Bird Feeders and Bird Food

Tray/Platform Feeders

Tray or Platform feeders are the best way to start feeding birds. It provides easy access to birds of all different sizes, from the small finches and sparrows to the large Blue Jays and Mourning Doves. Birds are able to spot food from above and land onto them with ease. They can be placed on tree branches or on poles with hooks, like garden hooks. Foods such as sunflower seeds, shelled peanuts, and dried fruits are great to start out with and will attract a wide variety of birds.

Tube Feeders

These types of feeders are a favorite to birds such as finches, espcially goldfinches, in my experience. The feders are equipped with food ports and pegs the bird can perch on. These feeders come in different lengths. Legnth of the feeder may depend on amount of visitors. Less means shorter and more means longer. Branches and garden hooks work as well for placement. Sunflower seeds and safflower seeds pairs great with this feeder and should attract a variety. If you're trying to attract goldfinches, thistle seeds work too. This food reauires a thistle tube feeder as they are very small seeds and would fall out of a normal tube feeder.

Hummingbird Feeders

Hummingbird feeders come in different styles and shapes. I found it easier to use a circluar, platform style feeder. Hummingbirds are territorial so multiple feeders may need to be put up to accommodate if several are visiting. The recipe for the sugar water is 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.

Suet Feeders

Suet is food packed with fat which is important for birds. Woodpeckers are fond of suet and is the best bet to attract them. Suet cakes are often mixed with other foods like nuts and dried fruits (raisins, cherries, blueberries, etc.) Suet is not really needed in the summer since there are plenty of insects for birds to consume. However, no-melt suet is a great alternative to regular suet as it doesn't melt in the heat. I switch to it around May and switch back to regular suet in October.

Deterring Critters

After a while, you may find squirrels, chipmunks, and maybe even signs of raccoons and opposums going through your bird feeder. Critters can be deterred by placing a baffle on the pole. A baffle prevents them reaching the feeder by blocking them about half way up the pole. Placement of the pole matters too. Generally, placing the pole 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from works best.