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Really Big nyjer feeder
If wild bird activity in your yard is anything like ours right now, then you likely have tons of Goldfinches. Although they’re not so gold right now with their winter plumage…they’re still out there!Filling the nyjer feeder for them every few days can really start to become a chore. Some feeders claim to be large capacity feeders – but really aren’t. This one is definitely a large capacity feeder, holding seven pounds of nyjer seed (more commonly called thistle).
Now seven pounds may not sound like much when thinking of volume, but thistle is a tiny grain-like seed, and seven pounds in a feeder is a lot.
Pine Siskins and Red Polls also visit nyjer feeders, and our Goldfinches are even eating suet in this frigid weather.
Help birds thrive during cold weather by offering a few staples that will serve them well in winter. Thistle, suet and sunflower seed are a few good options.
Water is also extremely important, especially when birds’ usual sources (like shallow ponds) tend to freeze. A heater in your birdbath will also be a welcome sign to entice many feathered friends. Happy Birding! -
Create a Bird Magnet in your hanging bird bath
Although I’ve never tried this personally, it’s a fantastic idea to entice more feathered friends to your hanging bird bath!From experience of having several birdbaths containing water features, I can guarantee that moving water really does attract more birds and keeps them around longer.
We have water wigglers, drippers and leaf misters going all summer in our birdbaths, (and heaters in winter) but only one hanging bird bath which has no water feature to create moving water. I saw this idea in a birding magazine and thought it was pretty darn clever.
Take a gallon milk jug (keeps it out of the landfill) and pierce a tiny hole in the bottom corner with a needle or safety pin. The hole must be minute for this contraption to work correctly. Next, fill the jug with water and hang it above the bird bath. The slow, steady drips will create a visual magnet for birds at your bath. It’s amazing to see the difference a bit of movement in the water really makes. Be sure to keep the bath and water clean, and plan on re-filling the jug about once a week.
Happy Birding!
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some fun blue bird houses
Whimsical, yet totally functional, these hand carved wooden blue bird houses provide real nesting and roosting sites for feathered friends. Now mind you, they’re not really bluebird houses that Eastern Bluebirds are likely to use, but just plain fun blue bird houses!Complete with clean-outs, entrances are proportionally sized for chicka
dees, finches, wrens, nuthatches and other small cavity-dwelling birds. Paints and finishes are non-toxic, and the wood is a fast-growth type, and renewable resource.Entice wild birds to take up residence in your yard by providing birdhouses for them to raise their young. Clearly, they needn’t be a boring cedar box. Add charm and color to the landscape with fun and functional blue bird houses. As always, a birdbath filled with fresh water will attract more birds than you’ll believe. It’s the single most effective way to entice feathered friends to your place. And for the holidays…fun birdhouses make for an excellent gif
t for any birding enthusiast or nature-lover on your list. A gift that actually gets used and enjoyed for many seasons, while providing a valuable resource for Mother Nature’s beaked buddies!
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