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Archive for the ‘Bird Feeders’ Category

How To Use Platform Bird Feeders

Sunday, October 4th, 2009

Amongst the many types of bird feeders that you can choose the most common, and easiest to make, are the platform bird feeders. This type of feeder has a flat tray like base with short sides that are only tall enough to keep the bird food from falling out. It should also have a roof to it to keep the food dry in case of rain or snow. It also needs to have some holes for drainage in case it does get wet. You do not want puddles to appear in the seed you are feeding to the birds. This can spoil the seed and so keep the birds form coming back. One way to avoid this is to use a wire screen bottom instead of having to put holes in a wooden or metal base. This takes care of any water problem.

If you are trying to attract a lot of birds then the placement of these feeders is very important. You will have more luck if they are not out in the open with no cover. The kinds of birds that will be attracted to platform bird feeders will be happier if the feeders are in a more secluded spot. Putting them in amongst the bushes, trees and shrubs will be much smarter. Evergreens are a good choice to offer this security as they are also great for protection from windy weather. But, despite the need to put the bird feeders in an area with lots of trees for protection, they cannot be too close or the birds could become easy prey for cats. As well, the bird food might become a treat for animals like squirrels that can jump from the trees to the feeders. Therefore, you should try to put them in a treed area but at least ten to twelve feet away from the trees themselves. Remember, this type of bird feeder is more likely to attract other creatures since there are no sides to protect the seeds or other foods against squirrels, chipmunks or other rodents.

Having a platform bird feeder can prove to be a very rewarding experience as you watch your feathered visitors take a break when they stop in for a meal. They attract more variety of birds than the other types of feeders so depending on where you live you may see jays, doves, blackbirds, finches, sparrows to name only a few.

Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com

Mayoor Patel is the writer for the website bird-feeders.wares-are.us. Please visit for information on all things concerned with Platform bird feeders

Bird Treats

Sunday, October 4th, 2009

Bird Treats

Polly want a cracker? Well if they do then stop by birdtreats.info for all the latest bird treats, bird toys, bird food, birdcages, bird perches, and bird feeders. Keep that Polly of your s content with the latest bird food, bird treats, which you can store in our bird feeders, and house Polly in one of our new birdcages. Decorate that cage of yours with bird perches and bird toys to keep Polly happy. Satisfy that cracker need at birdtreats.info where you can find all the latest bird perches, bird feeders, birdcages, bird toys, bird food, and bird treats. Treat your bird right!

Bird Cages

Having a bird can be a wonderful time, but what about when you need to transport it? Having trouble-taking Polly to the vet or on a road trip? Solution: birdcages. Investing in a birdcage will not only make those trips to the vet easier for you, but more enjoyable for the bird. A birdcage is a safe and secure way to transport your feathered friend from place to place. Birdcages are very inexpensive and a great gift as well. If you know of a friend or relative who has a bird and doesnt have a birdcage, now would be the perfect time to buy one for them. So invest in your birdcage today.

Bird Feeders

Are you a nature buff? Do you enjoy the outdoors? If so a bird feeder is the perfect upgrade for your home. Dont spend anymore time searching for birds only to not find any. With a bird feeder all you need to do is set it up, fill it with birdseed, and wait for the birds to come to you. With a bird feeder not only can you enjoy the birds, but also having the wildlife around will boost your homes character making it look brighter and more attractive. Spice up your home today by purchasing a bird feeder.

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How To Build A Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

Before starting this article about building a squirrel proof bird feeder, let me ask you this question, what’s with squirrels? We all know that watching these creatures roaming around the backyard lawn can be truly delightful. But they can also cause destruction to your birdfeeders and scare the birds away. Most squirrels like the foods intended for the birds. During winter, indomitable homeowners and squirrels are in a battle over bird food in numerous backyards. Other animals, like raccoons, steal bird food, but more often squirrels raid bird feeders. Ignoring the extremes of winter season, nothing beats the squirrel in persistently achieving its goal, they have enough agility and dexterity to be able to climb onto any surface that birds could reach, and most often squirrels succeed in adapting in the urban-suburban habitat that we humans created.

