Digital Backyard Bird Camera

Setting up a backyard bird feeding station to offer birds supplemental food in order to attract them into close proximity of man and many other bird projects have been practiced for centuries for a variety of reasons. In the early history of mankind, it may have been for reasons of survival as a food source and not for such frivolous reasons as purely entertainment through bird watching. But as mankind grew and developed, they started to learn a special appreciation and fondness for birds for other reasons. Early on, man may have learned a special appreciation for the way many birds assisted him in controlling many of the insects that plagued him and as time

went on, mankind started to notice, learn and enjoy many other characteristics of birds that fascinated him. One of these documented fascinations is their ability to fly effortlessly through the air. Sometimes, this fascination was so much so that birds even found prominent places in mythology, culture and religion throughout history.

Today, the world of birds in general and backyard bird feeding and bird projects in general is one of the fasted growing pass times in the world today and for good reason. Few things can provide as much enjoyment, entertainment and fascination as a flock of hungry birds gathered around a well placed bird feeding station. But, what to feed wild birds? When a variety of different foods are offered in various feeding options, even veteran bird lovers are amazed at the seemingly endless number of bird species that stop by for a visit their bird feeding station. But not all birds enjoy the same foods nor do they enjoy the same methods of accepting foods. So, what do birds eat and from where will they eat these offerings? While it may be desired to attract primarily one

Wild Bird Feeding Station Kit.

or two types of birds, a variety of foods, offered in a variety of different ways attracts the greatest number of feathered friends to delight, entertain and fascinate us.

Yankee Flipper Bird Feeder

You may have a particular interest in a particular type of bird. But, bird feeder projects that encompass many different ways to feed the wild birds will make your backyard bird feeding much more enjoyable and will attract many more different species of birds than a single bird feeder with only one kind of bird food offering. By knowing what to feed wild birds, how to feed them and where, and incorporating these into your backyard bird feeding it is easy to attract a certain type of bird, limit the waste and even eliminate opportunistic animals like squirrels from your bird feeders.         the "Hillbilly Gardener"

Preferred Foods of Several Popular Birds

The chart below shows some of the more popular birds that are commonly fed and seen around a bird feeding station and their preferred food or foods. The food indicated is purely one of observation of what the birds consumed at a bird feeding station of various bird watchers across North America and should not be considered to be the only food they will eat from your backyard bird feeding station projects. For best results in what do birds eat, try many different foods in several feeders and types of feeders placed at different heights and locations around your property. When starting a backyard bird feeding program or any other bird projects for the first time, be patient as it may take a few weeks for the birds to find your offering and accept it.   Tip: Bargain bird seed blends usually contain a lot of "filler" seed that most birds will not eat. Instead they simply kick these filler seeds out where they rot, sprout and generally make a mess. When you take out the filler bird seed that most birds won't eat anyway, you're left with some very expensive bird feed. Don't by bird seed blends with a lot of filler.

Regional Bird Seed Blends (Western Blend pictured. Southern, Northeastern and Midwestern also available)

CAUTION: Uneaten bird feed that is allowed to collect under and around your backyard bird feeding station will harbor molds and bacteria that can be harmful to many birds. Bird feed that is allowed to remain under bird feeders will also attract rodents, which could infest you home and other buildings. Always keep uneaten or spilled bird seed cleaned up. If the birds above kicked the seed out of the bird feeder above because they wouldn't eat it, the odds are great that the ground birds won't ether.

Note: Bird feed that contains a lot of filler seed is generally not a bargain and much or it is wasted, unless you have wildlife such as wild turkeys, ducks, geese, deer and certain others in your area that may start to come around to clean up the spilled bird seed.

CAUTION: While seeing wild animals feeding under your backyard bird feeding station can be enjoyable, it is always a good idea to discourage such practices. Many dangerous encounters have occurred when wild animals come into contact with humans. Many wild animals have met with injury or death from well-meaning intentions by humans and many injuries to humans have occurred when humans come into contact with wild animals. Always discourage wild animals from feeding around your backyard bird feeding station whenever possible. If you wish to see wild animals, do so in the wild and always treat any wild animal with respect and never approach them!

Tip: If wild animals start becoming a regular occurrence or become a nuisance, change the bird feed to one that the wild animals will not eat or remove the feeders for a while to discourage them. Your local wildlife experts can advise you on bird feed that does not attract the nuisance wildlife.

