Bird Feeders

Lee Dobbins asked:


Express your love for birds uniquely through glass bird feeders. The artful designs done on glass feeders are sure to make your bird cage, porch, or garden a little more interesting and lively. The intricate designs, placed around the feeders so that you can view the patterns from any standpoint, will surely give a sense of authenticity to your enthusiasm for birds.

Glass is steadily becoming the material of choice for bird feeders. Glass can offer greater flexibility in terms of design patterns. Glass artwork can give your feeders exotic finishes limited only by an artists or your imagination. More importantly, glass feeder designs are reputed to be more resistant to scratches, rusting, or flaking off.

Adding glass bird feeders as accent pieces to your garden is one sure way to elevate your enjoyment for birds, be it wild. However, as glass feeders can definitely increase the level of activity for birds in your area, they may be a little bit delicate to clean. So read on for a few pointers on how to have easier time sprucing up your glass feeder.

Bleach And Water

Cleaning up a glass bird feeder should be fast and easy when you use bleach and water. Bleach can effectively eliminate molds and other unwanted microscopic organisms. With the rise of various avian diseases that can be contagious to humans, keeping glass feeders clean down to sub-atomic levels can be the best preventive measure for bird enthusiasts to avoid catching bird related diseases like the bird flu.

By adding bleach, a standard disinfectant, to water, you can be sure that your glass feeders are not only visibly clean, but pathogenically safe as well.

However, bleach is not so good on the smell. In fact, household bleach can cause allergies to some people. To prevent allergic reactions or stop the disturbing odor, the measure of the bleach mixture must be in the ratio of ten parts of water to only one part of bleach. This solution is enough for an effective yet smell-free cleaning.

For people who are really allergic to bleach smell, letting the feeders air dry or, better yet, applying a coating of sugar extract on the feeders can surely suppress the violent smell of bleach.

And, of course, you want to be sure to rinse off any bleach residue so you do not poison your birds with it!

Two Glass Bird Feeders Are Better Than One

Having two feeders for each spot you want to put feeders on can surely cut your cleaning chores into just a few seconds. Use one bird feeder for a couple of days then replace it with the other one. To clean the first one you used, soak it in bleach and water solution. Alternately using two bird feeders and switching them regularly shortens your cleaning and handling time without the rush that could make you break your glass feeders.

Use A Cleaning Mop Or Brush

A feeder cleaning mop or brush can be a very effective tool for cleaning bird feeders. Basically a cleaning mop or brush is made up of a lump of foam or bristles fastened on one end of a ten or twelve-inch wire or rod. Glass bird feeders, particularly those made by blowing glass, have intricate designs and forms; hence you need a cleaning mop or brush to definitely reach and clean the lowermost and innermost parts of a glass feeder.

Sure, a bleach solution can effectively clean your bird feeder; but when you are unable to scrape off stubborn slime building up on the bottom of the feeder, molds and other undesirable organisms will eventually attach themselves and grow inside the feeder. A cleaning mop or brush can often last a year, at the very least.

Nothing Beats Hot Water

Some bird enthusiasts disagree with using bleach and water solution in cleaning glass bird feeds. They argue that, unlike most humans, birds have a more sensitive sense of smell. Any amount of bleach left on the feeder, no matter how small, can drastically affect the birds.

So instead of bleach, enthusiasts who avoid using bleach swear by the effectiveness of plain hot water and good old brushing. They reason that hot water can do the job of killing unwanted organisms while brushing can scrape off molds and other stains.

So there you have it, make a statement for all the bird lovers out there by using glass bird feeders. Unlike common feeders, glass feeders have unique design patterns. Above all, remember to keep your bird feeders clean.



Debbie

Sparkle_Sprite asked:


We have had a hummingbird feeder for over a year, and today we bought a regular bird feeder. The problem is, we only have two trees, and they are very close together. Is it okay for the two different kinds of feeders to be near each other?

Javier

Allan asked:


———-

First, it’s important to note that hummers are migratory birds. Where you live will determine what time of year you’ll see the birds. Humming birds are migratory birds, so you will not be able to see them all year round, even if you have nectar in your Humming bird feeder. You will generally start to see humming birds in the spring once the weather is warm and then through out the summer.

Want to know how to attract beautiful Hummingbirds to your garden? Give them the food they like nectar. Nectar placed into a Humming bird feeder will draw Hummingbirds. Hummingbirds will eat more than twice their bodyweight in nectar, so having Humming bird feeders placed throughout your garden will help in their search for more food. There are a large variety of Humming bird feeders that you can choose from, that will decorate your garden nicely.

Essentially Hummingbirds need the nectar to power the insect eating machine that they are. The nectar provides the calories 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.

The fastest recorded wing beat rate was about 80 per second, on a tiny Amethyst Woodstar, and the slightly smaller Bee Hummingbird - the world’s smallest bird - may have an even faster rate. Truly a remarkable bird of creation.

———-



Jamie

Kathryn Whittaker asked:


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.



Jane

Dave Everett asked:


You can make your wooden bird feeder as simple or extravagant as you desire, according to your level of expertise. Those who are more adept with the tools of woodworking, may want to try their hand at making a wooden castle bird feeder. The idea behind this is to have all the stools on each side of the castle manufactured so as to stick out for the birds to eat their food out of. Or maybe you consider yourself to be talented enough to make a tube that spirals around, having a trough for the birds to snack away at. However, if you are not so talented and have never built one before, you may want to start with a simple step-by-step design.