Actually there are two ways of keeping squirrels away from birdfeeders. First is preventing squirrels from entering the birdfeeders. There are quite a few ways in preventing these creatures from entering the birdfeeder. First step is to locate your bird feeder a good distance from tree trunks, limbs, and at least twelve feet away from any kind of object that a squirrel can leap from.

Second step is to install a baffle on top of the birdfeeder. It can be homemade or a commercial squirrel dome. The purpose is to keep squirrels off the birdfeeders. Here’s the idea of this device: when a squirrel attempts to climb to the bird feeder it must go along the suspension line. It gets confused because of prevented access to the seeds inside the bird feeder and soon gives up.

Third step is suspending your birdfeeders between two very distant poles or trees with heavy-duty nylon string and attach a plastic PVC pipe on both ends of the string. This makes it more difficult for the squirrel to reach the birdfeeder. And the fourth step is mounting the birdfeeder to a pole with a minimum height of six feet from the ground. Its purpose is to keep the squirrels from leaping onto the birdfeeder, likewise, the baffle should not be lower than five feet above the ground when you attach it to the mounting pole.

Another way is by diverting squirrels from bird feeders by means of creating a certain area wherein you can feed the squirrels. It is inexpensive and at the same time very entertaining. Various squirrel toys are available commercially, including the squirrel wheel and the picnic table style squirrel feeders, but make sure to install these diversion feeders lower than your birdhouses. Left over grain cereal, inexpensive dried corn cobs and old bread can be considered the best offerings for squirrels. You can even place some fruits or peanuts and peanut butter which are irresistible to squirrels.

By using these ideas you can prevent and divert the squirrels from destroying your birdfeeders, and at the same time you can enjoy squirrels and birds playing in your backyard lawn and garden together in harmony.

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

Jo Williams has an interest in Home & Garden products. To access more articles on bird feeder’s or for additional information and resources visit this bird feeders related website.

Decorative Bird Feeders: Sanctuary For Birds, Good Sights For Spectators

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

More and more people are starting to get into feeding wild birds in their yards and gardens. That is because wild birds, even how wild they may tend to be, will always return to that especially allotted spot where they can find great seeds to eat.

Bright and lively groups of birds, flying around the bird feeder is also a great, amusing and relaxing sight to see. That can be one of the logical reasons why there is a rising number of people who are getting more and more interested at investing in decorative bird feeders.

In the past, people from several countries have become fond of attending to homing pigeons. Now, it is not only pigeons that are catching the attention of people who invest in bird feeders. Other wild birds can also be served by wild bird feeders.

Decorative

Because people would not get anything from their investment in feeders aside from the pretty sight of birds coming home and feeding the communal food served to them, bird feeder makers have started making the structures as beautiful as possible to further spice up the sight.

Nowadays, you could see feeders that are decoratively designed so that the structures alone are already a pretty good sight to look at. Them having birds would extremely be a pleasure for observers.

There are a number of specialty shops and bird feeder manufacturers which currently distribute decorative wild bird feeders. You would surely be amazed at how these feeders look like. They are in the form of real home structures, and the designs are truly profound and extravagant.

There are special decorative bird feeders that actually costs a lot more expensive than the average home for people. Also take note that several decorative bird feeders are actually designed by good architects and are built from the finest and most flexible raw materials.

Fun collection

Decorative bird feeders can also be fun to collect. Such collections would surely be fun, because they are not just aesthetic, these objects are also extremely useful, especially to birds.

People are greatly admiring the beauty of decorative feeders, which become host to a number of colorful and different breeds and seizes of different types of birds.

Each season, there may be different types of birds that may swoon in and troupe around the special bird structures. It is such sights that make collecting feeders very much fun.

Migrating birds

The most usual beneficiaries of the decorative bird feeders are the migratory birds who flock out of their area origins during winter. Not only would you be providing food to such migratory organisms. You would also be providing them with temporary shelter or resting place where they can recharge after flying thousands of miles.

