The Best Bird Feeders and Bird Food
If you’re looking for a way to bring more birds to your garden, the best bird feeders and food guide is here to help. Not only is bird-watching a great way to relax and appreciate nature, but it’s also a fun and rewarding experience. So to ensure that you’re providing the best possible environment for your feathered friends, it’s good to know the different types of bird feeders, food, and other items that attract birds to your garden.
With this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know to bring more birds to your garden, from the various types of bird feeders and food to tips and tricks that will help you create a bird-friendly environment. So, grab a cup of tea, get comfortable, and start learning to attract more birds to your garden.
Types of Best Bird Feeders
Bird feeders are devices that are designed to hold bird food that is accessible to birds. There are multiple types of bird feeders available, including traditional hanging feeders, hopper feeders, tube feeders, perch feeders, and seed trays.
Different feeders are designed not only to feed different birds but are designed to take different types of bird foods. It is important to make sure you buy the right food for your feeder.
Traditional Hanging Feeders
Traditional hanging feeders can be great for attracting a wide variety of birds, including finches, sparrows, chaffinches, blackbirds, starlings, and more. These feeders typically have multiple compartments where you can place different seeds.
Hopper Feeders
Hopper feeders are a type of bird feeder that is designed to hold a large amount of seed. These feeders are often used to feed larger birds.
Window Feeder
These fix directly onto your window with suction pads, giving you an up close and great view of birds feeding.
Fat Snax Feeder
These are specifically designed to hold fat snaxs or suet treats. The feed itself is a blend of seeds and suet treats.
Fat-based feeds are an excellent energy source and are a year-round favourite for birds such as Blue Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Great Tits, Robins and other species.
Perch Feeders
Perch feeders are feeders that have perches attached to them. Some types of perch feeders can allow multiple birds to feed simultaneously, while others are designed for a single bird.
Seed Trays
Seed trays are another type of feeder that are most often used for feeding wild birds.
Types of Bird Food
Bird food is often used to provide a balanced diet for wild birds or to help them during the leaner winter months. The types of food that you use to feed wild birds is typically different from the food that you use to provide pet birds. That being said, various types of food (pellets, crumbles, and nuggets) can be used to feed wild birds.
Pellets
Bird pellets are often used to feed wild birds, particularly those that are migrating. Birds often rely on a high amount of protein in their diet, making pellets an excellent choice for feeding.
Crumbles
Crumbles are another type of feed that is commonly used to feed wild birds. Crumbles are often made from various seeds and other grains including oats, wheat, and corn.
Nuggets
Nuggets are another option and are often made from a variety of seeds, grains, and nuts.
Fat Snaxs
As mentioned before, these are an excellent energy source and are a year-round favourite and avoid germinating seeds in the garden for the waste produced.
Seed blends & no grow & no mess.
There are many different seed blends available, many are mixtures of seeds that will attract certain species of birds by including their favourite seeds.
No Mess & No Grow Blends
Feeds labelled as no mess or no grow blends will include seeds that will not germinate or have seeds without husk and include peanut bites; both would be the gardener’s choice as this will reduce mess and weeds that can grow from standard seed blends.
What Other Items Attract Birds?
While the best bird feeders and food will attract birds, you can also use other items to bring more birds to your garden. These items include trees, shrubs, and vines that attract a wide variety of birds.
Additionally, adding water to your garden can help bring more birds to your garden and provide a great place for other insects and animals to live. While most of these items will attract a large variety of birds, some may attract specific species of birds depending on the location of these plants. For example, large trees are often great for attracting woodpeckers, which are usually found in areas with large trees.
Tips for Attracting Birds
While the feeders and food that you use to attract wild birds is important, there are a number of tips and tricks that you can use to attract even more birds to your garden.
For example, you can add food and water to your garden and create a bird box, which is a great way to attract a wide range of birds.
How to Keep Your Bird Feeders Clean
One of the best ways to ensure that you provide a clean and healthy environment for wild birds is to keep your feeders clean. Not only do clean feeders help prevent disease from spreading, but it also attracts more birds to your feeders.
To keep your bird feeders clean, you can use various cleaning methods. For example, you can use a mixture of water and white vinegar to clean your feeders or mild detergent and water. When cleaning your feeders, make sure to rinse them thoroughly when you’re finished to prevent mould or bacteria from growing. Another great way to clean your feeders is by using a feeder baffle. A feeder baffle can help deter squirrels from landing in your feeder, which often leads to spilt seed.
Conclusion: Attracting Birds to Your Garden
If you’re looking to relax and appreciate nature, birdwatching is the perfect activity. But, to be sure that you’re providing the best possible environment for your feathered friends, it’s essential to know the different types of bird feeders, food, and other items that attract birds to your garden. So, what are you waiting for? Go enjoy the great outdoors and attract more birds to your garden.
Should you need any help and advice in choosing bird feeders for your garden or bird food, please do let us know our staff at Porton Garden Aquatic & Pets know; we are happy to advise.
