What You Need For Backyard Bird Watching

Backyard Bird Watching is somewhat different in intensity and style than going out into the field to view the birds of the area. The equipment is usually of a more permanent nature. You will be able to use equipment that is more complex, since you won't need to carry it with you to use it. Depending upon the area where you live, there may be a wide variety of birds that naturally visit your back yard, with others, you will need to do some enticement.

If you want to be able to watch birds in your backyard, you need to find a good location where you can see what is happening without unduly upsetting the birds who will visit there. Viewing through a window will probably be the most comfortable for you while you are watching and identifying the birds who visit. Other options are using a gazebo or porch or other place where you can be seated.

Building and siting of the bird feeder will be an important consideration for backyard bird watching. Birds who want to feed usually prefer a certain type of feed and an arrangement that will allow them to feed in safety. This means keeping the feeding space protected from marauding squirrels, cats and neighborhood dogs. Different feeding styles can be accommodated by design elements in the feeder. Adding a bird bath will bring other birds with different activities going on.

Having a spotting scope available close to where you sit to view the bird feeding site helps in identification, particularly if you are some distance from the feeder. Choosing a scope that has the ability to gather the maximum amount of light with the outer lens allows you to watch birds even with the light is dim, such as at dusk. Keep your scope handy and add a notebook or laptop to record the viewings.

A good quality camera is another piece of equipment that most bird watchers will want to have handy. If you want to record the images, look for zoom lens and fast shutter speed capability. You can enjoy stills or video images for documenting your hobby sightings.

Backyard bird watching is a hobby that can be enjoyed by children as well as adults. Since you don't have to be physically fit to watch birds from your armchair, its a great hobby for those who have difficulty walking or hiking. The costs to get involved with bird watching are much lower than with other hobbies.

Tips On Wild Bird Feeding

Feeding wild birds can be rewarding. Not only is it rewarding, but it gives them just what they need, especially when their natural food sources have been limited. When you offer your birds some food, you will surely get to look at some species that you would not normally see. If you are interested in wild bird feeding, then below you are going to find some helpful tips:

Did you know that birdseed is just like all other food, it does have an expiration date. Many individuals do not realize this one. Before you refill those feeders, it is important that you remove any old, clumped or moldy seed. Giving the feeder a good shake has a tendency to dislodge any of those clumps from the tube. There is also a handy feeder mop that you can use to reach those hard to get to areas. An old spoon or spatula will help get those messes or clumps from the platform feeders.

If you have children that would like to help out, then introduce them to feeding birds with suet. What is suet? Suet is prepackaged suet cakes that you can easily install into their feeders. They are the right size for those little hands and they do not make much mess.

Before you just go out and purchase a feeder for wild bird feeding, you need to think about where you would like to put it. You will want to place it in some place where you can easily see it and add some seed to it when the weather is harsh. You will also want to place it in an area where droppings and discarded shells will not be a problem to clean up.

The hummingbird feeders should be left filled with nectar. They should be visible for two weeks after your last hummingbird sighting.

This will allow them to replenish their energy before they migrate south. To prevent leaks from occurring in the stopper type feeders, put a stopper inside of the feeder and leave about one fourth of the length outside the feeder.

If you have only one feeder and only one type of seed, then you may want to make it into a tube feeder with some sunflower seeds in it. With this, you are going to attract cardinals, chickadees, finches, nuthatches, siskins and many more. For those squirrels, you should offer them a separate feeder full of nuts for them to enjoy, so that they will leave the bird food alone.

wild bird feeding is a great way to be able to do your Bird Watching right in your own yard!

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