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the wavy tube bird feeder
So folks are doing the wave?It seems the contagious wave has also found its way to bird feeders! These very cool ceramic bird feeders are hand crafted in the most vibrant of colors. Ceramic means they’ll never fade and are virtually chew-proof to squirrels too.
This tube bird feeder is a work of art with its natural form and earth tone tube. The design just lends itself well to nature and is guaranteed to compliment any landscape or garden. The overhang roof helps to protect seed from weather, and the perches are constructed of durable acrylic. Birds love them!
Also available in a gourd shape, you could say it’s a variation on the tube bird feeder. These unique bird feeders are totally fun and functional, and meant for feathered friends. They make great, long lasting gifts for any occasion, and gifts that will actually be used and enjoyed by the recipient. You can never go wrong with gifts approved by Mother Nature!
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nesting materials for winter?
The hobby of attracting birds to our backyards offers varied and interesting methods in doing so. Protocol tells us to offer birds nesting materials in spring…because this is when nature tells them it’s time to mate and build nests. And this is another great way to entice and encourage birds to take up residence, especially due to the severe shortage in nesting sites. But many birds will use cotton and other materials to line roosting spots and nest boxes for cold winter nights as well.This cotton nesting ball is wildly popular among Goldfinches, and since they’re more likely to stick around if you feed thistle seed throughout the year, you can help them further with nesting materials to keep warm at night.
Some popular nesting materials include cotton yarns and fibers, mosses that are used for decorative aspects in plants and flowers, feathers, aspen fiber and even dryer lint and pet hair are popular materials used in nest building.
This decorative wreath contains a mixture of nest materials that will entice and attract wild birds to your place. Refills are available, and it can be used year-round. Of course landscape plays an important role too. Preferably some mature trees, or dense shrubs like evergreens, and thickets will provide the perfect spots for your feathered friends to nest and raise their families. Don’t forget the fresh water too, as a birdbath will likely be the most popular spot in the yard!
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Add a Mealworm Feeder to Entice Bluebirds
Bluebi
rds covet mealworms, in fact, I’ve discovered that lots of birds love these tasty morsels. In trying to attract bluebirds to this North Georgia yard, first came the bluebird house…but no luck. Then came a bluebird feeder, you know, the kind with the entrance holes that supposedly only bluebirds will fly into for food. Unfortunately that didn’t seem to work either, every different “bluebird delight” on the market was used.After some quick research, it seemed live mealworms would do the trick, so I squeamishly ordered the first batch. They weren’t too bad, as long as I didn’t have to touch them! Unpacking and storing that first batch was pretty funny looking back at it now. Newspaper spread on the counter, latex gloves, and a semi-faint heart about the whole thing. Then just knowing I had a container of live worms in the fridge…omg! But I wanted to see bluebirds – so I persevered.
Not only did it work, it worked great…Eastern Bluebirds in my yard finally. Two or three showed up at first, and then they began to build a nest in the house. Watching the daily activity was fantastic. A few weeks later the babies started to fledge, one, two, three, four of th
em, all following mom and dad. Truly a great season! It didn’t take long for them to figure out how to enter the mealworm feeder and retrieve their own worms at will. The coolest thing is there was a second successful brood that season too. Watching the juveniles with the new fledgelings was absolutely awesome. Now I’m addicted to meal worms just as much as my bluebirds are. Making sure to feed them twice every day, close to the same time. My new friends stuck around all winter, likely due to the three heated birdbaths, and the regular feeding schedule.Traditional bluebird feeders aren’t the only way to offer mealworms to feathered friends. Many dish-type styles have attachments for poles, making it simple to add a mealworm feeder to any existing feeding station. Tray type or platform feeders also have the capacity for worms, but there’s no guarantee the bluebirds will get them first. Maybe that’s where the saying “early bird catches the worm” comes from?
This recycled plastic mealworm feeder easily mounts to any standard one-inch diameter pole. The wooden Siamese Cat has a metal screen tray that’s perfect for offering worms too. The best part about these types of feeders is versatility. Foods like suet, peanuts and fruit may also be offered, depending on the species you’d like to attract and season.
Birding Tips, Information & News
