Doves and Pigeons - Problems at Bird Feeders

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We are often asked by our customers what can be done about the large flocks of pigeons or doves which come in and wipe out the seed at their bird feeding stations.  These birds are much larger in size than most feeder birds and they tend to travel to feeding stations in large numbers.  We often have flocks of up to 80 Mourning Doves at our own station during the winter.  These birds do not crack or hull their seeds like most other birds.  They eat them whole and can eat large amounts in a very short time.  Their size, coupled with their feeding habits can certainly make pigeons and doves a big problem at bird feeders.

As large a problem as they are, there are ways to avoid feeding large flocks of pigeons and doves.  These birds tend to like certain seeds including white proso millet, milo, oats and cracked corn.  By using seed mixes with smaller amounts or none of these seeds you will be helping to discourage them.  Pigeons and doves like to feed on the ground or on platform or flat bird feeders.  Placing your seed mixture in a tube type bird feeder with short (under 2 inch) perches will deter large numbers of these birds from eating all of your food.  Depending on which species of birds you do wish to attract to your feeding station, feeding specialty foods in specialty feeders will also help.  Many of the finches (Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, Redpolls, House Finches, Purple Finches etc.) are attracted to thistle or Nyjer seed bird feeders.  Most often, these feeders do not have perches and the smaller birds simply cling to the sides of the feeder to eat.  The feet of doves and pigeons are not made for this type of perching and most will have trouble holding on long enough to feed.  There are also specialty feeders for sunflower seed and peanuts available.  These also cater to the clinging birds instead of pigeons and doves.  We also provide peanut butter, grape jelly and fruit for over 40 species of birds in a recycled oriole feeder and have never observed a pigeon or dove at it.  If you suspend your suet bird feeders from a wire or branch and use a tail prop type suet feeder, you will also deter these birds as they have trouble getting a foothold on the feeder.  Each of these foods draws its own group of more desirable backyard birds and each limits the availability of food for the large flocks of pigeons and doves.

At our feeding station we love our quail.  Unfortunately, the quail have the same feeding habits as the the doves so we end up feeding both.  The doves just seem to be a necessary evil with us.  If you do not wish to feed large flocks of pigeons and doves you can use the above ideas to enhance your backyard bird feeding experience. 

Feeding Birds with Window Bird Feeders

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Bird watching is such a nice thing to do most especially if you just want to sit down and relax. Watching different kinds of birds in your backyards make you feel a lot better especially after a stiff weekday. This is the reason why most household have their own bird feeders at home.

Various kinds of bird feeders are available in the market nowadays. A window bird feeder is a feeder which you can put on, in or next to a window. This type of feeder can be used in any type of weather. This is usually advantageous to bad weathers because you can just easily refill the feeder without too much of a hassle.

You can purchase different kinds of feeder you want to put in your windows. A platform bird feeder looks like a tray with a raised surface. It is a type of feeder which attracts most of the birds but then without any protection such as baffles, it can be easily attacked by animals such as squirrels.

A hopper feeder on the other hand looks like a house with walls and roof that is why most birds will need to hop on it in order to eat the seeds. This type of feeder benefits the small to large birds such as the jays and chickadees.

A tube feeder is a cylindrical in shape with perches and feeding ports. This is one of the feeders which are squirrel-proof. The suet feeder is wire-mesh bag or cage which attracts the woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches. A hummingbird feeder is made up of plastic or glass which looks like a glass or a bottle.

Before starting building or buying your own bird feeder, let us try to have a brief background first about birds and their type of foods. If you are new to bird feeding then most probable than not you're wondering which foods to feed the birds. Aside from the insects of course, seeds are their next favorite.

The most favorite bird seed of all is none other than the sunflower seeds. These seeds get the attention of woodpeckers, cardinals, goldfinches, blue jays, chickadees, purple finches, nuthatches and the titmice. The black sunflower seeds are best for hanging coconut feeders.

