Knowing your feeders

Give them a safe place to eat and drink.

Wild birds are very conscious of their feeding grounds. They continually are monitoring the availability and the competition for seeds and water; they also watch for and are weary of predators in their feeding area. 

Wild bird feeders continue to evolve to meet the demands of the purchaser as well as the birds themselves. Purchasers want to keep other animals out of the feeder and birds are looking for continued source of seeds and not to mention, safety.

The variety of feeders is large and for the most part is a personal preference for the buyer. Always remember that a good wild bird feeder must be solid and be easily cleanable. The feeder should also offer some sort of protection to birds as well as keep the seed dry. Bird protection could be attributed to the cover or roof on the feeder and the physical location of the feeder itself. Location of feeders should be minimum of 4 feet above the ground, either suspended or on a pole. To provide protection from above, placing the feeder near large trees but not close enough that will allow predators the ability to jump to the feeder. Keeping your yard as natural as possible by having mature trees and shrubs nearby for protection will ensure the continued population of your yard. If ones yard does not offer a natural environment, the use of various bird house types can be utilized from fences or poles.

Offer a variety of available seeds, suet’s or treats in your yard to meet the various nutritional requirements throughout the year.
Research claims
the color red on or near a feeder tends to draw more birds.
the colour yellow on hummingbird feeders will attract bees.
Platform Bird Feeders come in two varieties: elevated and ground feeders. A common misconception about feeding Wild Birds is that seed can be spread on the ground. This creates a health problem for the birds unless the feeding area is changed regularly every other day. Additionally, during the spring and summer month’s seed germination can be another problem. Basically, birds prefer to feed at either an elevated feeder or a ground feeder. For the largest variety of birds we suggest equipping your backyard habitat with both.
Tube Bird Feeders come in a variety of shapes, styles, and attributes. Some offer multiple tubes for dispensing a greater variety of seeds.
Domed Bird Feeders are an excellent choice in inclement weather. Many are adjustable as well, allowing you to control the types of birds that have access to the feed simply by adjusting the opening height of the feeder. Additional features such as pole mounts and baffles are available. These are excellent starter feeders that can be equipped to provide pest control and weather protection.
Suet Feeders in every backyard habitat are a great way to dispensing suet to their birds. Suet is an excellent source of energy and calories for wild birds, especially in the fall, winter and early spring months. Typical suet dispensing bird feeders are single metal cages that hang from elevated platform bird feeders. Suet is rendered animal fat, most brands remain in a solid form in all but the hottest of summer days.
Hummingbird Feeders The best commercial hummingbird feeders are sturdy, easy to clean and hang, and with a minimum number of parts that can get lost or broken. Manufacturers offer feeders in a variety of sizes with both plastic and glass reservoirs. Glass is long-lasting and can be sterilized easily, but it is heavier and can shatter when dropped; feeders with plastic reservoirs are less expensive but tend to discolor with age. Small feeders may have just one feeding port while larger ones have three or more. And many feeder types are available with or without perches on which hummingbirds can rest while feeding.
Caring for your Feeder Cleaning your bird feeders once a month, year round, is important for the health of the birds.
 Fungi such as Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus which causes respiratory infections in birds, can grow on the feeders. It is recommended that hummingbird feeders be cleaned every four days.
 Place your feeder in the tub outdoors, fill it with warm water and a squirt of liquid soap or detergent. Wearing gloves, scrub the parts of the feeder you can reach, and rinse thoroughly with a hose. Empty the tub and fill it with clean water and 4 cups of vinegar. Let the feeder soak for 1 hour. Rinse thoroughly.
 If you acquire damage to your feeder caused by falling to the ground, falling branches or squirrels or other animals ensure that there are no cracks that may allow moisture into the feeder. Fungi as mentioned earlier is caused by moisture, if the feeder cannot be resealed it is recommended that it be replaced.