Adding a Bird Feeder to your Garden
Johann Erickson
If you are the type of person who enjoys all aspects of nature, and loves to see it right at your door or outside the window, consider hanging some bird feeders that are suitable to the feathered population of your region.
A little research at the library or over the Internet, will tell you what type of birds are likely to frequent your area in the various seasons. Once you know that, you can look up their dietary preferences, and from there you’ll be able to choose bird feeders that will deliver the appropriate blend of foods, in an easily accessible way. Bear in mind that bird feeders which are filled with large size seeds, or fragments of corn and peanuts, must have an adequate opening to dispense the contents, or the birds will realize they can’t get at the food, and will go elsewhere.
Another consideration, is where to place your feeder in terms of height, and location relative to the house or the “traffic” of humans or pets. Some birds that become accustomed to the presence of humans, will feed regardless of your presence, but more easily startled species may refuse to come down out of trees if there is too much activity around the feeding station.
There are all kinds of beautiful and decorative bird feeders for species that peck their food from the ground. These include charming figures such as angels, fairies or cherubs, holding out bowls, or the large blossom of a flower, which serves as the dish for cracked corn, and other feeds.
Birds that prefer not to light while they dine, will appreciate one of the hanging bird feeders that you can suspend from a tree branch, or a special upright bracket attached to a patio railing. You’ll find a wide variety of shapes and styles, in colorful stained glass, and shaped like gazebos, barns, or natural wood logs. But again, keep in mind the type of seed you’ll be putting in it. There can be quite a difference in what is appropriate to the species of birds in your area, ranging in size from the very tiny thistle seed known as niger, which is fed to finches, and the larger, black and white striped sunflower seeds favored by Blue Jays, and other big birds. If you want to avoid the problems that seed size can cause, you might opt for the open hanging dish, which come in charming designs like a large flower blossom, a lily pad with a frog, or a decorative arrangement of leaves, with a miniature gazing ball.
Of course, one of the most delightful birds you can attract through the type of flowers you plant, as well as extra feeders, is the hummingbird. These tiny, and exquisitely colored birds, will dash and flit around your garden, adding to the brightness and activity in your yard. Hummingbird feeders are generally made of plastic, to avoid the breakage possible with glass. Since they feed on the natural nectar of flowers, what you put in humming bird feeders is not seed, but a solution that you can buy powdered, or make yourself. It’s as simple as boiling 1 cup of water, and ¼ cup of sugar. You can make larger batches and store it in the fridge, because the feeders will need changing every few days to avoid fermentation and spoilage of the solution. Wash in a solution of dish soap and 10% bleach, and rinse completely before refilling. One tip to help avoid spoilage, is to hang your humming bird feeders out of direct sunlight.
Whichever type of bird feeders you choose to brighten up the yard or garden, you’ll reap the rewards with hours of entertainment.
About the author: Johann Erickson is the owner of Online Discount Mart and TV Products 4 Less. He is also a contributing writer for sites such as Helpful Home Ideas. Please include an active link to our site if you'd like to reprint this article.
The latest information and news on Gardening:
Yahoo! News Search Results for gardening
Top Ten 2009 Gardening Trends (Lexington Clipper-Herald)
(ARA) - Americans craving authenticity and fretting over a bleak economy have reinvigorated the trend to grow-it-yourself (GIY). From blueberries to houseplants, GIY is the new mantra as folks turn "back to the future" to simplify their lives while gardening for the greener good.
Plot user touts gardening benefits (The Naperville Sun)
Gardener Julie Federico says she is OK with Option 1A, with one caveat. "As long as I could still get a plot where they're located on West Street," Federico said. "I could continue to walk or bike there." Federico has participated in the garden plots program for the last five or six years. She began gardening on a plot with a friend, but has been tending a plot on her own for at least the last ...
Gardening events (The Jackson Sun)
If you're looking for gardening tips, you can't afford to miss the Southern Home & Garden Expo with more than 1,500 exhibitors representing home design, remodeling and landscaping Jan. 16 -18 at the Agricenter International, 7777 Walnut Grove Road in Memphis.
City to offer classes on herbs, organics, gardening (This Week Olentangy)
The city of Powell will offer three classes this winter and spring on organic housecleaning, gardening and herbs.
5 Tips for Hydroponics Gardening (PIZZAHEROS)
When seeds first sprout, they are said to be germinating. In hydroponic gardening, this happens within a growing medium, which can be any number of things. The best choices are composted bark, expanded clay, gravel, peat moss or sand.
Plant Exchange: Gardening Is Local Woman?s ?True Hobby? (Yankton Press & Dako...
Q: May we visit your evolving county yard and garden?
Keep Gardening In Winter With Spice (Yankton Press & Dakotan)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. ? At her family-run herb farm in Vacaville, Calif., Rose Loveall-Sale hears the same question often this time of year.
U. of I. Extension offers gardening program (Villa Park Argus Press Spectator)
Four Seasons Gardening, a 12-session program presented by University of Illinois Extension, will cover a wide array of gardening and landscaping topics.
Library plans free gardening classes in Murfreesboro (The Tennessean)
Linebaugh Public Library System is offering a new set of free classes devoted to nature, gardening and "do-it-yourself" nature activities.
Start Spring Early with Indoor Gardening (Lexington Clipper-Herald)
(ARA) - Let's face it -- February, March and April can be gray and dreary months. You're more than ready for spring to begin, but Mother Nature is on a different schedule.