The best way to attract birds to your yard (so you can film them) is to put up bird feeders and houses. There are a few things one should know about bird feeding but in general, if you put out sunflower seeds or general mix, they will come.  Sunflower seeds are the most versatile food. Depending on the birds in your area though, you may want to fine tune the feed and feeder you will use.Get a book of birds in your area if you are not sure of the kinds of birds you have. Once you know the birds, you can choose the appropriate feeder (or house if you are doing that as well).

• The Black Sunflower seeds are among the most versatile food for birds so if you don’t know anything about the birds in your area and want to learn, put out the black sunflower seed (and get a book on birds in your area — see our book section).
• So, where you live, the type of food you put out, and the habits of the different kinds of birds will determine the types of birds you will attract to your feeder.
• There are ways to prevent squirrels, cats, and dogs from harming birds or their food at feeders as well as types of hummingbird feeders best suited in a wasp area. For squirrels, there are specific feeders and for keeping large birds from stealing all the food, there are also feeders specific for that. Hummingbird feeders can come with wasp guards, if that’s an issue in your area.
• Please refrain from feeding ducks and geese because you could actually damage their health.
• Put the feeder in a safe place. The food must be protected from the weather, predation (cats and other animals) and squirrels. Under the eave, not too far from the window is a good choice because it is safe and you can view the birds as well.
• the best kind of feeder keeps the bird droppings away from the seed so look for a design that facilitates that.
• Birds can become dependent on your feeder so please continue feeding through bad weather. This is most important just after storms when their other food sources are gone.  It’s good to have water available too. Doesn’t have to be a bath but any dish of water near the feeder.

WINDOW FEEDERS

For a good close up view of birds you might want to consider a window feeder. These types of feeders attach to the window glass with suction cups. These are perfect for small birds and hummingbirds. Be sure to make sure this type of feeder extends far out enough away from the window so that the bird does not fly into the glass. I recommend putting decals on the window where you will place the feeder, just to be safe.

SILO or Tube FEEDER or Mesh Sock.

These are tubular with mesh and perches so that birds can either cling to the side of the feeder or perch and eat the seeds through the mesh. This type of feeder is great for small birds or large as you can get large mesh feeders which hold the bigger seed or peanut.

For small birds you would choose thistle seed and for the larger bird feeder you would choose peanut, corn, large mix or large sunflower.

Platform or Tray feeder

A Platform or tray feeder attracts a large variety of birds. The feeder is a tray with a roof over it and holes in the bottom or sides for drainage. Hang them from tree boughs or stake or pole at least 12 inches above the ground. Platform feeders attract sparrows, doves, jays, cardinals and other ground-feeding and large birds. You can buy mixed seed for this type of feeder.

Nectar Feeders and jelly Feeders

These are for hummingbirds and orioles. Everyone has seen a hummingbird feeder. It holds nectar (or sugar water) and has feeding ports and perches near the bottom of the feeder. The best ones come apart easily to clean. You want to clean these regularly so that fungus or bacteria don’t build.  Jelly feeders are generally jar like and fruit feeders usually stake the fruit so that birds can access it easily. See the photos.

Suet Feeders

For Winter and Spring a suet feeder is usually a cage that will hold a suet brick, cake or ball OR, a tubular shape or any shape that can hold suet. Suet is made of fat and seed with fruit or peanut butter and many birds can cling at once. Both large and small birds will feed from a suet feeder. Suet cake is something you can easily make too. The wintering birds will appreciate a suet feeder.

Hopper Feeder

Hopper feeders often look like little houses and hold a quantity of different kinds of bird seed. They have bins in a circle generally, and a tray to catch the seed that falls. The hopper can have perches for birds of all sizes and this will attract squirrels too! so you need a barrier or cage type. You can use mixes of different kinds of seeds.

And finally, the All Weather Feeder

This is a feeder that is waterproof and has a dome or top to keep the rain off the seed and the birds. The entire feeder is plastic, the seed comes through openings in the bottom of the feeder where the birds can perch and feed. See photo.

If you just aren’t sure what kind of feeder to get after reading the literature, you can contact us and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction and give you some added tips.