Bird watching and feeding are one of the most popular hobbies in the United States. People of all ages enjoy feeding the birds during the winter and like watching them as they change colors with the seasons. Picking the right type of food and feeder to attract birds to your yard is a simple process. Blends and different varieties of food are on the market making it easier than ever to attract a wide range of wild birds for viewing. The following will provide a few tips to make feeding the birds a rewarding experience.

Tips for Feeding the Birds

Even when the economy is in decline many people still spend a little money on bird seed. With a hobby such as this, a little money can go along way during the winter.

Tip 1: Don’t over spend on bird food or bird feeders.

If you are just staring to feed the birds but you do not want to invest a great deal of money, simply buy a small to medium bag of Wild Bird Food basic blend. This will attract many different birds for a relatively low cost ($2-$10). Feed the birds as frequently or as limited as you desire. The more you feed them the more it will cost over the winter.

Tip 2: Fancy bird feeder doesn’t equal more birds.

Keep it simple when finding a bird feeder for the first time. You can even find a small level spot to place the food such as on the windowsill of your apartment building or on a metal trash can lid in your back yard. Just be aware of the mess often associated with birds and take this into consideration when deciding on a new location to feed the birds.

Tip 3: Be selective.

Feeding the birds is a rewarding hobby because you can take the time to enjoy nature from the warmth of your home. Pick a location that can easily be viewed from a chair, table, or couch. That way when you are sitting back and relaxing or eating you can watch the birds out of your window without any trouble.

Tip 4: Determine the right type of feeder.

Finding the right feeder can be accomplished with the help of an expert in your area. The term “expert” is used lightly here because you can go to Home Depot or Meijer to find what you are looking for. You can also research a more specialized shop in your area or online you can check out Perky-Pet. Some birds prefer a specific type of feeder, while many will eat out of an ordinary feeder.

Tip 5: Be consistent.

Birds feed in a cyclic manner. They will often feed from a specific location once or twice during a day mainly in the morning and early afternoon. This can be affected by the daylight on your feeder. If it is in the warm sun the birds may like to visit more often whereas a feeder in the shade may not be visited as frequently. Different types of seed will attract different birds to your location.

If your feeder is not attracting birds after 5 or more days then you may want to consider moving the feeder. You can also sprinkle seed on the ground to lure more birds to your location or change the type of food you are using. Once the birds find the feeder they will keep coming back as long as food is provided. Don’t stop feeding the birds until mid to late May depending on where you live if you only plan on feeding the birds during the winter months. During early spring there is a scarcity of food at a time when the birds need extra food to help support their new fledglings.

Do you have any tips on feeding the birds? What type of food brings the most birds in your area?