Why are there over 85 million birders in the USA? Well, there are some great reasons why people feed birds. The first reason being that wild birds are a great natural way of keeping insects under control because the wild birds eat large quantities of insects. Think — no pesticides needed, only wild birds needed.
A second is is that birds are a great decoration to your yard. The variety of species and colors can brighten your yard and become part of the landscaping. The beautiful sounds of the different birds is entertaining.
A third and very important reason it that feeding wild birds makes us feel good. In cold weather, it is a great feeling to know that you are nourishing the birds. In the hard winters, you could actually save the lives of birds by feeding them.
The final reason is that wild bird feeding is an inexpensive hobby compared to other hobbies.
Before you get started, it is important to understand wild birds’ habits and needs so that you can help them thrive. Like humans, wild birds need food, water, and shelter.
1 . Food
Birds eat insects, spiders, grubs and worms, soft fruits and berries, tree sap, flower nectar, leaves and grass, and nuts . However, the birds that Birders primarily want to attract to their yards are seed or suet eaters.
2. Water
Birds need water to survive. A strategically placed birdbath or small pool can attract a greater variety of birds.
3. Shelter
Birds need protective cover. By flying, birds can escape an attack. Birds are most vulnerable when they are “grounded” to rest, feed or nest. Therefore, protective cover can be a plant or tree cover, or rocky ledges.
4. A Place to Raise Their Young
The nesting and raising of the young is exciting and educational for you and your children/grandchildren. Birdhouses, nests and nesting holes, and birdhouses are are places birds can rest and raise their young.
Things to consider when starting to feed birds:
1. Location of Feeders
Of course, you want to be able to see the birds, but remember most birds will not go to a feeder that is too close to your house or to close to their predators.
2. Height of Feeders
Just as important as the feeder location is the height of the feeder. Feeders placed at different heights will get you a large variety of birds coming to feed. You can start with suet feeders mounted on tree trucks, and remember to vary the heights. You can include a platform feeder placed 4 1/2 to 5 feet above the ground, and a couple of tube or Nugget feeders hung by wires between 5 – 8 feet off the ground.
3. Feeder Placement Should Vary
If you are able have 2 or 3 different bird feeding areas keep them about 50 feet apart. If you place the feeding stations around different vegetation and at different heights, you will attract a greater variety of birds. You need to keep winter in mind, so remember birds favor the most sheltered locations out of the freezing wind. You do not want to move feeders around when the seasons change.
4. Protect the Feeding Stations from Predators.
Squirrels, cats and nuisance birds, like Starlings need to be kept away from the feeders. Feeding stations are not just attractive to birds, but nuisance birds (like Starlings), squirrels, and cats.
The easiest way to get started is to start with suet feeders. Suet is one of the top three foods to feed wild birds. Since birds have very high metabolic rates, birds will consume 1/4 to 1/3 their body weight worth of food a day! C&S Suet offers a variety of suet, mixed with the highest quality grains, fruits, nuts, and flavored pellets providing the high caloric energy source birds require.
The traditional suet feeder is a vinyl coated wire cage suet feeder. They are inexpensive and durable. The cage may be hung from branches, tree trunks, or hooks. Suet will attract a great variety of birds, including chickadees, northern flickers, downy, hairy, red-bellied, and woodpeckers, nuthatches, wrens, warblers, thrushes, brown thrashers, blue jays, orioles, and bluebirds. The EZ Fill Bottom Suet Feeder will hols 3 suet cakes. It has a convenient feed level indicator that comes out of the roof to let you know how much suet cake is left
C&S Suet flavors are available in a variety of flavors and “No Melt” delights. Ingredients vary from peanuts to papaya, hot pepper to almond, berry to cherry, and raisin to insect. There are even special blends for Oriole andWoodpecker.
Suet feeding is the easiest way to get started with your feeding. Feeding suet is an easy way for you to become a Birder!