Tip: If wildlife becomes a problem, often, deterrents and scare devices can be used around the area to discourage them.

Table 1 - Popular what to feed wild birds foods of many common birds

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Backyard Bird Feeding Station Preferences of Several Popular Birds

The Chart below shows the preferred bird feeding station and bird feeding method for some of the more common birds and bird groups as noted by bird watchers across the country.

Table 2 - Feeding preferences of many popular birds

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Make Your Own Bird Suet

High Energy Bird Suet Cake

Suet cakes are the result of melting (rendering) the hard fat called Suet that is commonly found in the area of the kidneys of cattle into a form of food cake that insect eating birds will eat for energy and nutrition. Suet is normally mixed with other ingredients to create a thicker, denser cake of multiple ingredients and normally fed in baskets or cages that are specifically designed to hold the cakes. Suet can be purchase at many meat shops and on many meat counter. For ease of use later, the meat shop may be willing to grind the suet for you at little or no cost. As anyone who has rendered fat before knows, rendering can be a somewhat smelly process. So, while this

process is relatively simple, it is best done outdoors in an electric cooker or portable gas stove. Suet is better used only during cooler temperatures below 70° F and will turn rancid in warmer temperatures. For a better cake that will stand up better to warmer temperatures, the suet is "double melted". That is, it is rendered the first time to remove the liquid fat from the fiber, allowed to cool and then melted a second time. This process imparts a higher melting point into the resulting fat. As a suitable substitute for the suet fat, lard and peanut butter are often used and are a crucial part of some of the following recipes. Do not use cooking shortening as it does not have the same protein and energy abilities of true fat. Another good source of fat is the resulting drippings from cooking meats like hamburger and bacon, but it must be "unsalted" during cooking as the extra salt could be harmful to birds. However, the fats from cooking will lack the consistency and solidity of true suet, so they will not stand up under warm temperatures as well as beef suet.

Some of the dry ingredients that are commonly mixed with melted suet are:

• corn meal
• flour
• unsalted peanuts (chopped)
• unsalted nutmeats (chopped)
• rolled oats
• chopped fruits

Ingredients that are commonly used in conjunction with or in place of suet:

• lard (unsalted)
• crunchy peanut butter

To Make Bird Suet

Due to the smell, most folks prefer to do this process outside. Chop several pounds of suet into small pieces of about 1" square. Grind it in a food grinder if you have one in order to decrease rendering tome. For rendering, it is somewhat easier with less chance of burning if you melt your suet in a double boiler, however it will take a longer than heating over direct heat. If you use direct heat to melt your suet, do so over medium to medium-high heat to prevent burning and use extreme caution. Once the fat has completely melted, strain through cheesecloth and squeeze out any remaining fat from the solids. CAUTION - It is highly recommended that you wear rubber gloves and use extreme caution as serious burns can occur.

Copper Top Bird Suet Feeder

 Once strained, set aside and allow to cool. Once cooled to a semi-solid consistency return it to a double boiler and re-melt the fat. After the fat is completely melted and liquid, allow it to cool again. Once the fat has started to thicken and congeal, stir in corn meal, flour and any other ingredients you wish until a thin-paste consistency is reached. Pour

Upside Down Bird Suet Feeder

into a wax paper lined cake pan to a depth of about 1 1/2 inch thick or fill a lined loaf pan, muffin pans or other suitable molds (Lined Tuna cans make great "ready-made" molds of about the right size) and place in the refrigerator  or freezer to cool completely. Once cooled, the suet can be cut into cage-sized cakes and stored in the freezer for several months. In the case of muffin pans and other small "cake sized" molds, the step of cutting the "cake" is eliminated and the individual cakes are ready to use. For convenience, suet may be frozen after the first rendering for later use in a variety of recipes and mixes and then re-heated.

Making Bird Suet Cakes and Treats

The he following are a few of the bird projects possibilities for bird suet cakes, bird suet substitutes and other bird suet treats for birds. these also make great bird feeder projects to do with the kids and they will enjoy watching the birds eat the treats they made.

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Fun Bird Feeder Projects For Backyard Bird Feeding

Triple Bin Party Feeder

Bird suet and bird suet substitute feeders are easy and fun bird projects for young and old alike. Simple bird suet feeder baskets can be made by cutting 1/2"  hardware cloth to an appropriate size and shape and folding it into the shape of a box. The exact size and shape is not critical, but the depth should be no more than 1 1/2 inch thick for easiest use by the birds. When you make your bird suet box, leave the top open to allow insertion of the cakes. Attach your bird feeding station approximately 5 to 6 feet off the ground directly to the side of a convenient tree.