Oil seed is the other term for the black sunflower seeds. Birds usually prefer these seeds because of its high oil content. The shells are also soft so it is very easy to crack open. It is also a lot cheaper than the others.

A Niger is another type of bird seed wherein goldfinches love. The seed is color black and very light. You may see a lot of goldfinches feeding at your feeder once you fill it with Niger seeds. The downside of this type of seed is that it is quite expensive.

Another bird seed in which you can buy is the safflower seeds. It is slightly smaller when compared with the black sunflower seed. The good thing about this seed is that squirrels despise it. So you'll be rest assured that your feeder will not be attacked by the pesky animal. The titmice, chickadees, woodpecker and cardinals chew it like a candy.

The white millet is also a bird seed which is cheaper than the sunflower seeds. The juncos, mourning doves and sparrows like these seeds. So where can you exactly purchase all of these? At the pet stores of course and even online.

One thing that you need to stay away when it comes to buying bird seeds is the mixed seeds which you can purchase on most supermarkets. The red millet on this package will just be a total waste because most birds will not eat it rather it will just be thrown in to the ground and then become a fertilizer in the near future.

After knowing which type of bird feeder and bird seeds to use, the next thing you should do is to find the perfect window to place your bird feeder. Select a window in which you usually views in order to appreciate the feeding process. The location should also be easily accessible so that you can clean and refill the feeder at your convenience anytime.

Don't forget to place water near or on the bird feeder since it is also a necessity when it comes to feeding.

Peanut Bird Feeders Selection Guide

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Chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and woodpeckers love peanuts, and a peanut bird feeder makes a great addition to your garden if you're just starting your birdwatching hobby, or if you're an enthusiast who want to attract an even greater variety of wild birds with another feeder option.

These distinctive peanut feeders usually lack any kind of perch, so they tend to draw in the more acrobatic songbirds that have no problems clinging to the silo cage. However, some will feature a spiral shaped perch that wraps up the length of the feeding cylinder, allowing more birds access, and providing a fun exercise for these jumpy feathered friends. Some birds will snatch a peanut and swallow it whole, while others will prefer to fly to a nearby limb, and breakup their newfound bounty.

Peanut bird feeders are excellent feeders for beginners, as they are both easy to maintain, easy to refill, and extremely durable. Most are constructed with a heavy duty wire mesh that encloses the peanuts, but with holes that are just big enough to, obviously, pull a peanut through. They don't require the regular, and tedious, cleanings that more elaborate feeders need, and are sturdy enough to withstand even the harshest of winters.

Here are some other things to consider when purchasing a peanut bird feeder:

Hang the feeder somewhere animals will not be able to climb up to, or jump on. If you don't have a good spot, try hanging on a shepherd's hook
Squirrel baffles are a great way to deter squirrels and other pests from climbing up a shepherd's hook or mounting post
Dispose of peanuts that have had prolonged exposure to moisture or rain

Glass Hummingbird Feeders and Gazebo Bird Feeders - What to Put In, and Not to Put in Your Feeders

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A Sapphire twist glass hummingbird feeder works well by itself or as a pair of lawn ornaments to deliver a blaze of color to your lawn and garden décor. I have written about where to place your hummingbird feeders to get the most traffic and where to place them to keep the bully hummers, the ruby-throated hummingbirds, from being the only hummingbird to grace your glass hummingbird feeders. These suggestions will deliver more traffic and maybe even a little less bullying. However, what is good to put in your sapphire twist glass hummingbird feeders?

If you have a favorite hummingbird food recipe that you like, and the hummers like, by all means stay with it. If you are wondering how to make hummingbird food there are many hummingbird food recipes out there to try. The hummingbird nectar that hummers go for first is natural, the sugary nectar from flowering plants like Columbine, Impatiens, Geraniums and more. This nectar gives the bird a sugar high that is most important before they make their trek across the Golf of Mexico. There are a variety of instant mixes out there to try in your Sapphire Twist Glass Hummingbird Feeders, my hummer friends seem to prefer this simple hummingbird nectar recipe. Mix one part sugar with four parts water, bring to a boil for one or two minutes. Cool and store in your refrigerator.

