If you’re hoping to encourage more birds into your garden, it can be hard to know where to start, can’t it? It’s not as simple as just throwing some stale bread on the lawn and watching them flock in (and in fact, bread isn’t good for the birds and should be avoided).
Well, don’t worry. There’s lots of advice available on how to encourage birds into your garden, but you’d perhaps be wise to start by focusing on one thing in particular: add a bird feeder to your garden and fill it with food.
Bird feeders can be decorative and beautiful, working in harmony with your garden design. Others can be sturdy and capable of coping with winter weather, whereas some feeders are specifically designed to keep away pests or contain a specific type of bird seed. Read on to find out more about each type of bird feeder so you can decide which one suits you best.
Decorative Bird Feeders
Decorative bird feeders are, as their name suggests, the most ‘aesthetically pleasing’ bird feeders available. Of course, a decorative bird feeder can be functional as well as beautiful, but these feeders tend to come in particular designs that are suitable for maintaining your garden décor. For instance, you could choose a lantern design if you have a Zen garden, a copper feeder if you like the industrial look, or something that’s more seasonal, such as snowman-shaped bird feeder for winter!
Nyjer Seed Feeders
Alternatively, a nyjer seed feeder is useful if you want to encourage species of birds such as goldfinches and siskins into your garden. These birds really enjoy the small, oil-rich nyjer seeds, but you’ll need a specific kind of feeder if you want to provide this food source. Nyjer seeds are very small and, therefore, need a small port to ensure that the right amount of food is administered when a bird visits.
Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders
Squirrel proof bird feeders are a great choice if you have a problem with bushy-tailed fiends stealing food from your garden. There are lots of varieties available, including types that are caged to prevent squirrels from getting their claws and teeth into them. Some are even weight-activated and close off feeding ports when accessed by a squirrel.
Another option is to buy a feeder that ‘baffles’ a squirrel, utilizing a design that makes it hard for squirrels to cross. If you think this is the right choice for your garden, there are plenty of squirrel proofing options.
Window Bird Feeders
If the reason you’re installing a bird feeder is to get a closer look at different species of birds, why not install a window bird feeder? They’re generally made of clear, shatterproof plastic so you can see inside, and using suction, the feeder attaches to your window which allows you to observe birds from the comfort of your own home.
Bear in mind that a bird feeder can be both nice to look at and practical, so don’t feel limited to only picking from one of these categories. Just decide what’s the most important factor to you when installing a bird feeder, and then get one that matches those needs!
