding craze has come. What was once a casual interest that only a select few people indulged in has now blossomed into a hobby that has attracted many thousands of devotees all over the world.
As you can imagine, the need for ready-made and mass-produced hummingbird feeders has grown exponentially along with the burgeoning interest, and manufacturers everywhere are only too happy to meet the demand. Today, you can take your pick out of a bewildering array of different designs of hummingbird feeders–from the ornate to the simple–with the majority of them being extremely inexpensive.
Currently, the most popular materials used in the construction of these modern-day hummingbird feeders are glass and plastic. Glass–while being long lasting and easier to sterilize–can be prone to breakage, and there is of course the danger posed by shattering when dropped. Plastic is more durable but it tends to discolor with prolonged exposure to the elements. Whichever material you ultimately decide to go with, be sure to pick a design that is as simple as possible, with no parts that can get damaged or misplaced.
You will notice in the course of shopping for a hummingbird feeder, that many of these will be colored red. Red is thought to attract hummingbirds and it is for this same reason that many people add a bit of red food coloring to the sugar water that they place in the feeder. The red color of the feeder of course makes the adding of food coloring unnecessary and it avoids any potential health risk to the birds.
A common mistake that many people make when starting out is purchasing a feeder that is too large. If the hummingbirds in your area are not yet aware of the presence of your feeder, the sugar water in it will likely turn sour and the first few birds that will be attracted to it will not be inclined to come back.
A final tip on hummingbird feeders: make sure that you place it where you can enjoy the sight of birds feeding. Remember, hummingbirds can exist quite happily without any help from us, so the presence of a feeder is really for our own benefit!
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One of the main challenges that many homeowners who have bird feeders on their property have, is to find a way to squirrel-proof them. Squirrel-proofing bird feeders are necessary for those persons with birds as pets or have a feeder for birds to use as they like. This is because squirrels are notorious for attacking bird feeders in search of food. Squirrels generally like most of the food that is left out for birds to consume.
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