For fun bird feeder project to do with the kids, try making pine cone feeders and feeding logs.

Pine cone feeder

Pine cone feeders are fun, easy to make and are favored by many small birds. They are commonly used with dough-type foods but work equally well with bird suet cake food as long as it is applied while the material is still hot. To make a pine cone feeder, simply tie a sturdy string to the top of the pine cone and then press it full of the dough. the feeders may be hung from a convenient limb or frozen for later use.

In-House Window Feeder

Feeding log

Nature's Feeder High-Vitality Bird Dough

Feeding logs are fun bird feeder projects, easy to make and also work best with dough-type foods. Adults should do the work of drilling the holes in the log, but the rest of the project is fun for kids of all ages. To make a log feeder, cut a piece of tree branch approximately 18 inches long and 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Drill several 1 inch diameter holes in the log approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep.   Caution: Securely clamp the log to a bench or other suitable surface before drilling to avoid injury. A good choice of drill bits is a spade or paddle-type drill bit, as these have a pointed end that limits the bit from "walking" and causing injury.

After the holes are drilled, screw a sturdy eyelet into one end of the log for attaching a wire or small chain for hanging. Press the holes full of dough food, hang and enjoy the show!

Avant-Guard Hummingbird Feeder

When we speak of nectar in the case of Hummingbirds, we are not speaking of any fruit juice product or a derivative of flowers. Nectar in this case is nothing more than a sugar water solution that serves the purpose of providing energy for the high metabolism of Hummingbirds. Nectar as a food source is easy to make by combining one part granulated sugar with four parts of water and bringing to a boil for a few minutes to dissolve all of the sugar. After the solution is cool, fill your feeders and refrigerator any remaining solution. Prepared solution will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator. It was once believed that red food coloring added to the nectar helped

attract "Hummers". It is now know that this is not the case and adding food coloring to the solution has proved to be toxic to the birds in some cases. If you feel that an added enticement is needed, try attaching small pieces of red fabric or yarn to the top and bottom of the backyard bird feeding station. The naturally inquisitive nature of the birds will do the rest. But be patient, as it may take a few weeks before the birds find your offering. Once they do, you will be blessed with a steady stream of "jewels in flight" and be sure to keep your backyard bird feeding station filled to keep the procession coming back.

Never add honey to the nectar solution as Hummers can not digest it and the honey will provide an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria that is harmful to Hummingbirds. Hummers are sensitive to many forms of bacteria so cleanliness is imperative and the backyard feeding station must be removed and cleaned with a 10% bleach solution and rinsed thoroughly every few days in order to stop the growth of harmful bacteria. Bees and wasps can also be a problem as they are attracted to the sugar in the solution. Hummers will not compete with bees and wasps and will go elsewhere if they are present. So either purchase your feeders with bee guards or install

Avant-Guard Garden Fairy Dust Hummingbird Feeder

them yourself. Additionally, never use artificial sweeteners in your solution. The chemicals in some sweeteners can be deadly to Hummers and the lack of calories is of no benefit to the birds who drink it solely for the energy that is derived from nectar.

A note on feeding Hummers. Hummers can be highly territorial and a male Hummer will defend his territory fiercely, driving off all other Hummers that come near. So place several backyard bird feeding stations around the area and preferably not within eyesight of each other. In most areas of the country, the backyard bird feeding station should be

Add some grit to their life

It is a well known fact that birds do not have teeth to chew their food, but their food must be "chewed" none the less in order to digest it. Birds accomplish this by way of a specialized muscle called a "Gizzard". The birds swallow small gravels, sand, glass, metal, etc. to act as teeth within the gizzard. As the gizzard contracts, the food is mashed and squeezed between the grit, effectively "chewing" it. Often birds will consume egg shells to act both as grit and to provide calcium in their diet, especially in the spring during nesting season. You can help put some teeth and calcium in your feathered friends lives by providing some grit along with your food offerings. To do this you can purchase commercially available grit or make your own.

