Bird Feeders

Attract all sorts of birds to your yard

Birding is a great way to commune with nature and provide sustenance and shelter for the avian population in your area. It's also a great hobby for adults and children alike. Many people love to watch the birds flocking and playing on a snowy day in their backyards, and the easiest way to break into birdwatching is to hang a bird feeder. In the wintertime, food can be hard for birds to find, especially smaller birds like chickadees or finches. Providing a bird feeder allows them to survive the bitter cold and food-poor season, and is a great act of charity on your part, as well.

There are many different types of feeders, so much so that you might feel overwhelmed when it comes to choosing one. Never fear - if you do your research you'll find out that not all birds will use the same feeder, nor eat the same bird food. In fact, you might find it a good idea to hang several feeders in your yard to attract different types of birds. The more you attract, the more enjoyable your birdwatching will be; plus, you'll be providing nutrition for many birds, which will ensure that they'll stay healthy.

Platform feeders are the easiest kind of feeder to build and maintain - they're simply tables with raised edges that sit about a foot off the ground. Table feeders are great for ground-feeding birds, like cardinals and doves, and you may also find other birds like jays eating there as well. Platform feeders actually attract the largest number of birds, so you won't lack variety in your yard.

Tube feeders are great for smaller, perching birds like finches and chickadees. They allow the birds to eat without being turfed out by bigger nuisance birds. There are even special finch feeders, a variation on the tube feeders, that cater only to finches and other small birds. There is a lot less seed spilled with tube feeders, and they're easily squirrel-proofed. Hopper feeders allow for a large amount of seed to be dispensed bit by bit to feeding birds. These are universal feeders, catering to all sorts of birds.

If you like to birdwatch up close or practice bird photography, why not invest in a window feeder? These sit directly on the sill or are suctioned to the glass so that you can view birds eating up close. They include a one-way mirror so that you can see the birds, but they won't be frightened away by seeing you. Other feeders, like hummingbird feeders and oriole feeders, can also be hung in front of windows so that you can admire these nectar-drinking birds from the comfort of your home. It's a great way to birdwatch without being seen.

If you want to try something different, or provide a succulent, protein-filled snack for your feathered friends, why not hang a suet feeder? Suet ensures that birds, especially smaller birds, get the high protein and fat that they need in order to keep their energy up in cold temperatures. If you're tired of seeing big birds take away little birds' food, you can also try a satellite bird feeder, which allows only small birds to perch and eat. Bigger birds have to be able to hang upside down to eat from this sort of feeder, so you won't see them sticking around. These feeders are a great way to keep pesky pigeons away.

Of course, one of the biggest backyard nuisances is a squirrel - and they're famous for raiding feeders and terrorizing birds. You can stop them from messing up your lawn and scaring away your visitors by getting a squirrel-proof feeder. If you don't want to buy a whole new feeder, you can buy several proofing add-ons that will send those squirrels packing.

Bird feeding is a great adventure and you will never be bored trying new food combinations and feeder types. Grab a feeder and get ready for lots of new dinner guests this season. Bon appetit!