Bird Watching - Choosing The Best Bird Feeders, Bird Baths And Bird Houses For Your Backyard

Bird Feeders

From platform style to multi-tier hanging bird feeders, there are many prebuilt feeders to choose from - but the birds will be just as happy if you make your own. What birds you want to feed, how you want your yard to look and the amount of seed you are willing or able to buy, will all play a part in the bird feeders you put out in your backyard.

If you don't want to feed squirrels and chipmunks, there are feeders designed to discourage these critters. The main idea is to have the feeders hanging in such a way that the animals can't climb up or over to them or jump to them. You can also put feeders on metal poles keeping in mind that they still have to be placed far enough from trees or other things that the squirrel or chipmunk could climb over from or jump from. These kind of feeders can also help discourage cats.

Chipmunks will fill their cheek pouches and squirrels will stuff their mouths with as many sunflower seeds and peanuts as they can to carry off for future use. They will also sometimes chase the birds while they're at it. So even if you want to feed them, you may still want to have some 'birds only' feeders.

If you don't like the way the larger birds sometimes hog the feeders, (blue jays in particular), there are feeders you can put out to exclude the larger birds. They aren't foolproof but they do help.

Put a roof over your platform feeders. This helps keep the seed from getting too soggy when it rains and is also handy when it snows so you don't have to keep going out to sweep the snow off the seed. Built up seed husks that get wet become home to insects so keep them cleaned off the platforms.

Baths are a great addition to your yard. Birds will even bathe in the winter on a warmer day and they always appreciate unfrozen water to drink from. If it includes a fountain, even better! Birds love running water.

Fountains with shallow depths and rough textures for good footing at the bottom are the safest.

If you have a water feature set in the ground, create a shallow end and the birds will use that. Just make sure you've given them a clear line of sight in case a cat tries to sneak up on them.

Clean regularly so algae doesn't grow and so you don't have mosquitos breeding in it.

Some birds like robins will be perfectly happy with settling into your hedge or pine tree. Others like bluebirds will nest in a bird house but have specific requirements.

Decide which birds you would like to have nest and raise their young in your yard, then research what they require in the way of a bird house. Interior size, height from the ground and entry hole diameter can vary greatly. There are many books and online resources. Your local co-operative extension would probably be able to help you also.

Make sure that the babies will be safe from cats while they are learning to fly. If you have cats that go outside, or have a lot of cats in your neighborhood that visit your yard, you may not want to encourage nesting.

Clean the houses before nesting season to discourage lice and bird diseases problems.

Finally......

Have fun with the designs.  The birds won't care what they look like!  Choose or build the bird feeders, bird houses and bird baths to suit your personality and your vision for your backyard. Both the look of your creation and all the birds who will visit you because of it, will give you great satisfaction and many hours of joy.