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| FEEDERS |
| The Backyard Corner |
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| When you step into a store with wild bird supplies, you might get confused by the vast variety of bird feeders. But not to worry...... most bird feeders break down into a few standard types. In this article I'll give you some informaton on the more common types, and I will also add a bit about specialty feeders. |
| Platform (Tray) Feeder |
| This type of feeder is usually made out of wood, with a flat bottom, and some low sides to keep the seed from falling off. Platform feeders can have short legs on them to be used as a "ground feeder", or they can be mounted on a pole if you want to baffle it from squirrels. Add a roof to a basic mounted platform feeder and you have what's called a "fly-through feeder". Full Article |
| Hopper Feeders |
| The hopper feeder takes the platform feeder to the next step by enclosing the platform on all four sides with walls, and putting a roof on it. Usually one or two of the sides will have a clear plastic insert so you can watch the seed level. You fill the hopper with seed, most often by lifting the roof, and the seed in turn funnels out the bottom onto a small platform, or ledge. Full Article |
| Tube Feeders |
Tube feeders are sometimes called "Finch Feeders" because that's the type of birds you'll most often attract with this type feeder. A tube feeder is generally a cylindrical piece of plastic, with holes up and down the tube, and perches below the holes for the birds to land on. Full Article |
| Suet Feeders |
| A suet feeder is generally a wire basket, that a store bought suet cake fits into nicely. These baskets can be hung by their handle (or chain) from a branch, on a bird feeder pole, or on a tree trunk. There are other types of suet feeders too, but this is the type you might want to start with until you see who you are attracting. Full Article |
| Squirrel Proof Feeders |
| This group of feeders are all based on the above "standard" feeders, but with "extras" to try and prevent squirrels from getting seed. One very popular type is a hopper, made out of metal, that uses a weight activated spring mechanism to shut off the seed bin when a squirrel lands on it. Most of these can be adjusted to eliminate bigger birds too, but this is not always effective if the spring mechanism isn't sensitive enough. Full Article |
| Nectar Feeder |
| A Nectar Feeder dispenses sugar water (nectar), and is most often directed at feeding Hummingbirds, but there are nectar feeders that are designed to feed Oriloles too. Hummingbird feeders most often have some red on them, because Hummingbirds are attracted to that color, and are apt to find a feeder faster with that color clue. Full Article |
| Peanut Feeder |
| In the past few years mesh peanut feeders have become very popular in the bird feeding community. There are many birds that love peanuts, including Woopeckers, Nuthatches, Titmice, Chickadees, and Blue Jays. Full Article |
| Window Feeder |
| A window feeder is a lot of fun because you get to see the birds up close and personal. There are small suction cups feeders, usually made out of clear plastic, that are very easy to attach to a window, and there are bigger feeders that fit right into your window casement. Full Article |
| Specialty Feeders |
| If you're interested in a feeder to attract a certain species, there are a few "specialty" feeders made just for that. One type that is quite popular, and has been around for many years is a globe type feeder that attracts "clinging" birds such as Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Titmice. This type of feeder is round, made out of clear plastic, and has seed ports near the bottom so that only "clinging" type birds like Chickadees, Titmice, and Nuthatches can access the seed. It's pretty effective at keeping larger birds from using it. Full Article |
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| HELP!!! I'm looking for a bird feeder and I don't know what to buy!!!! |