Because Honey ferments easily never use it in your hummingbird feeders. The fermentation will cause sores in a hummingbird's mouth. Artificial sweeteners are just that artificial, they have no food value. Most glass hummingbird feeders sold today have some degree of red in them, red attracts the hummingbird. Although there have not been any testing done on the effects of the dye on birds, please Do Not use red food coloring in the solution you use for your hummingbird feeders, it could harm your swift winged wonders. If you don't feel there is enough red in your Sapphire Twist glass hummingbird feeder just tie a small red ribbon around your feeder.

As winter approaches adding decorative gazebo bird feeders to your backyard display of wooden lawn ornaments will not only enhance your garden décor birdhouses but will attract your feathered friends and makes sure they have enough to eat all year long. Placing your birdfeeders under trees where plants don't readily grow will give an otherwise barren area new life and give protection to the visiting birds. Birds will frequent areas that have plenty of food and were they will feel safe.

Always have a source of water for your quest, even in the dead of winter; bird baths that won't freeze in the winter are available. What you put in your gazebo bird feeders can determine what type of birds you will attract. If your birdfeeders have black sunflower seeds, sometimes called oil seeds, they will attract cardinals, woodpeckers, blue jays, nuthatches and many more. Chickadees, titmice, and downy woodpeckers are attracted to gazebo bird feeders with safflower seeds, a slightly smaller seed than the black sunflower seed. A good food supply, water, and a safe environment will bring the migrating birds to your birdfeeders on their way south and will keep your local residents happy and coming back for more.

If you haven't already seen the mess a store bought bag of mixed birdseed makes around your gazebo bird feeders then I am here to tell you, don't buy mixed birdseed. They contain a lot of filler, like red millet, something most birds won't eat. It just gets kicked to the ground where it rots. Mixed birdseed for your birdfeeders is not a bargain. Plain and simple, buy the seeds you know your birds want.

Decorative Bird Feeders - Transforming Your Garden

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Decorative bird feeders are perfect for those people who love to have birds as their pets. These have been improvised by those people who love to feed birds. There are now different designs and styles of feeders available in the market. Some of them could be as decorations in the garden or yard. Here are the examples of those different feeders:

Decorative feeders are available in wood, metal, iron or ceramic. There are hanging bird feeders, Hummingbird, bird seed, backyard, Gazebo bird, lighthouse, stand pole, and the wooden. These are the few choices of designs and styles of decorative bird feeders that you can choose from. It's nice to hear and see different birds come into your garden to feed. So, if you want, you actually change you simple garden into a more relaxing and beautiful environment where you could unwind and free your mind from any stressors.

It's fun to look at birds feeding and enjoying the food that you gave them, see their beautiful colors as well. If you want that kind of environment then you could start decorating your garden or yard with these decorative bird feeders and seeders. Transform your garden into a more relaxing place of retreat with the help of these outdoor garden decorations. These decorative bird feeders are also available in different colors and figurative images. Try to picture out what style you want to do in your garden then search the internet for different outdoor decoration, like the bird feeders, that you can use.

Aside from these feeders, there are also wooden bird houses and pedestal bird baths available for additional decoration. No doubt that your garden will become a new home for birds. Birds will fully enjoy since they've been provided with food, house and bird baths. This will make them feel at home and also, on your part, your garden will become very relaxing, elegant and pleasing to the eyes. It's a place that every time you see will bring a smile to your face.

So, if you want this kind of set up, then you could start checking in the internet the different items, birds house, and pedestal bird baths. Browse all the potential stores that you want to purchase and carefully pick the right designs and styles that will look good in your garden.