SimpleSeed Bird Feeder And Feeder All In One

 To make your own grit:

Sterilize egg shells by either boiling them for 10 minutes or baking them for 20 minutes at 250° F. Let the shells cool and then crush them into small pieces about the size of a hulled sunflower seed. These can be offered in a dish alongside or near your feeders. I find a mixture of different grits that small gravel, ground oyster shell and egg shells in equal proportions works well. Often, in the spring I will increase the ratio to 2 parts egg shell, 1 part oyster shell and 1 part commercial sand grit to help the birds during their "high calcium need" period. I prefer to offer grit on a small platform feeder to reduce waste and keep it cleaner and dryer. You might want to try offering a grit mixture on a raised platform feeder and egg shell only, in a ground level feeder for your ground feeders. The reason for this is that ground feeders are normally going to pickup all of the grit they normally need naturally, but they will still need additional calcium, especially at nesting season.

Give them a drink

there. Wouldn't it be nice to give your visitors a reason to stay around all the time? For most of the year (at least for the folks who do not experience freezing weather), providing water can be as simple as a shallow pan filled with water in a protected area out in the open. But what about those times when the thermometer dips to below freezing?

Birds rely on water for both drinking and bathing all year round. You can provide this by placing water in dishes and shallow pans at various locations around your yard. There is no need to purchase expensive custom bird baths unless you wish to do so. The birds will be just as happy drinking from an upturned pan lid in a good location as they will a fancy copper birdbath. Many folks find it desirable though to integrate an artistic value along with a purely functional one when it comes to birdbaths and this is quite alright. However, there is at least some evidence that types of materials and construction may be of benefit in birdbaths.

Ice Eliminator birdbath de-icer

It is believed that copper may inhibit the growth of certain types of algae. Slick surfaces as with glazed birdbaths are easier to keep clean, but may not be preferred by birds because it is difficult for them to get a grip and it is a known fact that moving water does indeed inhibit mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water. Even a strong vibration of the waters surface is enough to inhibit mosquito activity. Trickling water or very small fountains will attract many birds who will bath in flowing water as long as it is not to strong. Birdbaths at various levels, including ground level attract a wider array of bird species than a single birdbath at a single level.

For best results, it is highly advisable to follow a few simple guidelines for providing water for birds in your bird projects:

The Bird Bath Water Wiggler

Provide multiple birdbaths to reduce competition. Provide birdbaths at varying heights to satisfy the birds natural instincts. Place at least one directly on the ground and others at varying heights on stands and pedestals. Even consider hanging 1 or 2 from nearby trees. These can be placed on pulley systems to make filling and maintenance easier. Place at least one near to your backyard bird feeding station or stations, but far enough away to prevent contamination from food. Birdbaths should be somewhat shallow and never over 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep.

• Provide birdbaths that do not have a slick bottom so the bird can get at least some traction to stand.

• Provide stones or limbs in the birdbath so that birds can drink without getting their feet wet.

• Change the water daily.

• Clean the birdbath at least weekly to remove algae and harmful bacteria. Use a 10% bleach solution and rinse well. Do not use bleach if the birdbath is located in a planting bed. The bleach is harmful to plants. Remove the birdbath from the planting area if bleach is to be used.

• Locate birdbaths in open areas away from bushes and other obstructions where predators can hide. Birds are most vulnerable while bathing. This is especially true of cats that are allowed to run loose in the area. Cats quickly learn to use feeders and birdbaths as a source of an easy meal.

Provide at least one birdbath that is free of ice in the winter by either installing a heated birdbath or birdbath heater. Make your birdbaths more inviting by adding dripping water NEVER ADD ANTIFREEZE TO BIRDBATHS! It is toxic to birds and other wildlife. Caution - Always make sure to plug outdoor cords into properly installed GFCI plugs for outdoor use for your protection. Always use cords labeled for outdoor use and inspect them regularly for damage. Protect the plugs from moisture. Never wrap your plugs in plastic! Moisture will accumulate in the plastic and may cause electrocution.

Weatherproof Cord Box

Tip - Protect your plugs from moisture by placing the plug on a block or brick and then placing a weighted bucket or other large container over it that is slightly elevated to allow air to circulate inside. 

Power Control Center

Tip - Old pots and pans, painted in attractive colors or colors that blend in with the surroundings work very well for this purpose. Hooks can be installed in the bottom of the pan to suspend cords from and keep them off of the ground when turned upside down.   Tip - Consider having an outdoor GFCI plug permanently mounted near the birdbath. This will find many uses other than just the birdbath.

the "Hillbilly Gardener"

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