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Wild Bird Feeding
6 Places Not to Install a Wildlife Feeder, House, or Birdbath
Where should you NOT install a feeder, birdhouse, or birdbath?
Woodpecker Feeders That Fix Your Problems
Do you have problems with starlings or squirrels bothering your woodpecker feeders? Are your feeders too small, too big, or too ugly?
Get a feeder you can be proud of. Match the right woodpecker feeder to your situation.
House Sparrow Problems at the Feeder? 6 Methods to Discourage English Sparrows
Are House Sparrows eating most of your birdseed?
Do they drive off other birds and mob your feeders?
Read on for methods to deter the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), a.k.a. the English Sparrow.
3 Things To Beware When Feeding Corn to Wild Birds
Corn can be a fun way to attract birds and other wildlife to your yard.
Want to know the pitfalls of feeding corn to wild birds before you get started?
A Reader Wonders, "How Can I Make Suet in the Form That I Want?"
Suet to Go High Energy Suet Basket
Want to make your own suet but you need to make it in a particular shape?
One of my readers asked where he could find suet molds of different sizes.
5 Steps to Solving the Problem "Birdseed is Becoming Too Expensive"
Are birds and squirrels eating way too much of your birdseed? Have you almost given up on feeding birds because you can't afford it?
If birds are gobbling up your spare cash, try one or more of these tips to save some money:
3 Ways to Feed Wild Birds for the Christmas Holidays
Want to include wild birds in your holiday celebrations?
Try holiday wreaths, trees, or snowmen:
10 Ways to Spot Fake "Squirrel-Proof" Bird Feeders
Want to get a wild bird feeder that really deters squirrels?
Attempts to keep squirrels away from bird feeders by buying squirrel-proof or squirrel deterring feeders sometimes fail.
The right feeder can make all the difference. Here are seven ways to spot a fake "squirrel-proof" feeder:
- Plastic Material. The container holding the feed is made of plastic accessible to squirrels (yes, they chew through plastic)
- Too-Small Cage. The caged feeder's cage is too close to the seed ports or bins from the feeder's seed ports or bins (the cage needs to be just a little farther from the seed ports than the length of a squirrel's arm, stretched through the wire opening of the cage)
- Bad Slider. The weight-driven sliding mechanism that closes off the feed ports is easily clogged, rusted, or non-adjustable
- Too-Small Baffle Lid. The feeder's baffle-like domed lid is too short or shallow and allows squirrels to grasp the edge or climb down to the feeder platform
- Plastic Rim or Lid. The feeder, while caged, has a plastic lid or rim outside the cage
- Accessible Without Triggering Slider. The weight-driven sliding mechanism that closes off the feed ports is too close to the top of the feeder (less than the length of an outstretched squirrel, back paw to front paw)
- Tube with Unprotected Platform. The uncaged, baffle-less tube feeder or mesh feeder has a small platform on the bottom
- Timed Dispenser. The timed-dispenser feeder -- releasing food at a certain time won't prevent squirrels from eating the food
- Wire or Mesh Feeders. Squirrels will bend the wire mesh to get at thistles if they're hungry enough)
- Unprotected Thistle Feeders. Squirrels will eat thistle if they're hungry enough, but rarely chew through plastic to get it. They usually try for the seed ports.
Remember, placement of a feeder can also matter in deterring squirrels.
Suet provides energy for wild birds, especially in the wintertime. You can render your own suet and make your own suet feed from various recipes.
5 Suet Recipes to Attract Wild Birds
Image: FotoosvanRobin
With all your holiday cooking, don't forget about the birds outside your window.
Have fun with family or just your feathered friends -- make simple recipes to attract and keep healthy wild birds to your porch, patio, or balcony.
Here are five recipes for high-energy suet:
Nyjer Seed Basics
Have you seen the tiny, black thistle seed, aka Nyjer seed, in a store or a feeder? Or wondered where you can buy it inexpensively?
Have you wondered what kind of birds it attracts?
...many bird watchers are thwarted in their attempt to entice different species to their doorstep because they live in apartments, dormitories, or condominiums where feeder placement options are limited.