Spectators also gaze up and enjoy the event. That way, you would not only help the birds, but also those people, who, even for a few minutes, are relieved of the burdens of their personal problems by being entertained by the breath-taking scenery.

Decorative feeders add to the attraction of the bird feeding sight. Find one and see for yourself how your day would be made even brighter by the simple joy and admiration you may derive from simply looking at a bird feeder.

Asian influence

In the market, it is estimated that most bird feeder buyers prefer Asian-inspired feeders. It is because Asian houses are basically beautiful and more functional.

Asian influence is also evident in the popular feeders nowadays. The materials of such mini-structures are now usually made up of bamboo, wood, porcelain and other Asian materials.

Decorative wild bird feeders, the Asian style, actually look like miniatures of the cozy and homy houses at the Chinese, Indian, Korean, Filipino and Indonesian civilization.

Decorative European and American feeders designs are also starting to shoot up, but they still have a long way to go before matching the strong demand for Asian bird feeders.

Seasons

Wild birds are particularly very busy during summer and spring, when they take time to build their own comfortable nests elsewhere. So during these periods, do not expect to your feeders to host soirees to these birds.

In other season, when they experience difficulty searching for food or staying at their nests in the wilderness, these wild birds would find sanctuary in your bird feeders.

But during summer and spring, other birds may drop by, especially the migratory birds from offshore, which could make up to added or better sight attraction.

Decorative bird feeders are really the in-thing when it comes to devising temporary shelters and feeding stations to birds. Get one now and enjoy the sights. It would certainly be worth it.

Article Source: http://www.articlesauce.com

Lee Dobbins writes for birdfeeders.topicgiant.com where you can learn more about feeding your backyard birds as well as different types of decorative bird feeders.

Humming Bird Feeders

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

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Dont you just love to view Hummingbirds as they dart among the bright flowers in your garden? Hummingbirds enjoy nectar from flowers, eating insects and drinking nectar syrup from Humming bird feeders. In America itself there are over 18 different kinds of Hummingbirds.

The best way to initially attract hummingbirds to your yard is to make a hummingbird garden. Hummingbirds, like most birds, are attracted to their food by site, not smell. So brightly colored flowers send out a big loud message that says, “Food is here”! Some easy to grow favorites are:
Impatients,Morning Glory,Honeysuckle,Canna,Petunias,Trumpet Vines,Scarlet Sage,Lantana and Snap Dragons. Simply place several types of flowers around your yard in your existing landscaping. It’s very important to avoid pesticides on your flowers. Hummingbirds can ingest the pesticides when trying to feed and kill them. Pesticides also kill off the small soft-bodied insect and spiders that are the mainstay of the hummingbird’s diet.

Essentially Hummingbirds need the nectar to power the insect eating machine that they are. The nectar provides the energy that they need, while the soft-bodied insects and spiders provide the protein. Banana peels that are overripe are good to set out to attract the flies for your Hummingbirds. I have a box of bananas and within a short period of time, I am inundated with flies.

Now back to the Hummingbird feeders.

Perky Pet Humming bird feeders offer endless designs for you to choose from. Some models come in the shape of strawberries or apples. Their body shape is bright red, which helps to attract the birds attention as Hummingbirds love the color red. Its shatterproof and holds about 48oz. of nectar. If your Hummingbirds prefer one style over another, its probably simply a matter of familiarity. If you change feeders, it may be in your best interest to hang the old one empty alongside the new one. I would recommend the HummZinger and similar well-designed basin feeders for their ruggedness as well as their ease of maintenance.

You then have the Hummingbird Oasis feeder varieties from Perky Pet. These Humming bird feeders have a built-in ant moat that is between the feeding ports and the rod. With 6 feeding stations each has an individual perch and yellow flower feeding port.

Where to hang your feeder? A new humming bird feeder may be found sooner by hummingbirds if it is hung over or near a garden of hummingbird plants. My feeders are near windows, where I can watch and enjoy them: one is in a living room window, another outside the kitchen. But, as a word of caution, ensure that your window has a blind or drawn curtain behind it to prevent your Hummingbirds from flying into the window.

