Similar to tons of Americans, you may delight in bird watching and find it to be a great hobby. On this note, you may ponder on how you can encourage more birds to your backyard without having to put out large sums of cash. There are many expensive purchases that can accomplish this such as feeders, special food and foliage but there are several tips that can accomplish the same results without sapping all your cash.
1. Attain a birdbath. Getting a birdbath can entail some shopping around. There are many types and styles on the market, with the cheapest being some plastic models costing $10 and others that run well into the range of hundreds as they are composed of sculpted concrete designs with lights and waterfalls. Birds are attracted to the birdbaths as they come for the water and the glistening of the sunlight on the water will attract them. At the end of the day, the plastic is just is functional as the more expensive models but if you really want a better model then explore yard sales and search for a reasonably priced used birdbath. Budget: $10.
2. Purchase a bird feeder that is squirrel proof. For a cost of around $25-$30 there are bird feeders on the market which are designed to block intrusions from squirrels without harming them. When the squirrel places their paw on the door the door will close. As birds are lighter in weight they have free access to the feeder. The addition cost associated with squirrel proofing is compensated for by large savings in food costs as there is no more wastage due to intrusions by squirrels. Budget: $30.
3. Buy quality seed. Most of the cheap seeds on the market today is filled with filler seed. IF you put out just a little more and get black oil sunflowers seeds this will serve you well. There are many bird species that are attracted by this seed type. You can start with a five pound bag of this seed, easily attained at home center stores for as little as $6 and later attain more savings by buying in bulk bags of 50 lbs. Budget: $6.
4. Hang a suet. Suet may be costly but when bought in bulk will add up to only 70 cents per block. Suet holders are also reasonable and will only set you back by about $2-$3. Site the suet some distance from the bird feeder so that you can observe the movement of the birds from the suet to the bird feeder and even the bird bath. Budget: $12
5. Provide shelter and camouflage. It is more likely than not that you already have a backyard that possesses sufficient greenery for birds to feel comfortable. This is important as all birds need a place to rest and scope out your yard. They also need some protection from predators such as cats. If the landscape in your backyard does not provide these features you may need to move some of the shrubbery to cater to the needs of the birds. Budget: $0 and some labor if needed.
Total budget to get your backyard birding setup: $68.Retain any extra cash to maintain your seed supply and suet. You can keep reading birding books from the library for more information.
Once your setup is set in place there will be an instant increase in the number of birds attracted. Some of the birds that are especially attracted by sunflower seeds include finches, nuthatches and more. Suet lovers are wrens and flickers. Many birds will fill your backyard and convert it into a paradise filled with feathered friends.