You could try starting with a simple wooden tray feeder, where you just glue and nail a few pieces of wood together. As you become more experienced in constructing your wooden bird feeders, you’ll be able to experiment a bit more until you feel confident enough to make the bigger feeders that call for a lot more talent and patience. As a child, perhaps you may have built your very first wooden tray feeders in wood shop. On the other hand, if you weren’t fortunate enough to take the class you may have built your own bird feeder at home using a soda bottle or a coffee can. I can remember, back when I was a child, taking the empty coffee can, filling it up with my dad’s sunflower seeds and hanging it from a tree just to watch the birds come to the yard Endless hours of pleasure!

Check out this quick and easy way to make a simple wooden tray feeder. Please keep in mind that if you are a child you will need adult supervision.

MAKING A WOODEN TRAY FEEDER

4 pieces of wood about 2 inches wide

1 square piece of wood

Nails

Use the square piece of wood as the base for your wooden tray feeder. Now take your four pieces of wood and prop them up on all sides of the square. Hammer each strip to the base until you have a small square dish with sides. Insert a newspaper into the base, making sure to flatten it down properly so it doesn’t fly out. Pour in the seeds and you are set to go. On top of a large post or table would be a great place to position your tray.

Children love building bird feeders as well. Once they spot you making one they’ll naturally want to do something to help. Try giving them a pine cone, butter knife and some peanut butter and have them spread it all over the pine cone. When finished, have them sprinkle seeds all over it. They’ll be happy that they got to make a bird feeder too.

Hopper feeders are little wooden bird feeders that look like houses; birds love these because they keep the wind and rain off them.

When caring for your wooden bird feeders always remember that you need to empty them of food every night, unless you can somehow cover them. Rain can ruin bird seeds and make birds extremely sick, and I’m sure that’s the last thing you want.

Bird watching has always been, and always will be, a fun hobby. By building your own wooden bird feeders, you can make this a time full of memories for you and your children.

Decide what type of feeder you’ll use and where in the yard it will go. Location is a key item when it comes to wooden bird feeders. If you don’t have it in the right place the birds may never find it.



Hector

Mayoor Patel asked:


There are two types of window bird feeders that you can choose from. One type will attach to the window allowing you a close view of the birds feeding but still offer the thin piece of glass as a partition between you and the birds. The other type could be referred to as a window sill bird feeder since it is made to sit on the window sill. This sometimes requires an open window and also can mean that you risk the birds flying into your house, a child trying to touch them or a pet reacting to prey sitting at their window. These ones need you to be more careful, and perhaps imaginative, in the management of this type of feeder. Still they are an experience worth considering.

If this bird feeder that you chose to attach to your window is going to be on the outside then you will need a method of attachment. Many of the people who have this kind of feeder use suction cups to hold them to the windows. You simply suction them on to the window at a good height to protect he birds from cats while still being able to see them sitting at your window. Window bird feeders are a wonderful tool for teaching your children about the beauty of wildlife. They are able to watch the birds feed without any distraction to the birds. The birds will get used to seeing people as they feed. So, as long as there are no sudden movements you and your family will be able to enjoy hours of bird watching from the comfort of your kitchen table or living room couch.

The other type of window bird feeders, the ones that sit on the window sill, are kept in place by different means. The best kinds are made to sit on the windowsill but still manage to keep the window closed. This can be done because they have sides that can be adjusted to fill the open window area. The window is closed on top of the feeder with the side pieces extended. In that way the feeder is right on the windowsill but the birds cannot get into the house or be bothered by curious little fingers. If you choose to use a feeder that sits on the windowsill it is best to consider this type. Any type of bird feeder that is going to be that close to your window will need to be used with the bird’s safety in mind more than other types. You need to keep your cats away and to teach younger children a healthy respect for the birds. They will need to understand that they must watch quietly and not bang on the windows just to see them fly.



Dawn

MOLLY asked:


There are two cats that watch and wait to try to catch a bird,they even jump about 8 feet in the air to catch them,one cat did get a hold on a bird,but couldn’t keep him…..Is there a way to keep them away,I tried spraying some cat repellent under the near by tree,it didn’t work.

Chad

Mayoor Patel asked:


One of the problems with wanting to put out a bunch of bird feeders is that they tend to attract other animals as well. These other creatures include chipmunks, squirrels and an assortment of small rodents. Since this is not what you want in your garden you need to find a way to make them not available to these other seed seeking small animals. Therefore, what you will need for your garden is squirrel proof bird feeders. These feeders will have some type of device that makes it impossible, or nearly so, for the animals to get to the bird seed.

Some bird feeders try to solve this problem by using plastic shields on the sides to keep the seeds in. There are some problems with this method of making squirrel proof bird feeders. Despite the fact that the side pieces will keep the squirrel from eating huge piles of seeds they are smarter than you think and over time will develop tricks to get to at the food. What they learn to do is to fly at the feeder, knocking a bunch of the seeds to the ground as they go. Then, when they fall, moments later, they have a meal waiting for them. Some of the smarter ones get very good at this and learn to take a flying leap that spills large quantities of seeds. If this becomes too much of a problem, there are other alternatives. One is buying a more expensive feeder that has been made squirrel proof by the manufactures. Although this seems to be an extreme choice if you live in area with a lot squirrels you soon find that they take over your bird feeders if you do not take drastic measures.

The other alternative is to do things that will mean the squirrels and other small animals are unable to gain access to the bird feeder. One method is to use a system that will put wire screening around the bird feeder and so prevent small animals and, unfortunately, large birds from getting the food. One other suggested method for making squirrel proof bird feeders is to hang empty plastic pop bottles on a line above the feeder. This can prevent the small animal from being able to get to the feeder and usually results in them falling off the line, where they land just fine, only to try again. Eventually when they are unable to get to the feeder they will give up.



Victoria