Here’s the recipe for artificial nectar (syrup):

Use one part ordinary white cane sugar to four parts water.
Store unused syrup in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Generally the body of most Humming bird feeders is red. This is an invitation to dine in your garden to any hummingbird passing by, bringing a profusion of color to your garden.

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More information on types of humming bird feeders can be found at the website Bird Feeders.

Article Source: http://www.thecontentcorner.com

Crafting Your Bird Habitat With Bird Feeders

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

There is a recipe for creating the perfect backyard habitat with bird feeders that will attract many bird species throughout the year. Attracting many species takes time, effort and testing. Once the birds discover that your yard is worth visiting, they will remember the location and return year after year. The non-migratory birds will make your habitat their home forever.

If you want to attract a greater amount of wild bird species into your yard you will need to manage your bird feeders. Since the nutrition needs of birds change during different times of the year, the birds foods you offer will need to change too.

Offering the right bird food at the right time of year will help you attract many different wild bird species. If you only put your bird feeders out in the winter you may not attract as many species. But if the birds in your area are familiar with your feeders, they will stay close in the winter.

Wild birds require different types of food throughout the year based on weather conditions and activity level. In the winter birds are trying to stay warm. Foods high in fat like suet provide an energy boost that helps to keep them warm.

When spring arrives, wild birds begin working on their nests, protecting their territories raising their broods and feeding themselves. Offering an assortment of food is the best way to help them reproduce.

Some adult birds will take bird food from your bird feeders back to their nests to feed to their young. After the hatchlings start flying, the parents will take them to your feeders to show them how to eat. Some parents will actually take seed and place it into the mouths of their young.

A variety of bird feeders designed for different feeding styles will attract a wider variety of wild birds. Tufted titmice like to perch while they eat, while juncos, cardinals and blue jays prefer a flat surface like the ground or a platform bird feeder. Woodpeckers can cling to almost anything while they eat including an upside down suet feeder.

Here is a sample feeding station for creating a wild bird habitat: two tube bird feeders, one platform feeder, one hummingbird feeder, one oriole feeder, one hopper feeder and two suet feeders.

Adding a peanut butter feeder to your feeding station is a way to add more variety to your bird food offerings. Many birds like woodpeckers and chickadees love the taste of peanut butter. You can make your own peanut butter feeder by drilling a few holes in an old log. Then just fill the holes with peanut butter and hang it from a branch.

Once you have chosen your feeders it is necessary to place them strategically throughout your backyard habitat.

Here are a few things to think about when hanging your feeders:

Bird feeders should be hung at least 60 feet away from any bird houses or nest boxes. Being able to watch birds is the reason we hang bird feeders. Your feeders should be hung in a place where you can see them. If you hang your feeders 7 or more feet away from any surface, it will be harder for squirrels to steal your food.

Once you’ve found the best spot for your bird feeders, you need to fill them with the best bird seed you can buy. High quality bird seed will actually save you money by reducing waste. Most economy bags of bird seed contain seeds that birds won’t eat. They end up pulling seed out they don’t like and tossing it to the ground.

Last but not least, is the never-ending battle with the squirrels. No matter how much they annoy you, squirrels are still members of your habitat so you must design it to be user friendly for everyone.

Squirrel proof bird feeders are worth the investment if they are within your budget. If not, try purchasing birds feeders with metal feeding ports. Squirrels will not be able to chew through the metal, thus spilling out the seed.

An affordable option to squirrel proof bird feeders is stove pipe. You can purchase stove pipe at your local home improvement store. Placing stove pipe around the base of the tree or pole will deter squirrels from attacking your feeders from below. The surface is slippery and difficult for squirrels to climb.

If you want more time for bird watching, bring the birds closer to you with a couple of bird feeders. You can practice your hobby everyday with wild birds close by. Work on your identification techniques or even practice taking pictures of birds. Having a bird sanctuary in your yard will give you more time to enjoy your hobby.

