The act of feeding birds was a way to intertwine and engage with nature in our own backyards, and wasn't simply viewed as a hobby. Today with the variety of feeders and special seed mixes available, it may be a bit daunting to determine if you are doing it correctly. I'm here to give you some clear guidance from the decades worth of experience of observing our feathered friends.
Bring Hummingbirds Right To Your Window!
Check Price1. Your Feeders Are Never Empty
Just as you would want to keep a stocked pantry for your family, the same goes for bird feeders to show you are a good host. Birds are very habitual and will remember which yards to go to for food. Make it a habit to check your bird feeders every morning. I do it with my coffee and it is one of the best things to do! It's something I've done for 40 years!
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2. You See a Variety of Species
Providing various foods and different types of feeders can lead to different birds visiting your feeder throughout the day. You might even see a chickadee in the morning and a cardinal in the evening. You are providing a hospitable place for many types of birds to eat, which is very nice. It's like a neighborhood diner where everyone is welcome.
3. Your Feeders Stay Clean
My mother used to say that \"cleanliness is next to godliness,\" and that goes for bird feeding as well. Taking time to clean your feeders shows that you care about not spreading diseases. Although it seems like a lot of work to do every week, it is necessary to keep your backyard birds healthy and returning.
4. Birds Come Even Out Of Peak Season
When birds come back to your yard all four seasons, you know you are doing something right! Think of it like having repeat customers at a business. They show up over and over because they trust you and know they can rely on your hospitality. With your feeding station up all year long, you are helping birds through tough times and providing backup food sources to birds that may need them!
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5. There's Limited Ground Waste
A clean feeding station benefits you, as it indicates you are providing an appropriate quantity and quality of food. Of course, some food will be lost – in fact, food that is dropped is appreciated by birds like doves – but too much lost food will attract pests like rats. A farmer saying from my grandfather was, \\"Don't waste the feed, and the animals will respect the feeding ground.\\"
6. You Have Regular "Customers"
It's a woderful achievement to be able to start picking out different birds based on their individual markings and behaviors. Like regular cusomters you get to know at a store, these birds have shown you that your yard has become a part of their daily routine. They may even show up at the same time every day like clockwork.
7. Predators Don't Dominate
An ideal feeding station should have plenty of escape routes and cover for the smaller birds. When feeders are placed close enough to protective bushes or trees, they will notice birds will visit feeders more often. It is all about finding balance like in nature.
8. Birds Use Your Water Sources
It is just as important to supply clean, fresh water as it is to supply food. If birds frequently visit your water feature or birdbath, it means that you've built a complete habitat. Good water sources, like the old swimming holes we gathered at on hot summer days, will bring the community together.
9. You See Natural Feeding As Well
A really bird-friendly environment is achieved when birds feel safe enough to forage in your yard. Your feeders should only complement the natural food sources and not replace them entirely. Kind of like having a garden with fresh produce and then having a grocery store.
10. Repeat Annual Visits by Seasonal Tourists
It always feels nice to have old friends visiting once in a while. Birds feel the same way. They also never forget a place with good food. Having a new bird show up in your yard every season can make you feel good. Just like your friends that stop by every season, migratory birds remember good food sources. It's great to feel like you are doing something right in life when your yard feels like the birds' stopping place. It's so great to feel the excitement of getting food ready and waiting for the new hummingbird to show up at your feeder in the spring, and know that it is going to show up right on time as it has every year!
11. Your Neighbors Ask for Advice
The more people ask you for tips on feeding birds, the more you know you've nailed it. Just like how my mother would pass her recipes onto the neighbors, sharing bird feeding tips fosters community. There's nothing more rewarding than helping people establish their own bird sanctuaries in their backyards.
