Bird watching is one of the most popular spectator sports in America and in some other places. It is probably on par with watching baseball and football. Since it is quite popular, let us tackle some basic tips to have a more enjoyable bird watching experience.
Watching migratory birds, and certain other bird types, nestle into a particular place at a particular time have become quite popular. It is somewhat educational; since it can help people learn and see for themselves certain features of a particular species of bird.
Aside from that, it can also be a fun and relaxing experience since it can give us a bit of enjoyment watching a unique scene unfold in front of our very eyes.
Birding Tips and Tricks for Beginners
- Find the Perfect Bird Watching Spot. The first thing one should know is how to find the perfect spot where birds can indeed be seen. ...
- Learn About Particular Species of Birds. It can also be helpful to know what species to expect in a particular area. ...
- Bring a Reliable Pair of Binoculars. ...
- Practice a Few Times before Going. ...
- Bring a Companion Along. ...
SET UP A GREAT BACKYARD BIRD FEEDING CENTER... HERE ARE SOME GREAT BIRD FEEDERS AND SEEDS TO CHOOSE FROM....
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6 Easy steps to bird feeder setup
Most people buy a feeder and then try to figure out how to set up the feeding station.
It often works better, though, to save buying the bird feeder to last. Wait to buy the bird feeder until after you know what birds you want to attract, where you're going to put the feeding station, and how you are going to mount the feeders.
This article tells you exactly how to make a bird feeding station in your backyard.
There are six easy steps to setting up the best bird feeder station for your yard:
Choose your feeder locations
Choose the birds you want to attract
Choose your foods to attract the kind of birds you want
Choose your bird feeder mounting method
Choose and purchase your feeders
Just add water--the secret bird feeder ingredient!
Photo of bird feeding station
Image by PolyDot from Pixabay
How do you set up a bird feeding station?
Get started today!
If you are considering setting up bird feeders in your backyard, don't put it off because of indecision.
The best bird feeding station doesn't have to be perfect. Birds are very good at finding food. If you put something out they will find it. If you don't like where it's at, you can easily change it later. Birds can't come to your bird feeder, though, if you don't set one up! So start something. Anything! Do it today!
If you're like me, though, you want to have a pretty good idea of all the details before you start.
You have questions. So, I wrote this post to help you out. I've tried to think of all the frequently asked questions you may have about setting up a bird feeder... and then answer them. In six easy steps.
Step 1. Choose your feeder location
Bird feeders can be placed anywhere in your yard. But some locations will be better than others.
Feeders can be attached to trees, fences, windows, poles, or set on the ground or tree stumps. Perhaps you'll create a decorative area in the middle of your lawn with bird feeders as a centerpiece.
Look around your yard. Is there a tree or large bush that could serve as the centerpiece of your bird feeding station? Do you have a fence where you could attach a feeder? Would you like your feeder next to a garage or shed? Or, will you set up a bird feeder out in the middle of the lawn?
I want to propose that you don't set up a bird feeder. Rather, set up several bird feeders with different foods in different locations.
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Now your questions...
Q: Where is the best place to put a bird feeder?
When choosing the best place to put up your bird feeders consider two things: 1) the welfare of the birds, and 2) your viewing pleasure. The best place to put up your bird feeders is in a safe location where you can enjoy watching them.
The safety of the birds you feed should come first. What dangers are there to birds that come to your feeders? Consider cats, hawks and windows. Each of these is a subject in itself that deserves its own post. I'll just list some general rules-of-thumb below to give a quick overview of these problems. If these dangers can't be remedied easily by moving your feeder, you may need to stop feeding birds for a while until the danger passes.
If you can't see your bird feeders from inside your home, you are not likely to keep feeding birds for long.
Except during extreme weather, most birds can survive without backyard feeders. Therefore, really the reason to feed birds is to attract them to your yard and enjoy their beauty and antics.
So, what windows will you be looking out to watch your feeder birds? Set up your best line of sight, and consider the direction of the sun--you don't want to be looking into the morning glare, if you can help it.
See my article: Where to put a suet feeder
Can I just throw bird seed on the ground?
Q: How close to the house can I put a bird feeder?
Bird feeders can be placed at any distance from a house. So you can enjoy birds on your porch or deck even if you don't have much of a yard.
If you have a large yard you may be better able to watch birds if the feeders are a bit farther from the house. But see the next question on windows.
Q: How far should a bird feeder be from a window?
In general place bird feeders within 3 feet of a window or farther than 10 feet away.
This will reduce the chance of deadly window strikes. Birds may be startled into flying into a window by predators or other nervous birds.
If they are close to the window to start with they will be going slowly enough not to hurt themselves, and probably aware of that invisible barrier.
If they are far enough away they may have time to see the window and reflections and probably veer off.
This article on Where to hang a hummingbird feeder also applies to regular seed feeders
Q: How do you protect birds from cats?
A 2003 article in USA Today detailed a study that showed that cats kill 1.4 to 3.7 billion birds in the continental US every year. That's an incomprehensible number. Yes, feral cats kill more than domestic cats. But all outdoor cats kill birds.
Cats pounce suddenly from a hiding place. Cats hide on the ground behind dense low bushes. Keep feeders 10 feet away from such hiding places.