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

Before buying any bird feeders you should to understand why there are so many different styles. Using the right feeders will help you attract more wild birds into your yard. You can hang a variety of feeders to create your own wild bird habitat for birding at home.

Oriole Feeders: Creating Magical Moments In Your Backyard Habitat

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Each spring backyard birders everywhere anticipate the return of one of the most beautiful backyard birds, the oriole. With its magnificent orange and black plumage they are one of the best-recognized wild birds in North America. Set out your oriole bird feeders early, then listen and watch. One of the first signs that orioles have returned to your area will be their very conspicuous and fluent song. An oriole bird feeder filled with an assortment of fruit, nectar and oriole food will be inviting to any oriole after a long and difficult migration.

You can prepare for the arrival of these gorgeous birds in early spring by placing orange halves on your oriole feeders. The color orange attracts orioles because it is the color of the fruits they have been eating in the tropics all winter. Orioles will also eat cherries, berries, grapes and figs. After seeing a few orioles at your feeders, you can add some grape jelly to your feeder. In late spring or early summer add some nectar to your feeders to keep the orioles coming back for more. Many oriole feeders can accommodate fruit, jelly and nectar.

Like hummingbirds, orioles tend to be territorial about their feeding space, so make sure you have multiple feeders throughout your backyard habitat.

There are a few things to consider when choosing oriole feeders for your backyard. Because of their specific food preferences, oriole food has to be offered in special feeders. When offering fruit, you can use a platform to attach fruit halves of oranges, peaches, and apples or place them on a tree with a nail.

Orioles eat nectar just like hummingbirds. But to feed nectar to orioles you will need a special feeder. Orioles will have a hard time feeding from a hummingbird feeder because their beaks are too large to fit into the feeding ports. Luckily nectar feeders designed for orioles are available.

Many bird supply stores sell oriole food, however you can make a simple homemade solution with sugar and water. Some commercial oriole food has an orange tint to it. You don’t need to color the nectar orange as long as your oriole bird feed is colored orange.

The best bird feeder designed for orioles will hold fruit, jelly and nectar. The nectar will be stored in the bottom, the jelly in the lid and the fruit in the middle. Oriole’s favorite foods are grape jelly and orange marmalade. Offering them in you feeder almost guarantees orioles will visit. Mealworms can be presented in place of jelly. They provide the orioles with a good source of protein. You can buy mealworms at your local pet shop or well-stocked birding store. Using mealworms may also attract bluebirds.

Keeping your oriole feeder clean is very important if you want the orioles to return. Small, soft bristle brushes work well for getting into all the corners. It is a good practice to clean it between fillings. Just clean with warm water and rinse.

Setting up a wild bird habitat in your yard will bring nature close to you. And having orioles in your yard will make backyard bird watching even more enjoyable. Once you set up your first oriole bird feeder you will see that one is not enough. Having more feeders will attract more birds, thus providing even more birding fun.

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

Orioles are one of the best known song birds. Try these simple tips for attracting orioles to your song. Hanging oriole bird feeders is an simple way to attract these gorgeous wild birds.

