| With a little imagination and very little effort, you can | | | | small-beaked finches to access the food. Thistle |
| transform your backyard into a natural habitat for birds. | | | | birdfeeders should be hung, and can be made squirrel |
| Whether you're an avid birdwatcher, or simply want to | | | | proof. |
| invite nature a little closer to your home, birdfeeders | | | | |
| put down the welcome mat for our avian friends. | | | | The Audubon Society also provides helpful tips on |
| | | | making your backyard friendly to hummingbirds by |
| According to the Audubon Society ( a bird feeder | | | | populating it with humming bird feeders. They suggest |
| comes in one of four basic designs. Ground feeders | | | | that you use several humming bird feeders and fill |
| are flat and open, have a screened bottom, and rest | | | | each with sugar water, being careful to avoid using red |
| off the ground and should be situated ten feet from | | | | food coloring and honey. In addition, you should change |
| nearby trees or bushes so that birds can fly away | | | | the solution in the humming bird feeder weekly, or |
| from any predators. Ground feeders can be made | | | | more often in hot weather. |
| squirrel proof by utilizing wire mesh over the bird | | | | |
| feeder. | | | | It is certainly possible to make your own bird feeders, |
| | | | but there are several great birdfeeders available on |
| Tube birdfeeders are cylindrical in shape and typically | | | | the market, including those made by Droll Yankee, |
| have openings that allow birds to access the seeds. | | | | Opus, Woodllink, and Duncraft. |
| They should be hung off the ground and, for maximum | | | | |
| enjoyment, near a window so that family members | | | | To get the most out of your bird watching |
| can witness the wild birds that come to visit. | | | | experience, the Audubon Society suggests that you |
| | | | utilize several different types of bird feeders and that |
| Suet and hopper bird feeders are typically shaped like | | | | you place them at various heights and locations. In this |
| houses. A suet bird feeder, made for wild birds that | | | | way, you will attract a wide variety of wild birds. In |
| peck at the seed mixed into the suet, is usually hung, | | | | addition, be sure that your efforts to create a |
| while a hopper bird feeder can either be hung or | | | | backyard habitat don't harm the birds you are trying to |
| placed on a post for easy access by wild birds. A | | | | attract. Keep birdfeeders three feet away from |
| hopper bird feeder contains a large quantity of seed, | | | | windows to avoid collisions, and make sure to keep |
| which is released when the wild bird steps on the | | | | your cat indoors.Chris Robertson is an author of Majon |
| feeder trigger. Hopper birdfeeders attract both small | | | | International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet |
| and large birds, including the cardinal. | | | | marketing companies on the web. |
| | | | Visit this Pets and Supplies Website and Majon's Pets |
| Unlike the tube and hopper birdfeeders, the thistle bird | | | | and Supplies directory. |
| feeder is designed with very small holes, allowing only | | | | |