Most of the people I know put a lot of thought into the way they make their gardens look. They set up well landscaped, well tended plants, lay whimsical brick paths, add water fountains, and put in outdoor patio furniture, wooden benches, and porch swings. There are a few things, however, that affect the quality of a garden that most people do not think about. One of the biggest ones, in my opinion, is birds. It is amazing how much a birdhouse or birdfeeder can affect your enjoyment of your garden. Everyone knows that songbirds will flock to your garden if you have the right flowers, but bird feeders make it an even better draw. I don't know how, but the word seems to spread among birds. Once they know that yours is the house with the bird seed, they won't be able to stay away.
One of the biggest problems that people have with bird feeders is that they attract squirrels. Squirrels can compete with the birds for the same seeds, but unlike birds, squirrels can be chased away very easily. Within the last several years, however, squirrel proof bird feeders have become very popular. Nowadays, you can get a bird feeder with thin openings for the seeds, a long, thin cord to hang from the tree, and other features that will really discourage unwanted animals from getting at the bird seed.
Most birds can be fed with one bird feeder, but there are more than a few species that require a different kind of food. Some birds, for example, only like to eat fruit. You can put up any birdfeeders you want, but they won't come for the bait. Unless there are cherries to be had, they will stay far away.
Similarly, a hummingbird will only come to a hummingbird feeder. Hummingbirds, you see, love to eat pollen. Hummingbird feeders basically contain sugar water in flower-like openings that trick the birds. Personally, I love hummingbird birdfeeders. Before we got one of them, the hummingbirds would only come by for about 20 seconds at a time. They would go up to a few specific flowers, then fly away as quickly as they could. With a humming bird feeder, however, they will stay all day just sipping nectar. It really gives you a chance to get a closer look at these fascinating animals. They have quickly become some of my favorite creatures!
Summary:
Bird feeders add a nice touch to your garden decor. not only do you get the benefit of having more birds flying around, you'll also have less bugs to destroy your garden plants. Different species can like different foods, so get a feeder which has different compartments so different kinds of birds can all come in and get a snack.