Keeping Your Bird Feeders Clean Will Keep Your Birds Healthy

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Backyard bird feeding has become an increasingly popular pastime in recent years. Millions of people have discovered that bird watching from your own backyard can be a very rewarding and educational experience. It is important to note that along with the joy and entertainment we humans extract from this interaction comes a responsibility to our partners in this endeavor, the birds themselves.
We must take proper precautions to keep our native birds safe while offering them a variety of foods from which to choose. Birds at backyard feeders are exposed to the risks of disease and predation. It is our duty to make sure they are safe from both by following a few simple practices.
Placing bird feeders in safe locations is your first consideration once you have made the decision to join the millions of backyard bird watchers in North America and around the world. Ground and tray feeders need to be placed in the open where birds can see predators like house cats and escape to the nearby cover of trees or bushes. Hopper or tube feeders may be hung or placed on poles with a predator guard to keep the birds safe.
If you have bird feeding stations set up for some time, you may eventually see a hawk around your feeding stations. You should enjoy these beautiful birds of prey while you are able to get an exceptional, close-up view of them. If they become a problem by hanging out at your feeders for easy meals, you can take down your bird feeders for a week or so and the hawk will most likely move on.
The second factor of vital importance and the problem most often overlooked by backyard bird watchers and bird feeders is that of disease caused by dirty bird feeders. It is important to always keep your seed dry and fresh. Store your bird seed in waterproof containers in a cool dry place. Once bird seed gets wet it can develop mold and make your birds ill.
Keep the ground under your feeders clean. Periodically sweep or rake any discarded hulls away from your feeding stations. Ground feeding birds will be tempted to feed under theses feeders where there is likely to be bird droppings mixed in with the remaining food and the chance of spreading diseases like salmonella increases. Offering ground feeding birds a clean tray or ground feeder will reduce this risk also.
Clean all of your bird seed feeders at least once a month with a dilute bleach solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. I take my feeders apart and use my large laundry sink to thoroughly wash all the parts in warm soapy water before rinsing in the bleach bath. If you don’t have a large sink, a bathtub works well for this job if you have large feeders to clean. Good quality bird feeders can be taken apart easily for cleaning.
Hummingbird feeders need to be cleaned more often than seed feeders. Hummingbird nectar or sugar water needs to be consumed or changed after five days to prevent mold or fermentation. The feeders need to be cleaned at least once a week with hot water and a brush. I rinse them thoroughly with hot water every time I refill them. You want to make sure to remove any mold or insects you see and rinse the feeder with the same dilute bleach bath, then rinse them thoroughly with clean fresh water before refilling.
This is important. NEVER use honey in a hummingbird feeder. Honey ferments easily and grows mold that can be fatal to hummingbirds. Use only nectar made for hummingbird feeders or a solution of one part granulated (white) sugar to four parts water.If you have problems with ants, bees or wasps there are a few things you can do. The best advise is to use “saucer” style hummingbird feeders. These feeders are nearly impossible for bees and wasps to feed from because the nectar level is too low for them to reach. Many of these also have built in ant “motes” to keep ants out. If insects are still a problem, try moving the feeder to a different location.
Backyard birding is relaxing and can be a lot of fun when it’s done right. You will see many species of birds if you put up a good variety of bird feeders located in the right places with the proper protection. Make sure you protect your birds by keeping all those quality bird feeders clean. You will be helping future birders by allowing our native birds to breed and produce young for future generations of humans to enjoy.
Happy Birding!

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

Robert Randolph operates a site that sells unique birdhouses. Click here to browse the selection of birdhouses.

Nyjer Seed Bird Feeders Attract Goldfinches Like Crazy

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Attract goldfinches as well as purple and house finches, pine siskins, and redpolls to your backyard with a nyjer seed bird feeder. You can choose one of the new wire mesh thistle feeders or one of the traditional thistle tube bird feeders. Then there’s always the old thistle sock bird feeder.

Nyjer, nyger, niger and thistle are all names used to refer to a small black seed cultivated in India and Ethiopia for over a thousand years. The true niger seed comes from the Guizotia abyssinica plant which is an annual herb grown for its edible oil and seed. It is NOT a type of thistle and is not a weed. As a matter of fact, it is now grown in the United States.

Niger seed probably got confused with thistle because goldfinches are known to eat thistle seed and use the downy fluff from thistle plants for their nests. In an attempt to differentiate these two terms in the mind of the public, the Wild Bird Feeding Institute trademarked the name Nyjer in 1998. I don’t think that this was successful however because most people still think Nyjer seed is some kind of thistle and a noxious weed if allowed to grow.

When you purchase Nyjer seed, many companies still use the word thistle on the package which has the unintended result of confusing the public even more. This bird seed is imported from India and Ethiopia and by USDA regulations must be sterilized, not to keep the niger seed from spouting, but to keep other noxious weeds that are incidentally mixed in with the niger seed from sprouting. You can now get non-sterilized, American grown niger seed right here in the United States.