Eager bird watchers need not despair...
Feeders Gone Nuts: What Kinds of Feeders Can I Use to Provide Nuts for Wild Birds?
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Do you want to attract wild birds with nuts but aren't sure what kind of feeder to use?
Feeding Woodpeckers
Wondering what to feed a woodpecker on your small porch, patio, deck, or balcony?
Do Caged Bird Feeders Really Work?
Young Squirrel on Caged Feeder
Leshoward, some rights reserved
Are you fighting to keep squirrels or larger birds like grackles and starlings away from your feeders?
Are you wondering if caged feeders are worth the money?
What is Safflower Seed and What Kind of Wild Birds Does Safflower Attract?
Safflower (WikiMedia)
Ever wonder what safflower seed is?
Or what kind of wild birds it will attract or discourage from your feeders?
Product Roundup: Stock Up on These 10 Bulk Birdseed Products
Does springtime make you want to attract birds with seed? If so, perhaps it's time to stock up.
The following birdseed products come in bulk with free shipping, saving you money - and giving you higher quality birdseed.
Review: Droll Yankees Armored Nyjer® Feeder Model TH-3
Droll Yankees Armored Nyjer® Feeder is a solid, quality feeder with few drawbacks.
The feeder design deters squirrels, and the feeder construction is durable. The seed ports are a little hard for finches to access at first, and debris can become trapped in the bottom of the feeder.
Droll Yankees Armored Nyjer® Feeder is a solid, quality feeder with few drawbacks.
It is durable and deters squirrels. The seed ports are a little hard for finches to access at first, and debris can become trapped in the bottom of the feeder.
See my review for further details.
Coneflowers Attract Butterflies and Other Pollinators
Today I'm profiling the perennial, Echinacea purpurea, also known as Purple (or other color) Coneflower. It's native to parts of North America and attracts birds and pollinators, including butterflies. Different colors are available, and it's relatively easy to grow.
I've experienced eBirdseed as a customer and as an affiliate. Their service has always been generous and helpful. And their products are higher quality for less expense.
Black-oil sunflower seed is one of the best birdseeds for wild birds.
If you choose to offer nectar solution to hummingbirds (I recommend plants instead of a solution), this feeder may be the most elegant way feed hummingbirds.
What's My Dream Wildlife Porch? Part 4: Bird Feeders
This is the fourth in a series on ideas for a dream wildlife deck. This week I'm focusing on bird feeders for the bird food I listed last week.
11 Artistic and Elegant Feeders to Brighten Your Outdoor Area
Tired of the same old bird feeders?
I've put together a list of certain elegant bird feeders you may not have seen before.
Attract Different Wild Birds to Your Wildlife Porch with Worms and Insects
Want to attract a different set of wild birds to your small outdoor space? Or perhaps try something different than the standard birdseed and nut combinations?
Worms and insects may be the answer.
What's My Dream Wildlife Porch? Part 3: Bird Food
Updated on 2/26/2008
This is the third in a series on my own small "dream" wildlife porch (or deck). This week I'm focusing on food that attracts wild birds like birdseed and nuts (in another post I'll cover plants that provide food).
What Types of Sunflower Seeds Can You Feed Wild Birds?
Sunflower seed is perhaps the #1 choice to feed wild birds. If you want to attract wild birds to your porch, balcony, or other small space, you may want to try black oil sunflower seed, striped sunflower seed, hulled sunflower seed, or even growing your own dwarf sunflowers.
Attract Wild Birds with Suet
Winter is a great time to feed wild birds suet, although suet can be a year-round food source. Suet is animal or vegetable fat and is usually bought commercially as rendered suet with added seeds, nuts, or other bits of food. Rendered suet doesn't spoil as quickly and is more easily handled.
You can also buy suet that isn't rendered for easy spreading on tree trunks or other surfaces, or you can make your own.
Your birds will devour these high quality suet cakes fortified with calcium for egg and bone development... The variety of flavors, cherry, apple, blueberry, sunflower, berry and high energy will keep them coming back to see what flavor is next on the menu...
An article from Doctors Foster and Smith covering the benefits of and ways to provide suet.