Because Nyjer seed is so expensive (over a dollar a pound in 2008) it is important to feed this seed in specially designed feeders. A good Nyjer seed bird feeder will allow several birds to feed at once without excess seed being wasted. The thistle tube bird feeders should be your first choice in my experience. Small slits in the polycarbonate tubes of these feeders only allow the finches to pull out one seed at a time. This limits the amount of wasted seed.

The Nyjer seed bird feeders made of wire mesh would be my second choice. These feeders allow flocking goldfinches to feed wherever they land, plus some hold large amounts of Nyjer seed. They are probably best used with a seed tray below to catch spilled seed.

A thistle sack bird feeder is an inexpensive choice as far as the initial cost of the feeder goes. Made of durable, fine mesh nylon, these feeders allow as many hungry finches to feed as can comfortably hang on the thistle sack. They now are available in black which makes the beautiful goldfinches really stand out. These mesh bags will cost you more in the long run than the other types of Nyjer seed bird feeders because of wasted seed.

Which ever feeder you choose, you are guaranteed to have flocks of Goldfinches visiting your backyard!

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Attract A Variety Of Bird Species With Sunflower Seed Bird Feeders

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Bird watching and wild bird feeding has become a fascinating and enjoyable pastime for many people around the world. We love watching the variety of birds visiting our homes and yards. If you are interested in setting up bird feeding stations around your home there are some things you need to know about different species and their feeding habits as well as the different types of bird feeders available. Sunflower seed bird feeders come in many forms which serve different purposes.

You can feed three different types of seed at once with the caged triple tube bird feeder. The tube parts of the feeder that hold the seed are fitted with metal ports (on the quality tube feeders) that will help stop house sparrows from raiding your feeder. Also the cage around the tubes keeps the squirrels out and keeps your feed safe from the larger birds like Jays and Grackles. If you want to feed only sunflower or one type of seed Single Tube Caged Bird Feeders are also available.

These tube feeders are loved by Chickadees, Evening Grosbeaks, Titmice, Nuthatches, Jays, House Finches, Purple Finches, Redpolls, Woodpeckers and Cardinals. If you want to restrict their use to smaller birds use a tube feeder without a tray. If you use one without perches you will restrict the feeder use to only species that can cling like finches, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and small woodpeckers.

There are sunflower seed bird feeders that are constructed of wire mesh also. These sturdy feeders are squirrel resistant because they are made entirely of metal. No plastic and no wood. Some of them hold as much as 6 pounds of sunflower seed! There are several different designs of wire mesh feeders, some with perch rings and trays and some without.

So the first thing you need to do when deciding on which types of feeders to use for your bird feeding station is to decide which species you want to attract to your yard. If you don’t know what birds live near you, check with your local Audubon Society. They should have a list of species for your specific area.

Read up on the wild birds that live in your neck of the woods, or grasslands, or desert, or even in your city, and decide which species you want to watch, close up. Many songbirds prefer sunflower seed because of its high fat content. Sunflower seed bird feeders take advantage of this, offering you the biggest bang for your buck considering the number of different wild birds that will be attracted to these feeders.

In conclusion, having the right bird feeders and mounting them in the proper locations is essential for attracting the species you want to observe to your backyard. Sunflower seed bird feeders will attract a large variety of birds and should be one of your first choices for your feeding station. You will probably want to add other types of feeders to your yard also because the greater the variety, the more different species of birds you will attract.

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

Larry Jordan has been bird watching for many years and building birdhouses for over 26 years. He is a member of the Audubon Society and is the Shasta County Coordinator for the California Bluebird Recovery Program. He strives to get more people interested in birding activities, including bird conservation. For more information on bird watching, bird houses, feeding wild birds, birds in the news, bird conservation, and some great bird photos go to The Birder’s Report and sign up for his newsletter or his RSS Feed. If you are looking for quality bird and birding products, please visit his online store at Birds In My Yard for some great deals and great service. Read more about him on his “about me” pages of his websites.